Falling Standards of Acting

[Lord Brett]

I tried to watch last night's ITV Miss Marple story Towards Zero, but found it hard to stick with because the standard of acting seemed to be so poor.



Between Paul Nichols' failed attempt ast a posh accent and Alan Davies shouting his lines in a monotone any subtlety in the script was lost. Viewers watching ITV's big new drama series Harley Street have also been complaining that the cast is almost entirely made up of miscast former soap regulars who just can't cut it in 'proper' telly.



I wound up watching the first episode of Van der valk, from 1972, last night just to see some proper acting, and the contrast was remarkable. One expects goos performances from actors like Barry Foster and Clifford Rose, but even Michael Latimer, who tended at the time to be regarded as a bit wooden, could have acted any of the Marple cast off the screen.



It's no wonder Martin Shaw gets cast in everything!

[Chevyman]

The shame is that there is so much talent out there?



Have to say I gave Miss Marple a wide berth and caught up on some old Avengers I'd recorded.



I miss Joan Hickson



I gave the first episode of "Harley Street" a chance but after one 'medico-legal howler' and another 'surgical improbability', I turned over channels

[Dai Bando]

I think good acting is everything. Bad actors can ruin a good story/script whilst good acting can save them.



It concerns me that there seems to be a 'dream team'of actors and actresses who get cast in everything. Whilst some outstanding actors and actresses are over looked for big/leading roles.



When you compare the US version of Widows to the British one it illustrates the difference good acting makes. Ann Mitchell,Maureen O' Farrell, and Kate Williams gave absolutely outstanding performances which made for compelling viewing whilst watching the US version was like having teeth pulled.



New Tricks also features 4 fine leading thespians which makes the programme brilliant.(I know Dennis Waterman has his critics but I'm a big fan, I even have one of his albums) Was I the only one disappointed that last weeks NT episode ended just before our Dennis started to sing?

[Lord Brett]

name='Dai Bando']When you compare the US version of Widows to the British one it illustrates the difference good acting makes. Ann Mitchell,Maureen O' Farrell, and Kate Williams gave absolutely outstanding performances which made for compelling viewing whilst watching the US version was like having teeth pulled.

I shudder to think who'd turn up in a British remake now. Samantha Janus and Viv Windsor from Emmerdale anyone?

[Freddy]

name='Dai Bando']

New Tricks also features 4 fine leading thespians which makes the programme brilliant.(I know Dennis Waterman has his critics but I'm a big fan, I even have one of his albums) Was I the only one disappointed that last weeks NT episode ended just before our Dennis started to sing?

Yes Dai, I was looking forward to hear Dennis sing, have always liked him.



Freddy

[batman]

name='Chevyman']The shame is that there is so much talent out there?

Dead right Chevy. I go to a lot of rep and small scale touring shows and the quality of the acting far outshines almost anything you'll find in a soap or typical one-off drama. Casting directors for TV have a very limited imagination when casting shows .... it's either got to be a soap actor who has got too big for his character's boots and legged it to Holby or The Bill or some wooden pretty boy/girl who has this week's 'look.' There many fine young and older actors out there who deserve a break.

[MB]

I think there is a general falling down of standards..and not just in acting...



From my own experience..I was picked by the BBC and a regional ITV company as a promising writer a few years ago. There were a few established script editors operating..but, generally, cost cutting meant that they drafted in very young (but well qualified - firsts from uni etc) people to oversee any script development. They were awful..they had little or no experience themselves and I found myself pointing out things that they really ought to have been picking me up on..it was hopeless..



But it came down to cash - it seems to me that the money is spent on keeping the stars that draw.. and the quality of the background staff is secondary.



It isn't always the case - but trying to explain to a 22 year old 'script editor' 'helping' you that 'Casualty' is not the pinnacle of scriptwriting excellence and that she might want to take a look at 'Northern Exposure' etc..was dispiriting to say the least..

[batman]

name='MB']I think there is a general falling down of standards..and not just in acting...



From my own experience, and I really don't care who reads this..I was picked by the BBC and a regional ITV company as a promising writer a few years ago. There were a few established script editors operating..but, generally, cost cutting meant that they drafted in very young (but well qualified - firsts from uni etc) people to oversee any script development. They were awful..they had little or no experience themselves and I found myself pointing out things that they really ought to have been picking me up on..it was hopeless..



But it came down to cash - it seems to me that the money is spent on keeping the stars that draw.. and the quality of the background staff is secondary.



It isn't always the case - but trying to explain to a 22 year old 'script editor' 'helping' you that 'Casualty' is not the pinnacle of scriptwriting excellence and that she might want to take a look at 'Northern Exposure' etc..was dispiriting to say the least..

As per my previous post it is the same with many casting departments ..... the people making the decisions have little practical experience and rely on the pool of wooden soap has beens. Sometimes they get lucky and pick up a fine actor such as Paul Bradley but in general they haven't got a clue.

[Dai Bando]

name='Lord Brett']I shudder to think who'd turn up in a British remake now. Samantha Janus and Viv Windsor from Emmerdale anyone?

They would probably have John Barrowman as Harry Rawlings and Denise Van Outen as Shirley.AAAAhhhh

[davidb]

im currently watching big breadwinner hog and spindoe on dvd ,two crime series from around 40 years ago ,very good they are too . however ,occasionally the acting amongst some of the supporting cast is dreadful ,in a funny sort of way . one of the penultimate scenes in bbh is ruined by a charactor called ackerman spinning like a ballerina before crashing to the ground after being shot by timothy west . i think acting has improved over the years ,if you use those those two shows as an example .

