| I didn't like Eric McCormack, but I loved Mary Illes. (Plus, a few words about James Walton's Harold Hill) | |
| Posted by: DanielVincent 07:16 pm EST 02/14/22 | |
| In reply to: How was Eric McCormack? n/m - Charlie_Baker 01:17 pm EST 02/14/22 | |
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| I believe Illes did a sizable chunk of McCormack's run--enough of a run that she was billed as Marian in the Playbill and not as an understudy, even though Luker's leave was always temporary. McCormack clearly was a confident stage performer with significant charisma, but I never really got a sense of who his Harold Hill was. He had no strong take or POV on the role, and instead just seemed to coast from moment-to-moment. He got laughs and had sexual chemistry with Illes, but the individual parts somehow still didn't come together to form a satisfying whole. Worst of all, he had a tight, strained singing voice that sounded so much like Kermit the Frog, my sister had to suppress the church giggles whenever he sang. Illes was in glorious voice and, like Luker, conveyed such a strong bond with Winthrop, her end of act one decision to hide what she's learned about Hill actually brought tears to my eyes. (It was what I think the Stroman production got rightest in its take on Marian.) She had a regal etherealness about her that you could understand people in the town envying and navigated the character's romantic arc with the utmost sincerity. Her performance was quite beautiful, and I wish I'd seen her opposite Bierko whom I loved. As much as he channeled Preston--and he did--Bierko brought a crackling sexuality to Hill that I never saw in the role's originator. I also saw James Walton go on for Bierko. Despite being an incredible talent, he was the wrong standby for the role. I left wishing I'd exchanged my ticket, which I probably wouldn't say about any other understudy I've ever seen in a lead performance on Broadway. |
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