Alice Ripley's replacement in N2N? — Page 3

I just see Orfeh singing the line "YOU DON'T KNOW!" and somehow trying to riff it up. Idk.

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I'm not sure what Kelly2 means by saying that Kaitlin Hopkins has the voice Ripley lacks since Ripley gives a brilliant vocal performance in NEXT TO NORMAL. Her voice never fails to blow me away. Not only does she have a fantastic voice but she sure knows how to act with it, the way she uses her voice to portray Diana's complexities is one of the many reasons why she won the Tony this year. And Alison Janney couldn't be more wrong for the part in a film, and she would have to be dubbed.
I think Toni Collette (who had her own rock band at one point--or still does) would be simply spectacular in this show. I don't think Amy Spanger's acting (at least judging from the workshop tracks) is at the level required for the show to work, not to mention the fact that she might not be able to sing the score 8 times a week.
Someone that hasn't been mentioned that I think would work is Andrea Burns.

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I don't really like the idea of Sherie Rene Scott taking over, if she ever thought about taking a replacement role. I just listened to her "Didn't I See This Movie" and I found I don't really like Sherie's voice. Though I do love her Ursala. I think Orfeh is a poor choice. And she would be the same size as Natalie. Orfeh is tiny. But I do like the Julia Murney suggestion. I saw her in Wicked (tour) and loved her. Where can I find a recording of her "So Anyways?"

Add: Also Sherie sounds completely bored in the Feeling Electric demos. I saw her in Little Mermaid and she seemed bored there too. Was she bored in DRS? I wonder if she would eventually become really bored Diana.

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Updated On: 8/13/09 at 09:45 PM

"I'm not sure what Kelly2 means by saying that Kaitlin Hopkins has the voice Ripley lacks since Ripley gives a brilliant vocal performance in NEXT TO NORMAL. Her voice never fails to blow me away. Not only does she have a fantastic voice but she sure knows how to act with it, the way she uses her voice to portray Diana's complexities is one of the many reasons why she won the Tony this year."

I mean that I'd like to see someone who can act with their voice without missing half of the high notes. I'm sorry, but I've seen Ripley in N2N four times now, three times off-Broadway, and once on, and not once has she been able to hit the notes without cracking. And no, I'm not talking "acting choice" cracking, I mean embarrassing, notes that were meant to be sustained, but her voice gave out midway, CRACKING. I don't deny that her acting in the show is brilliant, or that her Tony was absolutely earned, her performance is incredible to behold. But to say that it is a vocal masterpiece or even close to being a "brilliantly sung" performance is disingenuous, in my opinion. What I mean, to further clarify, is that I have seen the brilliant and sadly underrated Kaitlin Hopkins in MANY shows, and not only is she a fantastic actress (who, yes, knows how to act using her voice), but she has a commanding stage presence and the grasp of dark comedy necessary to tackle a role like Diana.

Also, re: Allison Janney? I don't think I danced around the fact that vocally, it is probably out of the question for her, but I believe that in a non-musical adaptation of the story, or if she were dubbed, her acting in the part would be outstanding. Not sure why you don't think physically and presence-wise she wouldn't fit.

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Hmmm, I don't think I like the thought of Janney in this role at all. Vocally, it's a bit absurd, and even simply acting-wise, I just don't see it. I'm not sure I've really been emotionally attached to anything she's done, and that's, well, clearly a necessity in the role of Diana.

Janney could never in a million years sing this role, but she would act the hell out of it. Don't judge her acting based on the nonsense in 9 to 5. Go watch The West Wing, a show that she received 4 Emmys for, and you'll see what an incredible actress she is.

To put the 4 Emmys in persective, The West Wing was on for 7 seasons. Janney won an Emmy for more than half of them (and frankly, should have won her 5th for the final season).

Haydn Gwynne?

WORD, adamgreer, she was completely robbed of that fifth Emmy, especially considering how much of the show she carried in the last season.

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WORD, adamgreer, she was completely robbed of that fifth Emmy, especially considering how much of the show she carried in the last season.

My favorite moment of that final season was when she found out Toby had leaked the secrets about the shuttle. She didn't say a word, but for a good 30 seconds, there was nothing but SILENCE. The emotion Janney was able to convey with just her face was incredible. That moment, knowing what you knew about the relationship of those two characters, was possibly the most heartbreaking in the show's history.

But, I digress.

Adamgreer, that moment is honestly breathtaking. Her entire storyline with Danny, especially in the last few episodes, really hit home for me too.

Back on topic, Carolee Carmello would be really interesting, she's got a great instrument too. I'm still thinking about what Orfeh would bring to the table though. I would never have thought of her in this role, but it really would be a force of nature performance, I have no doubt, though...and I'm sure I'll get stoned for this, I think she can afford to be choosy enough about roles to only originate them from now on.

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Liza with a Z

2 Words.... Polly Holliday!

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Have to admit, I have not seen much of the West Wing, although I saw a few episodes here and there and was not overly impressed. I'm basing my opinion on the other shows I've seen her in: Away We Go, Drop Dead Gorgeous, Juno, 10 Things..., and of course, 9 to 5. I'll admit that I enjoyed her in each of these, but would not have put her on my list of emotionally raw actresses. Although, if her performance in West Wing was as incredible as you are saying, I could stand corrected.