Your Middle-earth Role

[Lalwendë]

This might be an amusing diversion...let's see...

I was watching a documentary the other night where Sean Bean was talking about what fun it was to play Sharpe and I thought it must be an ace role to have - he gets to play with swords, ride horses, fire rifles, have fights, swear and errrr, tumble ladies (not so much fun for me that one, but the guys might not say no).

So I started wondering which role I'd love to have in a production of one of Tolkien's works!

I can't deny it, I'd love to be Gandalf! Stomping about in a vast cloak and pointy hat, fighting the Balrog, wielding a staff, being sarcastic and tetchy at every turn. Fantastic! OK, so I'd have to get a fake beard and eat gravel to get a deep voice, but what fun!

Which role would YOU play?

Would you be Gimli and mess with axes? A fey Legolas? Or would you want to be an evil Sauron or the voice of Smaug?

[Andsigil]

Gimli or Lurtz: guys who fight dirty.

Lurtz threw some strange, shield-weapon at Aragorn, punched his lights out, and even headbutted him. Sure, he lost, but he lost in style. I also liked the way he scowled and growled when Saruman told him to bring back the halflings alive and unspoiled.


There's a scene in TTT in which Gimli buries his axe in the groin of an Uruk berserker coming over the wall. Lots of moves with his axe besides swinging, too, like a jabs, and hook/pulls.

[Ibrîniðilpathânezel]

Originally Posted by Lalwendë

I can't deny it, I'd love to be Gandalf! Stomping about in a vast cloak and pointy hat, fighting the Balrog, wielding a staff, being sarcastic and tetchy at every turn. Fantastic! OK, so I'd have to get a fake beard and eat gravel to get a deep voice, but what fun!

Actually, you don't need to eat gravel to get a deep voice. Some years ago (hmm, when I think about it, it's decades ago, 1980 or so), I did Gandalf for a competitive masquerade. Took four hours to do the beard, wig, make-up, and various strapping-in necessary to make the look convincing. Normally, I have an mezzo to alto voice, but nature took a hand that weekend and gave me the mother of all chest colds, so my voice dropped by about an octave and a half, yet still managed to retain resonance, so I was able to pull it off rather convincingly (to the point that I had to show ID to prove to some people, in particular the incognito judges, that I was really a female under it all). It was all beyond cool (except for the fever I fell into bed with after I got out of all the make-up after the ball was over).

Needless to say, I'd go for Gandalf, too.

[Lindale]

If my voice allows (and chances are it will, this alto voice of mine) I'd like to try Smaug. I remember back in high school my best friend and I performed the "one-two-three-four-five-six!" line of Emily from The Exorcism of Emily Rose. She did the insane mouth-watering act, complete with the tattered dress costume and messy hair, while I did the hellish voice. We were perfect, people even tossed money! And I always imagine Smaug to have that kind of voice, though in a mellow way.

I'd always love to do Elvish parts, but my voice and my height (exactly five feet ) won't allow me.

[Thinlómien]

Despite mostly looking like a Hobbit more than anything else, I've discovered I can actually make a convincing enough Elf.



So, I'd like to be Gildor like in that pic - although, sadly, I'm still too short for that. (And if someone has still missed that LotR-masquerading silliness and is interested, scroll down this page. )

Playing Frodo would be a nice challenge but I think I could manage it up to some point at least. Playing Merry would be slightly less interesting but less difficult too.

I'm sure playing Gandalf would be funny too. And what about playing the WK? Or Gollum?

[mark12_30]

ALthough I find myself struggling against it, my initial reaction was 'Legolas and the archery, of course." I do shoot longbow. BUt I admit, I was suprised by my own reaction.

But hey, it's a great role. Long golden hair, lots of archery, enough horseback riding to make me happy.
By that logic I should like the role of Eomer, also, but the archery element isn't there. Humph. Now I'm going to have to invent a golden haired elf who does plenty of archery from horseback, and invent a game to play him in, and it's all just so average. The snow-walking thing is a plus. I'd insist on more tree-climbing.

In a more historical vein, Feanor would be fun to play. If we're considering Sil, however, Luthien would be my top choice: although I've never wanted to be a bat. But-- casting a spell over Melkor with a song? Yeah. That would be fun.

[Estelyn Telcontar]

I've always liked Ioreth and I'm sure I could portray her convincingly. Garrulous old woman who still manages to have something worth saying in all that prattle - sounds like fun to play! Besides, it would be hilarious to share some of the best humorous moments in the book with whoever plays Gandalf and Aragorn.

As a matter of fact, I have a lovely idea for a Ioreth costume; when I sew it (that will be some months from now) I'll come back and show it off.