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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2018 15:52:59 GMT
I'm not sure which section of the board this belongs, (it may be more suited in Musicals) and I haven't seen any threads on it, but what do you think are the most demanding roles in theatre? Can be physically, emotionally, vocally
In my opinion, these ones are the most demanding
Eva Peron
She does some insane stuff vocally, ranging from belting, and lower register notes in 'Buenos Aires' to full on belting out 'Rainbow High', the obscenely high sections of 'A New Argentina' (e.g. he supports you, for he loves you) it does not surprise me that this role generally has an alternate as well as any other understudies.
Evan Hansen
As well as having 3 main solos, he rarely leaves the stage and the actor must be extremely emotionally connected to the role. Some of the sections in 'Waving Through a Window' and 'For Forever' seem dangerous to vocals if done wrong, and 'Words Fail' is a very emotionally demanding song. Add to this that there are a lot of lines, directions and nuances to the acting perspective that need to be learned.
Elphaba
'The Wizard and I' is demanding enough, due to the amount of energy that needs to be put into the performance, 'Defying Gravity' is a vocally challenging showstopper, as is 'No Good Deed' and as with Evan there are plenty of nuances to the character that need to be taken on. The only breaks she gets in the show are the opening number, a few minutes in 'Dancing Through Life' which are mostly spent doing a costume change, the interval (most of which is probably spent changing the costume into the 70kg Act 2 dress and changing the shade of the green makeup) and then also 10 minutes at the start of Act 2. Apart from these moments, she is onstage virtually the whole show and has lots of things to do, both acting and vocally, and it is not surprising that many actresses came out of the role in a state of disrepair, examples being Amanda Harrison, Nikki Davis-Jones, Jemma Alexander, Ashleigh Gray and Jacqueline Hughes. Amy Ross of the 2nd UK tour in my opinion has the best vocal technique and her voice is still in the same state as it was at the start of the tour, over a year into the contract.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2018 18:07:12 GMT
Over time, I've actually begun to think Elphaba isn't one of the most demanding, by a long shot. Yes you have the three big numbers, but otherwise, you it's not considerably physically demanding, or emotionally demanding.
I think lists like this should always start and end with the likes of Valjean (Les Mis), Christine (Phantom), Rose (Gypsy) etc.
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Post by anthony40 on Oct 19, 2018 19:02:37 GMT
I see where you're going with this but I think a role-regardless of the role and the actor (male/female) - who, as part of the process of creating and bringing the character to life for each performance, has to get totally naked on stage in front of a paying audience is incredibly demanding.
I also think an actor portraying a character with a disability is demanding and takes a lot of courage
Not to the same degree but it's (kinda) up there with having to kiss another actor on stage when they're a smoker and your not.
Or having to portray a gay character when you're not.
Yes, it's 'stretching' yourself as an actor but I guess it's the casting team seeing something in you and having belief in yourself and their vision.
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Post by kathryn on Oct 19, 2018 20:12:30 GMT
Is musical theatre really more demanding than, say, Shakespeare? I was genuinely a bit concerned about Derek Jacobi by the the of the Donmar King Lear, for example.
Maybe some of the performers amongst us could comment.
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Post by david on Oct 19, 2018 20:17:10 GMT
Having had a think about this, surely the most demanding role is that of Carrie Hope Fletcher playing Carrie Hope Fletcher? She always has to look good,sound good and always be available for autographs and selfies.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2018 20:24:09 GMT
Stamina issues for shows well over five hours or so would be one, epics like Nicholas Nickleby, for example. Most performers are used to two show days, so less than that is just par for the course.
The effort to sing isn’t much greater than to act but large and strenuous dance roles would be another. I imagine that Charity in Sweet Charity takes it out of you, for example.
The emotional wear and tear too, putting yourself through an extreme emotional state for an extended period, so something like Lear or some of the major Eugene O’Neill roles.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2018 20:28:21 GMT
I imagine Prior Walter in Angels in America is a hugely demanding show both physically and emotionally. Andrew Garfield was simply astonishing, to do that twice a week, even one of the parts would be taxing!
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Post by haz23 on Oct 19, 2018 20:33:44 GMT
Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys is very vocally demanding, after John Lloyd Young knackered his voice in the original Broadway production they had to schedule in alternatives for the other companies.
Agree about Rose in Gypsy, I only saw the recent production with Imelda Staunton but what she did 8 times a week was astonishing. Also Billy Elliott, kids have a lot of energy but the boys playing Billy must have drank a lot of Sunny D!
