42nd Street

[seabyrd]

Posted: 7/27/03 at 10:43pm

Took some out-of-towners to see 42nd Street, and it was a wow of a show in the non-stop dancing department. I was very disappointed, however, that someone such as Beth Leavel playing Dorothy Brock (with an awful voice) got to sing all the good songs. Added to that was the hammy Karen Murphy who was a bit over the top. The leads were short on charm, but the tappping ensemble was marvelous!

[chasing_rainbows43]

Posted: 7/28/03 at 12:11pm

Surprised you didn't like Leavel - I've always thought her voice was damn near perfect for that role.

What'd you think of Tom Wopat? I really loved him - am going back specifically for those two on Wednesday (I think). Wopat's definitely got the charm, the stage presence, and if he isn't one of the sexiest men alive....

Who is playing Peggy right now? Is it still Nadine Isenegger?

[ChristineDaae]

Posted: 7/28/03 at 1:36pm

I love 42nd Street!

When I first saw it, which was like a year or two ago, Beth was the understudy and she happend to be on that night. I thought she was pretty good. I saw Kate Levering as Peggy- She was great! How is the new Peggy?

[seabyrd]

Posted: 7/28/03 at 3:37pm

In response to the last two messages: Maybe Beth Leavel was having a bad day......I think her voice is shrill with a wobbly vibrato, and her comic delivery reminded me somewhat of JoAnn Worley which, in very small doses, is ok - but not in that major a role. I can easily imagine Christine Ebersole earning the Tony she won for it -- Beth was trying to hard to be funny, and talking so fast that a lot of her lines just got lost. As for Wopat....he got kind of chubby (not that there's anything wrong with that) and was adequate I guess, but nothing to write home about - I thought his spoken voice modulations were a little extreme - from shouting to speaking too softly. Yes, Nadine is playing Peggy Sawyer...a great dancer, albeit mechanical - and not particularly charismatic. I guess I expect too much - the saving grace is the tap dancing, although as I said, some of the really pretty songs were thrown away in the vocal department. What I think annoyed me was that they werent playing it straight - but as a satire. It's a period piece and doesnt need to try so hard for laughs - just a little heavy-handed in that regard. It has enough charm on its own without reaching so hard.

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 7/28/03 at 5:56pm

O gosh- I am absolutely in love with Nadine Isenegger. She's amazing, I think. I didn't see Beth Leavel, I saw her stanbdby Dorothy Stanley, who I didn't like. But I've heard that Beth is great. Anyway- I'm glad you enjoyed it. It's perhaps my favortie show ever.

[LiTtLeDaNcEr729]

Posted: 7/28/03 at 9:28pm

Yay...haha...I love 42nd street. We did the opening number at my dance recital this past June..I was the soloist- it was fun times. Haha. I must say that I didn't love Tim Wopat...Michael Cumptsy (is that his name? hehe) was much better in my opinion.

[Broadwaylady]

Posted: 7/28/03 at 9:36pm

42nd Street is a real showy great musical. Even if you do not care for the stars, you have to love that dancing and costumes.

[PJ]

Posted: 7/28/03 at 9:54pm

Anyone know what the name of the song is that plays when you open the shows website? http://www.42ndstreetbroadway.com/

[flaemmchen]

Posted: 7/28/03 at 10:13pm

That's Lullaby of Broadway.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/28/03 at 10:16pm

I love that song! :)

[flaemmchen]

Posted: 7/28/03 at 10:19pm

I well up every time during that number without fail, especially when they do the, "Cooooome, oooonnnnn, alongcome on along and listen to..." My heart just fills--it's just one of the many things that remind me of why I want to be a part of this business.

[PJ]

Posted: 7/28/03 at 10:20pm

It is a very catchy song. I like it.

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 7/28/03 at 10:36pm

There are a whole lot of songs in that show that make me react the same way, Flaemmchen. "We're in The Money", "Audition", "Lullaby of Broadway", "42nd Street", etc. It's truly one of the most amazing shows in theater history, I think.

