Are You An OBC Snob?

[ElphieDefiesGravity]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 1:55pm

Just wondering. I am to a certain extent, but the only OBC I have actually seen live is Wicked (except for Joel Grey). I personally enjoyed Wicked more the first two times I saw it (with Idina and Kristin) than with Idina and Megan. I felt something was lacking in the show when I saw it with Megan and I prefer Kristin's take on the character. I also have seen the movie of the original Into the Woods and I saw the revival live. I overall prefered the original (not revival) cast, except for the tie between the two Baker's Wives.
Your thoughts?

[MagicToDo82]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 1:59pm

I am a total OBC snob when it comes to Into the Woods. I think the revival, as cool as it may have been, was unnecessary. When the original is as brilliant as Woods was, don't mess with it...at least for a while. Nothing matches Joanna Gleason, Bernadette Peters, Danielle Ferland, Kim Crosby, and especially Chuck Wagner/Robert Westenberg singing "Agony."

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 2:02pm

No, I have friends.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 2:04pm

I am with a few of my favourite shows, simply because I feel like there's a huge difference in the way the casting began and the way it changed after. I guess my most prominent example is AIDA, and that I could never consciously see someone other than Adam play Radames. I never saw the OBC of RENT, but that's probably the other one that I'm most "snobbish" about. That cast was a powerhouse, and they're irreplaceable. I used to not particularly care who I saw as opposed to who originated a role, but as I've become more familiar with the people in theatre, who I see has become much more important.

[LaeloftheLakes]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 2:06pm

I am, which is ridiculous, since I've never even seen the OBCs of the shows I'm fanatical about.

[Justice]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 2:11pm

I used to be.
But, as I grew older, I have learned to disassociate myself from OBC's as opposed to live. I love JLT in Wicked. I'm glad I saw her, because I will go again and again just for her.

Also, I am an actor. As one you have to put yourself in their shoes. If I replace a character in a show, I want someone to see ME - not to compare me to the original, even if that includes on a recording.
When I saw Rent last week (First time since the original cast), I found most of these cast members to be just as good as the originals. They all had their own take on the characters and did things differently, and I liked the choices that they made.
The more you see theatre, the more you'll see differences in the choices actor's make. So you didn't care for Megan, and you liked Kristin better - that is a preference. But, it can be a valid preference if you don't compare. I love Kristin as Glinda...but I LOVE JLT more. They're both great - none better than the other, But I prefer JLT's choices.

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 2:15pm

I am indeed.
I'm all for seeing different interpretations of roles that replacement actors make. But it does stand to reason that the OBC will always be more attached to the show than any replacements that follow, and not just because it's their voices you hear on the CD. Most of them literally created the roles from scracth, with songs written for their own unique voices, with the writers and director molding the parts and the show around their personal limitations, talents and quirks.
I'm not saying that replacement actors aren't good, on the contrary, I admire their bravery for the undertaking and love seeing how they used their own limitations, talents and quirks to tell the story. But the OBC was there when the show froze and are a part of that show for as long as the show exists because they were intrumental in it's fruitation in the first place.

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 2:16pm

I'm not by any means.

I keep saying this but the 2003 tour cast of AIDA (Paulette Ivory, Jeremy Kushnier and Lisa Brescia) are in my opinion the best Aida, Radames and Amneris to have ever played those roles. Better than the origianl cast. Although I do love the original cast.

Also concerning Terrance Mann: I love him in everything he's done, except Les Miz. I honestly have never liked his interpretation of Javert, I don't like the original Marius or Fantine either. And I prefer Lea Salonga to Frances Ruffelle.

I like to hear and see as many interpretations as possible, and when it comes down to it. Often times I prefer someone who was not in the Original Cast.

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 2:26pm

The only 100% OBC I've seen is Avenue Q. Joel Grey was out sick when I saw wicked, some chorus members already left when I saw BFO, Hunter Foster left a week before I saw LSOH, and Dedria (sp?) Goodman left Nine to do Chicago when I saw Nine. :-P

[Addicted2Seaweed]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 2:51pm

I'm wondering about Avenue Q w/ out the OBC. It's hard for me to imagine anyone else playing a lot of those parts. But who knows! Maybe it'll be ok

[Mamie]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 2:54pm

I was - until the recent revival of La Cage. The singing is tremendously better than the original.

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 4:21pm

The great thing about Avenue Q's casting situation is that, thus far, they've been bumping up their understudies to take over

[QtKt]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 4:25pm

I completely agree, if it wasn't for the fact that they've been bumping their understudies up, I would have said i was an OBC snob for Q as well...
But I adore Barrett and Ann Sanders.
Although the OBC will always hold a special place in my heart..
If anyone besides Barrett had taken over for John I might have been a bit upset...

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 5:13pm

QtKt, I agree completely!

[Lifeoftheparty2]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 5:45pm

for me, it depends on the show. for example, i am a total RENT OBC snob, but that doesnt mean I wont go see it with other casts. Aida, I was to a certain extent because I would never ever want to see anyone as Radames except Adam. I loved Felicia as Amneris and I loved a couple others as Aida so I can't really say I am a snob for that. Wicked- no definitely not. I love Idina, Shoshana, JLT, Kristin.. I love all them, so it wouldn't bother me to mix them up and see any of them.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 5:55pm

I am not really a obc snob. I enjoy it as I get to hear as the producers and directors and chreographers wanted as their first choice. But I have to say that in some cases, I enjoyed the person I first saw in the part.
For Example: I will always love Stephanie Pope in Chicago cause I saw her do Velma first.
And I will always love Charolette D'Amboise in CONTACT as I saw her do the part first.
The best example, is Laurie Beechman singing "Memory" from CATS. I saw her sing the role of Grizabella and have compaired all since her to the late great Laurie.

[KateMusic]

Posted: 1/21/05 at 8:45pm

I'm embarassed to admit that I am definitely an OBC snob. I am disappointed if I see an understudy. But, I do try to be understanding about the fact that these people who take over have worked just as hard as everyone else, and try to not to be biased when I see a change in cast. But I definitely try to see a show before all the original characters leave.