Jane Krakowski in 'Grand Hotel'

[pattifan2]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 3:58pm

I have the OBCR of 'Grand Hotel' and just love Krakowski's performance. I would love to have seen her perform the role and wondered if anyone saw her. I saw this show recently in London and can imagine her being great. She has terrific personality in all the numbers on the recording - especially like the snatches of her dialogue, too. Anyone else enjoy her performance?

[Glebb]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 3:59pm

She was teeny-tiny and adorable.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 4:00pm

She was divine in Grand Hotel.

[cturtle]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 4:00pm

who says bigger is better?

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 4:04pm

This is actually one of the shows my camp's doing this summer! I really like the show itself. I'm a huge fan of Maury Yeston's music. Also, I loved Sutton Foster's rendition of "I Want to Go to Hollywood" on The Maury Yeston Songbook CD. I wonder how Jane Krakowski was in that role.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 4:04pm

Some pics

http://www.geocities.com/girlinthemirror/grand.html

[pattifan2]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 4:06pm

Coincidentally, Krakowski's current squeeze played the Baron in the recent London production of 'GH' and he was fab.

[nmartin]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 4:07pm

She was marvelous in Grand Hotel as was the whole original cast.

Did anyone else think that her number I Want to Got to Hollywood started out with the same/similar music that starts Chita's Chief Cook and Bottle Washer?
Updated On: 7/4/05 at 04:07 PM

[pattifan2]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 4:09pm

That's incredible, nmartin. I always think that's what the number's going to be when that intro plays. It is exactly the same intro as 'Chief Cook and Bottle Washer' from 'The Rink'. Pleased someone else thinks so, too.

[Glebb]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 4:17pm

Tommy Tune's NINE blew me away and I got to meet him once when he was rehearsing at City Center (where I reported for work every day for 13 years). He was a sweetheart. After I moved away from NYC I took a trip back to see GRAND HOTEL. I was expecting so much because of NINE and was a bit let down that it did not satisfy me in the same way. I never bought the cast recording and I wonder how I would like GRAND HOTEL today.

[pattifan2]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 4:21pm

I've spoken to lots of people who saw the Broadway production and original West End production and I'm amazed that most of them say they cannot remember anything about the show. All they seem to remember is the use of the chairs and the revolving door. The recent Donmar production used no set to speak of - even the revolving door was created by the Front Desk staff. I thought it was a brilliant show and the OBCR is on my regular playlist. Try going back to it and see if the show benefits from being revisited.

[Glebb]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 4:23pm

If Leveaux were to direct it for Broadway, I would so be there.

[pattifan2]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 4:26pm

I know many feel that you don't feel for any of the characters as they remain very distant from the audience but I thought the Baron's number 'Roses At The Station' was heartbreaking. The show must just have done it for me.

[nmartin]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 4:40pm

I know people who hated Grand Hotel. I loved it. I still think it has one of the best opening numbers I've ever seen. I especially liked the performance by John Wylie. Marvelous actor.

[Glebb]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 4:46pm

I certainly didn't hate it. I just wanted another NINE and that was not possible. I loved Tommy Tune's choreography, especially when he very cleverly used some of young flapper Joan Crawford's Hollywood choreography.

[nmartin]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 4:53pm

Joan was the "personification of joy, youth, and happiness."

I also liked that Karen Aker's character was named Rafaela Ottiano, which is the name of the actress who played Garbo's maid.

[Glebb]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 4:55pm

nmartin, I suspect you're a treasure!

[nmartin]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 4:57pm

Glebb, you could never "meet somebody who could love somebody as much as I love you...Oh my"

One final word about Grand Hotel: Wally Harper did wonders with that show.
Updated On: 7/4/05 at 04:57 PM

[Glebb]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 4:58pm

:)

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 5:06pm

I liked this show - saw it twice - but what made it was the incredible cast.

[Jon]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 9:51pm

No matter how good the musical was, there will never be anything like Garbo in the film. This was before the Hays Censorship Commitee made "translucent or transparent" costumes forbidden, and Ms. Garbo spends most of the film in flimsy chiffon negligees, with no undergarments.

[Glebb]

Posted: 7/4/05 at 9:53pm

Do you like Joan in the film?