#laurabidingcitizen

So first off I'll start with my two favourites, because I'm going to be honest they share an alarming amount of similarities... That being Stewvert and Bunvert (I've firmly set them on the same tier! They're both that good and I adore them both so much!!) They both play it with a sense of reverence more than anything else - a sense that the stars are something to aspire to in terms of order and knowing where you stand. They both treat the stars with such respect, gentleness and vulnerability that he doesn't show anywhere else in the entire show! Stew confirmed to me he whispers the word 'stars' the first time because he's trying to not disturb them and it's a feature that crosses over with Bunvert as well, with Bunvert also doing a little bow of respect to them that is just so wonderfully sweet... It's a moment that they really drop the mask they put up and I think that's really what humanises their 'vert's a whole lot in my eyes and what makes them stand out the most. Then there's still that determination being drawn from there as well, but it almost feels like he's wanting to prove himself to the stars almost? Prove that he can be just the way they are, succeed and garner the same respect he gives to them... It's my favourite way to read this song by far and I always love whenever a 'vert takes it more in this direction but these two are by far the best and my favourites for this reason.

Then you've got the ones I've seen that fall a bit in the middle of the scale - there's a bit of vulnerability and anger in equal measure... I think the more balanced 'verts I've seen are Richardvert and Adamvert because they both have very similar vibes! While they don't show as much outright vulnerability as Bunvert/Stewvert you still get the sense that he's opening up just the smallest little bit... Richard's felt to open up and drop the mask more than Adam's did, but they both took it a very similar way! I feel like it's always the 'vert's I view as having more gentlemanly vibes that fall in this level somehow, which is an odd trend I've noticed. There's still just enough of a slip in the mask that makes you see there's something there behind all the talk of justice to make you consider if he is actually thinking things through more than he lets on I'd like to say, which I think is really important when it comes to his progression later - so it's always something I really appreciate seeing! It's always lovely to see that sort of balance and I think it attests a lot to the actor when they can get that balance right.

Then you've got the ones I feel push more of the sense of anger/determination and I think that stuck out to me the most when we had Thackovert. I always read his as more 'I AM THE STARS AND THE STARS ARE ME WE ARE THE SAME' like he actively sees all the qualities he's listing in the stars in himself as well and he's like 'well if the stars can hold their place and their course then so can I and I will never doubt that I will succeed'. He's by far the most focus and anger driven out of the 'vert's I've seen and sometimes I love seeing this opposite end of spectrum where he's just truly blazing with determination. (Though I'd very much want to make him sit down and have a relaxing cup of tea even more after all that tbh. I will look after him.) I think this version is effective for making the level of breakdown he has later so much more impactful (especially when you play that portion as utterly unhinged as Thackovert did) since you know the level of pressure he's put on himself by holding himself to such an untouchable standard and he's turning that anger on himself... Like, it still makes sense to me narratively why you'd choose to play it so angrily as well! Plus it's made a massive impact on me but in a totally different way than previous - it's made his 'vert really memorable to me!