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 7/28/03 at 10:36pm

Okay- there's really no reason for this post. I just had to post one more to become a Broadway Star, so this is it! Just thought I'd share that with everyone!

[PJ]

Posted: 7/28/03 at 10:42pm

I was looking through the pics on the site and saw a pic of Catherine Zeta-Jones as Peggy!!

[broadwaydreams]

Posted: 7/28/03 at 10:58pm

My school did 42nd street this past year, as its spring musical. It was truly amazing. It's such an all-over fun show to do. I'm planning to go up and see the Broadway show of it soon, I'm very excited.

[LiTtLeDaNcEr729]

Posted: 7/28/03 at 11:23pm

Haha- I saw that pic of CZJ- it made me laugh...I dunno why.

[skingdom]

Posted: 7/30/03 at 4:02am

Saw 42nd Street and was dissapointed. Yes, the dancing was amazing, but Beth Leavel really had trouble singing and I was not impressed with Kate Levering except for the dancing. I would like to say it is a pointless musical, well I guess I just said it. Maybe it was me the day I went, but I don't think so.

[Benzy92]

Posted: 7/30/03 at 8:51am

I'm surprised Karen Murphy wasn't very good. I saw her in Show Tune a while ago and she did the best version of "If He Walked Into My Life" I have ever heard. Its too bad that show was never recorded for a CD.

[iluvny]

Posted: 7/30/03 at 11:14am

I saw 42nd Street w/ Kate Levering & Beth Leavel. I thought Kate did an amazing job - her singing and dancing were both great and she kept the energy level up the entire show. Beth did OK - I wasn't disappointed, but from hearing the cast album, I kinda wish I had seen Christine Ebersole.

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 7/30/03 at 10:57pm

Well, I don't think anyone can beat Christine Ebersole. She is absolutley amazing. I'm suprised Kate is getting such good reviews. Her voice is not great. I mean, I'm sure she's an AMAZING dancer and all, but I've heard from people who saw all three of the Peggys on Broadway that the current one, Nadine Isenegger is the best.

[seabyrd]

Posted: 7/30/03 at 11:21pm

Isenegger is a wonderful dancer, but has no star quality, charisma, or anything else. In fact, her teensy features kind of disappear. Let's put it this way - when Gwen Verdon or Chita Rivera took the stage, you knew you were seeing a star! There is no way the fictional "Pretty Lady" show would make a star out of the fictional Peggy Sawyer as played by Nadine Isenegger. Wonder what the show would be like with somebody who really shines!

[flaemmchen]

Posted: 7/31/03 at 11:58am

I'll have to agree with Billy on this one. Nadine is definitely my favorite Peggy, and I've seen a few of them. I think the two major differences in Nadine's portrayal that make hers my favorite are her genuine portrayal of the character and the fact that she can actually sing. She's also the only Peggy I've seen whose confidence visibly increases as the show progresses and she comes into her own, and she gets laughs in places where none of the others ever did, particularly right before Go Into Your Dance where Annie says, "Hey, kid! You're good!" and Peggy replies, "I know!"

I adore Beth's performance as Dorothy Brock. The singing voice she uses, from what I understand from people who have spoken to her, is a character choice. She will never have Christine Ebersole's golden voice or her elegance, but she is hilarious and is always in the moment.

[iluvny]

Posted: 7/31/03 at 12:16pm

I've never seen any of the other Peggys (just Kate), so I have nothing to compare. But, I thought Kate was an absolute doll onstage - great stage presence, wonderful singing, facial expressions, and dancing that will blow you away.

I'm very glad to hear that other actresses are getting such great reviews as well - that's the great thing about Broadway and the sea of talent out there - even when one great performer leaves, the show doesn't die. So good luck to Nadine and all the Peggys to follow her! :)