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Post by perfectspy on Oct 19, 2018 20:55:52 GMT
Surely the most demanding roles are Richard lll, King Lear and Hamlet as they carry the show. For the female side, I would say Lady Macbeth, both parts in Whose Afraid of Virginia Woolf.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2018 22:28:30 GMT
I recently saw a production of Twelfth Night at the Edinburgh Lyceum and I must admit, I was very impressed at the amount of energy the actors managed to put into their performance for the midweek matinee. They not only had to remember heaps and heaps of lines, but all the stage directions, confusing Shakespearean language and sustain strange varied accents and tones. Dawn Sievewright should be commended. Her character (Tobi) had to speak in a strained sort of Scottish accent throughout and be energetic and I was sat there like "how do they do that 8 times a week?"
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2018 22:33:43 GMT
I think my namesake the Skryker is one of the most demanding roles. How the hell do you learn those speeches?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 19, 2018 22:40:28 GMT
If we wanna talk modern musicals, alongside Evan Hansen, I'd also put Phil Connors in Groundhog Day too. Sweet lord, what Andy Karl did nightly, especially physically, he carried that show on his back and was amazing! And, since I've got Andy Karl's Olivier catagory in mind, Half a Sixpence's Arthur Kipp's is one hell of a role!
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Post by Roxie on Oct 19, 2018 23:58:30 GMT
Having had a think about this, surely the most demanding role is that of Carrie Hope Fletcher playing Carrie Hope Fletcher? She always has to look good,sound good and always be available for autographs and selfies. Will there ever be a thread on this forum that doesn’t involve someone slating Carrie Hope Fletcher? I’m not a huge fan but I think she’s talented and seems like a nice person. If you don’t like someone, just don’t go see them or follow their socials. It’s not hard guys. We should all try and be a little kinder. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2018 8:59:10 GMT
If we wanna talk modern musicals, alongside Evan Hansen, I'd also put Phil Connors in Groundhog Day too. Sweet lord, what Andy Karl did nightly, especially physically, he carried that show on his back and was amazing! And, since I've got Andy Karl's Olivier catagory in mind, Half a Sixpence's Arthur Kipp's is one hell of a role! Only seen a bootleg of DEH so can't comment, but agree on the Phil Connors/Groundhog Day. Andy Karl left some big boots to fill for the next reincarnation of the show. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Oct 20, 2018 9:12:48 GMT
If Elphaba is in the list I have to nominate Galinda. She has to sing AND hang onto that bubble with one hand. She also has to impersonate Eva Peron’s hand movements for 2 seconds.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2018 9:28:35 GMT
Having had a think about this, surely the most demanding role is that of Carrie Hope Fletcher playing Carrie Hope Fletcher? She always has to look good,sound good and always be available for autographs and selfies. Ha. And on the same train of thought, I'd say the most demanding role in theatre is actually that of the audience expected to sit through a full 2hrs & 45minutes of Wicked. |
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Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2018 9:53:10 GMT
I mean I watched a girl bounce on a trampoline for nearly 60 minutes last night (Lands, by Antler) and I couldn't do that either...what I mean is it's all relative, even in fringe shows there's mountains to climb for actors, or you know things to bounce on.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2018 10:32:57 GMT
What about ballet? Something like Manon, where she is onstage almost the whole time, has demanding choreography and has to go from sweet and innocent girl to mature woman, via deceit, rape, abuse, murder and all that sort of stuff.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2018 15:57:39 GMT
Lear is a good call, especially considering it’s played by an older actor. Although to be fair, Ian McKellan looks like he has lot more energy than I do.
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Post by Dawnstar on Oct 20, 2018 19:13:41 GMT
Can I put in a mention for opera? There are some very long operas, notoriously Wagner but others too, where the singers are doing 4-5 hour performances. Hans Sachs & Baron Ochs are often cited as examples of particularly long roles. Many roles are very emotionally demanding. Also unlike musical theatre singers if an opera singer is having a vocal off day they can't just ask the sound desk to turn their mic up a bit!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2018 19:43:27 GMT
Oooo completely agree about Cats!
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Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2018 19:44:49 GMT
I’d say the lead in 42nd Street but Claire Halse makes it look so easy...
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Post by Steffi on Oct 21, 2018 15:06:10 GMT
Physically Shrek definitely belongs on that list. Playing this role while being trapped in a costume like that is not easy.
Also another vote for Valjen in Les Mis. Vocally I would also add Rachel in The Bodyguard.
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Post by Mark on Oct 21, 2018 15:56:32 GMT
Elle woods
So much so that the original key for so much better wasn’t changed
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Post by stagey on Oct 22, 2018 22:35:00 GMT
Having seen Tina, I’d say Tina Turner is an incredibly hard role. She sings 99% of the songs and hardly leaves the stage for more than a scene. Now that’s hard.
Effie White is also very hard...those powerful songs
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