Posted: 3/28/16 at 11:48pm
The chemistry between the two leads, and even amongst the three male leads, is kind of the heart of the show. And it's distinctly lacking with the replacement casting.
Posted: 4/2/16 at 10:26am
Saw Garen last night and found him charming and convincing at best and hard-working at worst. Definitely not a poor performance by any means (and those who call his vocals simply adequate are doing so in comparison to Broadway's best). I have never seen Robbie Fairchild perform live, but even just watching his Tony Awards performance on YouTube, I can see what others are saying with regards to him having an upper edge on an otherwise great performer like Garen Scribner: Robbie brings a more precise, polished edge to Jerry with a certain mix of powerful yet graceful masculinity. It's hard to decribe, but it's nonetheless visible and potent. I guess I'll never know what I missed out on!
On the bright side, I was happy to catch the other leads from the original cast while they are still performing. Of special note are Leanne Cope (what a phenomenal performer), and, echoing mpkie, Brandon Uranowitz's portrayal of Adam Hochberg, which was really a standout.
Posted: 4/3/16 at 6:40pm
I think you're right- Garen is charming enough, but you can really see how hard he's having to work. It's unfortunately not a leading man performance, and nowhere in the same league at Robbie Fairchild.
Posted: 4/3/16 at 7:03pm
If he is the leading man in the show then he is by definition giving a leading man performance,
Surely there are positive aspects to his performance. He was a soloist with San Franscico Ballet so he must have chops.
Posted: 4/3/16 at 8:33pm
I agree. I think the chemistry between the three has way more to do with how this show has played than any sort of star quality.
Fairchild was an exceptional dancer, but I didn't find his singing or acting to necessarily be lifting the roof off the Palace Theater. He was certainly good enough to hold his own (and more) considering he is a dancer first. He did get a Tony nod. But I don't think it's so much a case of his individual star quality holding the piece together, but rather a collaborative effort where he worked well with the other two, who obviously like him. And vice versa.
Actually, I think if you take any of the three male leads out you would see the same dynamic. Especially if the replacement isn't that strong.
FiddleMeThis said: "The chemistry between the two leads, and even amongst the three male leads, is kind of the heart of the show. And it's distinctly lacking with the replacement casting.
"
Posted: 4/5/16 at 7:54pm
Show has definitely suffered with Garen Scribner leading the cast. He has dance chops, no doubt there. But he's lacking in acting ability and the chemistry just isn't there. No wonder they rushed to make that commercial right before Fairchild left, and don't seem to be drawing any attention to the fact that there's a new principal. Usually this is trumpeted by the press department. Not in this case.
Posted: 4/5/16 at 8:30pm
If you watch "S'Wonderful" vlog done by Max Von Essen (who plays Henri) you can see Max, Brandon, and Robbie acting like besties backstage and I think that must have translated onto the stage. I ended up liking the vlog way more than the show!!!
Posted: 5/14/16 at 11:47am
Does anyone happen to remember Dimitri's performance schedule? When Robbie was performing, they had it on the website, but it's not there anymore and I cannot remember it off the top of my head.
Posted: 5/14/16 at 12:36pm
Is Leanne still in the show?
Posted: 5/14/16 at 4:32pm
Dimitri is on Wednesday and Saturday matinees.
Leanne Cope has been out on vacation for a few weeks but will return (I believe) on the 18th. Her alternate, Sara Esty, is also wonderful, so the role is in excellent hands regardless.
Posted: 5/15/16 at 2:00pm
Sara Esty is fantastic. Dimitri is an athletic, muscular dancer but again, the voice and acting are lacking. He will likely take over for Garen when Garen leaves to do the tour later this year. I still feel Garen is a bit too effeminate in the part, especially compared to Fairchild. I am hearing the show will close prior to the London opening next year, but possibly as soon as post-holidays.