[samkydd]

name='Lord Brett']I tried to watch last night's ITV Miss Marple story Towards Zero, but found it hard to stick with because the standard of acting seemed to be so poor.



Between Paul Nichols' failed attempt ast a posh accent and Alan Davies shouting his lines in a monotone any subtlety in the script was lost. Viewers watching ITV's big new drama series Harley Street have also been complaining that the cast is almost entirely made up of miscast former soap regulars who just can't cut it in 'proper' telly.



I wound up watching the first episode of Van der valk, from 1972, last night just to see some proper acting, and the contrast was remarkable. One expects goos performances from actors like Barry Foster and Clifford Rose, but even Michael Latimer, who tended at the time to be regarded as a bit wooden, could have acted any of the Marple cast off the screen.



It's no wonder Martin Shaw gets cast in everything!

I watched it with some disappointment, is it supposed to be a comedy or a drama? If it's both it didn't work as it was neither interesting as a murder mystery or funny as a comedy, and much as I like Alan Davies on QI I think his acting is at best, school play.



Like many of these semi-comedic drama pointless dross shows like Midsomer Murders, Rosemary & Thyme, Murder in Suburbia and the like it's like a pension scheme for ageing actors, and a platform for writers and younger actors to show how mediocre they really are. The only thing missing was the young redhead second wife saying things like "Whatever!" or "Innit!"



If you read a Miss Marple novel some are very good as serious crime thrillers, but for some reason she's always played as tongue-in-cheek facsimiles of Margaret Rutherford. Instead of playing the part as interpreted throughout film history, perhaps playing it as the author wrote the character might bring more credibility to the TV character. Geraldine McKewan is one of my favourite actresses (I remember her as Mrs Proudie the Bishop's domineering wife in The Barchester Chronicles) but not in this.



Whenever I see a listing for an Agatha Christie film or TV drama now I immediately think "weak predictable comedy drama", when she's supposed to have been one of the greatest crime writers of all time.



It's not surprising that TV crime drama fans are watching re-runs or DVDs of The Sweeney, Special Branch and The Professionals for their evening entertainment and despite not being perfect at the time, they certainly put today's offerings well and truly in the shade.

[faginsgirl]

The modern productions of the miss Marple stories have the potential to be really exciting but unfortunately I just find them a bit boring and my mind seems to wander elsewhere when they are on. Cheezy acting just doesnt do it for me when I expect to sit down to a good mystery.



xx

[Dai Bando]

I think Ann Mitchell would do a wonderful job playing Miss Marple or is she too young.How old is Miss Marple supposed to be?

[faginsgirl]

About 70!



But at the time it was written I`m guessing 55-60.



xx

[Tyke]

When it comes to the reasons for falling acting standards, in my view their is only one reason and that it THE CLEBRITY CULTURE.



I'm afraid there are 100's of real quality actors out there, but they don't cut it because they have'nt got celebrity looks. It's a sad day when a set of perfect teeth are more important than stage presence.

[kelp]

I totally agree with MB. Did anyone catch the STAGE front page article re BBC and the time they take to make decisions? I am one of the unfortunates that have experienced this. The reason they take so long? Well, no one is bothered. The reason no one is bothered? They are paid every month regardless, and get their cheque every month, unlike the poor sod that has a submission with them, who only earns when he has a project accepted. I really do agree that Jane Tranter (Controller of Fiction) should be paid on commissions she greenlights. On results, then, maybe these commissioning editors would get things moving.

Just my opinion of course.

[Freddy]

name='Dai Bando']I think Ann Mitchell would do a wonderful job playing Miss Marple or is she too young.How old is Miss Marple supposed to be?

Julia McKenzie will be the new Miss Marple in the next series. The first one 'Why didn't they ask Evans will feature Ric Mayall and Richard Briers.



Freddy

[Dai Bando]

name='Freddy']Julia McKenzie will be the new Miss Marple in the next series. The first one 'Why didn't they ask Evans will feature Ric Mayall and Richard Briers.



Freddy

I must admit she's not one of my favourites, I can imagine how she's going to play the part before i've ven seen it.



Ann Mitchell would do a much better job but even though she is a superb actress she doesnt seem to get many big roles.

[faginsgirl]

name='Tyke']When it comes to the reasons for falling acting standards, in my view their is only one reason and that it THE CLEBRITY CULTURE.



I'm afraid there are 100's of real quality actors out there, but they don't cut it because they have'nt got celebrity looks. It's a sad day when a set of perfect teeth are more important than stage presence.

Well said!



xx

[bhowells]

name='batman']Dead right Chevy. I go to a lot of rep and small scale touring shows and the quality of the acting far outshines almost anything you'll find in a soap or typical one-off drama. Casting directors for TV have a very limited imagination when casting shows .... it's either got to be a soap actor who has got too big for his character's boots and legged it to Holby or The Bill or some wooden pretty boy/girl who has this week's 'look.' There many fine young and older actors out there who deserve a break.

Have to agree with you about the rep and small scale shows. I alsosupport the amateur theatrical group at my local theatre. They peform two musicals a year and a pantomime and a few concerts. The standard is excellent they work tirelessly, I take my hat off to them!