Yeah that word peerless is tough because even legends have peers. To me it is about the specific mix of their talents and qualities as a performer i.e. their sound, their abilities, their look.
Is Donna Murphy peerless? Sutton Foster? Kelli O'Hara? Jessie Mueller? Ben Platt?
No one really does what Bernadette does the way she does it. Nor Patti LuPone, so I'd put both of them in there. Mandy Patinkin also. Joel Grey, though he doesn't really perform in any notable way anymore. Tommy Tune. Chita Rivera still. Nathan Lane is probably peerless. Savion Glover, though he also doesn't perform much. Lin Manuel Miranda is currently peerless in the specificity of what he does on stage, not because he does it so well, there are better rappers, actors and singers than him, including those in his own show or replacing him, but he has a quality that sets him apart. Kristin Chenoweth is pretty specific in her mix of talents and qualities, perhaps she's peerless. Maybe Charlie Stemp will prove to be peerless. |
