Profile for Steve721

"While they're at it, they should tell him that some of his predictions aren't even on Broadway……."

 Or maybe you should read the fine print in the Times articles:

"Critics do not have the power they once had but with the vicious reviews this got it was a determining factor. You still hear idiots say" I was going to see such and such show but I heard Brantley did not like it so I changed my mind". How about using your mind and decide for yourself if you want to see it? This is basically being a robot and taking orders."

I saw the original Broadway productions of both shows.  Les Mis was thrilling, but the subsequent productions of that show I've seen have been boring, although I haven't seen the current revival.  While Pryce and Salonga were terrific, as a musical, I thought Miss Saigon was just OK. 

"I didn't have a problem with Jackman's singing at all! If the film didn't take such an approach that was raw and realistic, it would've been different."

If they ever do make a main-stream movie of Carousel (with a decent budget), given the realities of how films are made and marketed, they will cast movie stars, not Broadway stars.

A lot of Jackman's vocal issues on Les Mis would have been much less problematic if they'd just recorded the soundtrack in a studio; the live singing thing did not work very well for most of the Les Mis cast.  IMHO, the Les Mis soundtrack is almost unlistenable. 

"
Unfortunately, my one and only criticism was what comes after afterwards, which I won't describe for those who haven't seen the show yet.  Personally I found it excessive and cheapening of what was otherwise a fantastic experience
Henrik, could you elaborate with a SPOILER warning? Because I must have missed what happened after the blackout. "

 ********SPOILER*********

"Every time I hear him, I think of Celine Dion: technically talented, but just absent of any emotion or interpretation.  "

He's better on some songs than on others.  His version of "Bring Him Home" does show a fair amount of emotion.  But I don't see how he could ever play Val Jean on stage--he doesn't have the acting chops and he's completely the wrong "type".

SPOLIERS

I sat in the third row, and after he asks the question for the last time (just before the blackout), she has this pained and sad expression on her face as if to say no, you can't.  From what I saw, I didn't think the ending was ambiguous at all, at least in terms of her reaction to the question.

"He sounds great there, is that in the same key as the original though?"

Um, no he doesn't sing "Bring Him Home" in the original key (which is A Major); he takes it down half a step. 

"It was actually Send in the Clowns when I found Bernadette to be the MOST hammy.  She was performing for an audience, not talking to herself."

In that song, Desirée is finally confronting her great regrets and is struggling to control her emotions.  I thought Peters completely nailed all of that.  In 30-plus years of going to musicals, her performance of that song is definitely one of the highlights.  

I haven't seen any of them yet, but based upon what I've read we have three worthy performances from three honest-to-God Broadway stars.  So flip a coin.  While I would love for Kelli to win, this is not one of those years (or categories) in which any of the losers will have been robbed.

"I actually saw it 8 times.  6 with CZJ, once with Jayne Paterson on for CZJ, and once with Bernadette.  I had a friend in the show, so I didn't pay every time.  But still, I saw Catherine give GLORIOUS performances.  Bernadette was hamming it up concert style when I saw her."

"I agree that Kate should have won, but CZJ was PHENOMENAL in Night Music.  People remember her for her Tony performance, when she was sick.  But I saw her 6 times between November and April, and she was flawless each time.  I for one actually thought she was better than Bernadette but a fair amount."

""It's hard to believe that Catherine Zeta-Jones has a Tony and  O'Hara doesn't. "
No it's not, Hunter.
CZJ is an amazing Oscar and Tony winning actress. And she knocked it out of the park in ALM. Totally deserved her Tony. "

"I think Kelli's best shot at a Tony in the future would be to originate a dramatic role."

Bridges?

"I don't see any reason to believe a) that one's opinion is "in the minority" (as if anyone can know that for sure without polling everyone) or b) that it would matter at all even if it were."