Worst Chemistry

[wicked1492]

What's the most awkward, uncomfortable, nonexistent chemistry you've seen between two performers onstage?

I'll start: Matt Cavenaugh and Josefina Scaglinone in WSS.

[themysteriousgrowl]

During intermission of ROAD TO MECCA, Rosemary Harris and Carla Gugino did some O-Chem bonding equations together, and it was pretty painful to watch.

Wait. No. Maybe it was the first and second acts.

I... cannot... remember...

[BwayEqs]

Haven Burton & Eric Peterson in SHREK
The current Belle & Beast (I don't know their names) in the NETworks tour of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST.

[Wynbish]

Nick Jonas and talent. I just never really saw that connection.

[wicked1492]

^ They couldn't even compromise and meet halfway. Not very generous partners.

[BwayEqs]

Nick Jonas and talent. I just never really saw that connection.

Finally, someone else understands.

[madbrian]

When Richard Kind took over as Andre in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, he had no chemistry with anyone else on the stage.

[little_sally]

I could not believe for a second that Kelli O'Hara was in love with Matthew Broderick in Nice Work.

[finebydesign]

Now Kelli O'Hara and Harry Connick Jr. was finally some real chemistry on stage.


Despite all shows being love stories, a believable "chemistry" today on Broadway seems rare to me.

[Musicaldudepeter]

Kate Jennings Grant and Craig Bierko in 2009's GUYS AND DOLLS. They didn't have an ounce of chemistry. (Chemistry? ... Yeah, chemistry...)

[Playbilly]

Lane and Neuwirth. Altogether ookie.

[Wynbish]

I did not see them in action, but what about Roger Bart and Sutton Foster?

[bwayphreak234]

Marisa Lupe (Glinda understudy) and Merideth Kaye Clarke (Elphaba standby) in the Wicked national tour a couple years back... I had a hard time even thinking they were friends.

[WOSQ]

Tony Roberts and Stockard Channing who were the first replacement cast for "They're Playing Our Song".

Zip; nix; rien; zilch; bupkis.

Plus they hated each other.

[Overkill]

Roger Bart and Sutton Foster worked very well together in YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN.

I thought that Lane and Neuwirth's chemistry in Addams Family was good - Their voices just didn't blend well together, and the material was just so bad. Roger Rees didn't seem to connect very well with Brooke Shields when she stepped in, but he was great with Bebe.

[broadwaydevil]

Despite all shows being love stories, a believable "chemistry" today on Broadway seems rare to me.

Then you haven't seen Once.

The worst chemistry I've seen recently is easily Kelli O'Hara and Matthew Broderick in Nice Work.

[DefyGravity777]

Dee Roscioli and Amanda Jane Cooper in Wicked on the 1NT. Just terrible chemistry but it might have been because Amanda Jane Cooper was an awful Glinda.

[NoHSMisNotAMusical]

What's with the italics?

I would like to nominate Cris Groenendaal and Betsey Joslyn in SWEENEY TODD.

[Bettyboy72]

There's not an ounce of chemistry on the EVITA stage. Sad, since the musical is all about passionate people,

Patti LuPone and Boyd Gaines in Gypsy. She has the sex appeal of a ham hock and he never seemed into Rose.

Spring Awakening-non Equity tour. The 20 year old who looked 40 Melchior making moves on a tiny adolescent looking Wendla. Just gross.

[suspendabledisbelief]

Really good chemistry I've seen is Caissie Levy and Richard Fleeshman's in Ghost

[CurtainPullDowner]

Worst; Levy and Fleeshman. He's a well built stick of wood with one emotion (EQUITY should be ashamed to have let him in this country) and she's a wash rag (in this show) with a decent voice, they kiss a lot but I felt zip between them and the dreadful book does not help them.

[Citygirl.grace]

Ahhh... Nick Jonas is awful. I also agree with Matt and Josefina. I know the show is humorous and the love story is not the main point of it, but I thought the chemistry between Daniel Radcliffe and Rose Hemming way was non existent.

Best Chemistry: I know the show didn't last long, but Jeremy Jordan and Laura Osnes in Bonnie & Clyde was amazing and totally believable.

[onedaymore]

Stephanie Umoh and whatever that guy's name was who played Coalhouse in the Ragtime revival had terrible chemistry. She didn't seem all too into him, from what I remember. (add this to the reasons why it failed)

O'Hara and Szot's chemistry in the South Pacific revival was fantastic, however. They really convincingly played the whole "opposites attract" thing well.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Ethel Merman and Fernando Lamas in HAPPY HUNTING.
From Kallow's Bio:
"Lamas' penis size was already the stuff of Hollywood legend, and he required (Irene) Shariff design his costume to be as tight as possible, so he could show off his endowment. ...Several cast members heard Ethel scream at the stage manager in the wings:
'I had people out front! I know what's going on! You tell him to wear a godd*mn jockstrap!'"

[vinnylin]

Hugh Jackman and Jarrod Emick in the Boy from Oz. Their scenes together were SO uncomfortable....