559 posts
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Post by danieljohnson14 on Apr 23, 2019 20:28:18 GMT
So we know by now that there is a long list of Supporting Female roles in musical theatre that are incredible, but why is it there are some that are considered the best in the whole show or more iconic (as opposed to the leads in some cases!)? I've wondered this for the longest time. Why do we identify with them most? As an gay man, why do many of us idolise not only these roles but the women who play them? and more interestingly, why do ao many iconic females want to play those roles?
To name a few to get an idea of what I mean: Anita (West Side Story), Joanne (Company), Candela (Women on the Verge), Carlotta (Follies), Angelica (Hamilton), Cassie (A Chorus Line), Matron Mama Morton (Chicago) and Rizzo (Grease).
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4,804 posts
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Post by Mark on Apr 23, 2019 22:04:09 GMT
What I think makes those roles interesting is that they are (mostly) not the “romantic” leads. And the actress can have a lot of fun with them. Same looking at “leading” lady roles - Mama Rose, Celie, Dolly etc.
Look at the recent Oklahoma Bway revival - Ali Stroker is killing it as Ado, nobody is paying much attention Rebecca Naomi Jones as Laurie. Equally for Hadestown everyone’s loving Amber Gray - not much said about Eva. With the Evan Hansen casting I bet we are all more interested in who will play Heidi over Zoe? Just a much more interesting role when their key purpose isn’t to be a romantic interest.
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Post by MrsCondomine on Apr 24, 2019 9:45:36 GMT
So many of the leads are stone-cold boring imho - sweet soprano-esque fluffiness. The supporting roles tend to be dirtier or grittier, and they get to say things that the heroine would never say as it's easier to brush off, I think. Then the lead good girl gets her nice redemptive arc. A bit like with Much Ado - I would never play turgid bore Hero but I'd jump on snarky bitch Beatrice in a heartbeat.
One of the few musicals I can think of where the lead and supporting women have equally strong songs is City of Angels - although personally I prefer singing Oolie/Donna to Bobbi/Gabbie.
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