4816
Current Talk '06 II / Re: DS Revival Series -- Sigh
« on: July 12, 2006, 03:52:46 PM »
Don't faint, anyone, but I am about to defend Lysette Anthony.
Having enjoyed Anthony's work in a number of UK productions, I don't think it's fair to judge her by the ghastly travesty of her work on the DS 1991 series. I'm not sure whether it was miscasting so much as poor direction. That accent alone is awfully hard to get past. It may have been miscasting, but I think Lysette would have surprised people by how good she would have been as Laura in season 2 (I think the plan was for her to return as Laura--I know there is a book where they published the notes for the projected second season). Without the crap fake-French accent and with hopefully better direction, I think she would have brought a smolderingly sinister quality to the part.
Agree, IN SPADES, about the OTT vampire makeup. That stuff has become as over-used as the blacked-out eye effect for Witches casting spells on TV. Those blacked-out eyes always make me think of this terrible film Robert Fuest directed in the 1970s, The Devil's Rain. Ernie Borgnine plays Asmodeus. Need I say more??
Penny Dreadful, I mostly agree with your assessment of the acting on that 1991 show. I do think Julianna McCarthy deserves high marks for her work as Mrs J and Abigail. She was really solid in her work for the show (to echo what Alexandra said about the original Mrs J--the Divine Clarice Blackburn!).
G.
Having enjoyed Anthony's work in a number of UK productions, I don't think it's fair to judge her by the ghastly travesty of her work on the DS 1991 series. I'm not sure whether it was miscasting so much as poor direction. That accent alone is awfully hard to get past. It may have been miscasting, but I think Lysette would have surprised people by how good she would have been as Laura in season 2 (I think the plan was for her to return as Laura--I know there is a book where they published the notes for the projected second season). Without the crap fake-French accent and with hopefully better direction, I think she would have brought a smolderingly sinister quality to the part.
Agree, IN SPADES, about the OTT vampire makeup. That stuff has become as over-used as the blacked-out eye effect for Witches casting spells on TV. Those blacked-out eyes always make me think of this terrible film Robert Fuest directed in the 1970s, The Devil's Rain. Ernie Borgnine plays Asmodeus. Need I say more??
Penny Dreadful, I mostly agree with your assessment of the acting on that 1991 show. I do think Julianna McCarthy deserves high marks for her work as Mrs J and Abigail. She was really solid in her work for the show (to echo what Alexandra said about the original Mrs J--the Divine Clarice Blackburn!).
G.