oh i wish you had seen it, it was just amazing.
you make a good point about maybe saving Arthurs voice, maybe thats why they do that now. but the guy just didnt have the stage presence.
Swing Joined: 3/15/13
According to Ben Hope's Facebook post on March 18, he states that playing the role of Guy was temporary, 4 weeks with a possible extension, so he was definitely aware of the situation.
I listened to a recording of Arthur singing Leave, and he definitely is not super-confident about all the crazy riffs at the end. That may come in time. The notes are there; he sounds more comfortable singing Say It to Me Now than Steve did, even on the cast recording.
I saw Arthur yesterday in the show. I will say he has a totally different take on the role which isn't necessarily a bad thing. He didn't have the emotion during "Leave." Steve just oozed the heartache needed for that song to work and he had a gruffness to his voice that made that song work. There are other places where Arthur is actually better than Steve. His acting is better and I preferred his "Say It to Me Now" and "When Your Mind's Made Up."
My take on Joanna Christie isn't quite the same. I didn't really enjoy her performance. Girl is a role that can turn annoying very quickly. I think Cristin kept it from going that directly but Joanna cannot. Her accent isn't working for me and I'm just not feeling it at all. The one good thing I will say is that her version of "The Hill" was really great and I don't love that song. The singing part of the performance is there for Joanna but the acting isn't.
I'm curious to hear other people's feelings on the differences.
Clyde, i did not like Arthur at all. He was too dweeby/hipsterish for me and his voice doesnt measure up to Steves. Julie was OK, but not as good an actress as Cristin nor as good a singer as Laura (ive seen all 3)
The first two times i saw it, i cried twice, once when they are on top of the stage when she speak Czech to him, and the other time at the end. this time i wasnt moved at all.
The first two times I saw it I did cry a couple times. The first time during "Leave" because that song is very dear to me. I didn't cry at all this last time. I was probably being nicer about it then I should have been. It wasn't that great. Arthur sounded a lot like Damien Rice to me.
His acting is better and I preferred his "Say It to Me Now"
It definitely sounds like he can sing the latter half of the song with better ease. It would make sense that a year or so of singing "Leave" and "Say It to Me Now" is what damaged Steve's voice so, so it's assuring that, at least for one of those, Arthur seems better tasked with it.
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/29/12
I agree with the thoughts about Arthur not being like Steve as far as emotion. I enjoyed the performance, though. I was very happy to finally meet David Patrick Kelly who was playing Da. He was impressed I remembered him in the Warriors and Crooklyn.
Updated On: 5/2/13 at 11:52 AM
Is that the "Sittin on the toilet" lady in your profile pic?
Updated On: 5/2/13 at 11:55 AM
David Patrick Kelly is such a cute little man. I really wish they would release his pre-show song. The name of it escapes me right now.
Arthur and Julie didnt do justice to this scene in my opinion... the emotion just wasnt there
You're entitled to that opinion.
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/29/12
"Is that the "Sittin on the toilet" lady in your profile pic? "
Yeah. She got out of the house and hit Times Square.
She never wipes...
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/29/12
Clyde, Da's preshow song is called "On Raglan Road." And, it's an Irish folksong (the preshow, as I am sure you're aware, consists of both Irish and Czech folksongs.)
I remember reading in The New York Times, that the reason that they didn't announce Ben and Laura as temporary replacements was because the producers were having trouble for a bit getting the exchanged approved by Equity.
" that the reason that they didn't announce Ben and Laura as temporary replacements was because the producers were having trouble for a bit getting the exchanged approved by Equity"
Yes Winston, when i went, theyre was no announcment... it was like going to see Ivy Lynn and getting Karen Cartwright instead
There's an announcement for you
I miss Rory
Updated On: 5/2/13 at 03:04 PM
Did anyone see Claire Wellin in the show? I've been in a couple shows with her in college just wondered what people thought.
Clyde, "Este Si Ja Pohar Vina Zaplatim" and "Raglan Road" were released as bonus tracks on the Barnes & Noble exclusive release of the cast recording, and Chandler's Wife was an exclusive bonus track on iTunes. (Those are the three songs they always perform before the show.)
Well I'm an idiot and had no idea. Thanks, MrMusic. I'll have to search them out. I do have "Chandler's Wife" although it's not my favorite.
Broadway Star Joined: 4/3/10
"Is that the "Sittin on the toilet" lady in your profile pic?
Yeah. She got out of the house and hit Times Square."
Sittin at TKTS....Sittin at TKTS....Sittin at TKTS....now flush.
anyone know why Claire Willen left the show? She took over for Elizabeth A. Davis(Reza) and is no longer listed in the cast. Katrina Lenk is now listed as Reza.
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