Ashlee Simpson, has she been reviewed? — Page 3

You just posted a link from the forbidden site.

If she doesn't know the correct terminology, then the press agent is the screw-up for not briefing her before sending her out on interviews.

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I am just so heartbroken that anyone could check out the site we will not mention and see that footage and believe that that is anywhere near performance level calibre for a Broadway show. After 70 years of shattering performances, if she really did get those type of solid reviews(and I intend to check them all as soon as I finish this post) then the London critics are twits.

There was not one bit of Fosse in that clip. Not one hand gesture. Not one toe point, not a single leg extension.

It's time to go to synthasizers - of the performers.

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I have poured over the sites for The Times of London, The Daily Mail, The Independent and Guardian and guess what? No reviews. The only "rave" review I found was in Hello, which is about like getting a rave in People. And then This Is London commented on The Hello review and soeone on the news wires wrote that she was getting raves.

I'll wait and see....

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I think it's absolutely HILARIOUS she calls musicals "Broadways."

It doesn't even make me mad, it makes me laugh so much.

Think of the thousands of young women who would kill their relatives to play this role, women who have talent and abilities, can sing and dance and act. And she gets the part because she is the SISTER of someone famous.

I... am... app...aulled....

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^ Does the same as StephenSondheim

newsieboy23,

Excuse me for just throwing in the inacurate dance phrases. I was tired and in a hurry. It comes from twenty years of writing and producing movies and TV. I have been away from the stage for a long time now and I got lazy. I won't make that mistake here again.

What I should have said was Ashlee Simpson looks like a little girl trying - in vain - to copy the Fosse style. It's a style that sets itself apart from any other choreography in the world. The style is, in my humble opinion, best reflected through the hands. Fosse's choreography was perhaps the most riveting used of hands-in-dance I have ever seen onstage. Look at any of the photos from any original cast of a Fosse show and the hands in every show are telling a story. Miss Simpson's hands are limp and inarticulate when they should be reaching, flexing. They should be hands of steel. Roxie Hart is a needy, grasping woman and when I saw Gwen Verdon do the role, you could have watched the entire show and understood every moment and nuance by just watching her hands.

The body of a Fosse dancer is nublie, sexy, sleek and coiled, like a panther or a snake. Miss Simpson is barely keeping up with the chorus boys. She's not leading the pack, she's a soft goo in the middle.

You are right, I have never seen Brooke Shields in the role, but I did see her in Wonderful Town and was quite surprised. The others you listed, Page Davis, Melanie Griffith and Rita Wilson I would not have paid money to see. Why? Because I have seen the show with actual Broadway professionals, like Bebe Neuwirth and Gwen and Chita. I suppose I was lamenting the fact that casting a deer into the headlights is what is required to keep a show running these days.

Although it is true that many people were kept working with the parachute casting, this is not something I can support.

I've been thinking of giving up pursuing a career out here in Los Angeles. I have even taken a few steps toward getting into Broadway production (I've optioned a couple of properties and am developing two of my own) but seeing what it takes to sustain a long run depresses the hell out of me.

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Just got back from london this afternoon,, Have seen Chicago several times, but couldnt resist the idea to see it one more time with Ashlee.. Let me say first , I have never been a fan of hers,, nor have I been one of those that wishes to bash her , to be honest I just never really gave her much thought.. However.. after seeing her I am happy to say,, SHE WAS GOOD,, Im not much of a writer of reviews, but lets just say she pulled it off,, and very well I might add!

Wow, I think she did a great job with the singing and dancing. I mean, once you experience the vocals of Anne Reinking (or however you spell her name), then you can sit through anyone . . . and that wasn't a negative thing towards Miss. Simpson. I really think she did great in that clip.

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i'm really curious as to how she did... any londoners on this site?

EDIT: woops, turns out i only read the first page hahaha

Updated On: 9/29/06 at 08:12 PM

I'm also surprised that you didn't notice all of the NY Roxie's (Brooke Shields, Paige Davis, Robin Givens, Melanie Griffith and Rita Wilson... not to mention the dozens of Velma's and Billy Flynn's)who have obviously had much LESS technique then Ashlee Simpson-

- To be fair. Paige is extensively trained in theatre. She is a true triple threat. She danced the ensemble of Chicago for years, before Trading Spaces.

And Brooke worked her ASS off for the dancing. She worked personally with Ann Reinking to really get the Fosse style. I think she is the one celeb Roxie who had the most respect for the Fosse style, and she made sure she lived up to the standards, and integrity of the Fosse Style. Plus Brooke did EVERY original Ann Reinking choreographed Fosse styled move.

But what you did you say is true about Griffith, Givens, and Wilson.

Exactly. Here's an example: Karen Ziemba is on the site we won't mention doing "All That Jazz" and she goes to stage right and Bebe Neuwirth enters to join her (huge applause). Now Karen is very, very talented, but beside Bebe, you see the number done spot-on perfectly (Bebe) and done very well (Karen). They do the rag together (in almost perfect unison) but Bebe looks like pure Fosse and Karen - who is in her own rights a Broadway star - just is not as perfectly formed as Bebe. Even someone with all Karen's talent isn't necessarily a perfect match for Bebe.

Now imagine if they went stage left and Ashlee Simpson joined them. Are you seriously going to tell me that she could hold her own with Karen, not to even mention Bebe?

I guess what has happened is a gradual dimishing of the lead actor's abilities in the show until someone who looks to me pretty amateur can "pull it off" because she isn't dancing side-by-side with one of the original leads.

Watch that tape again and try to imagine what words would spill out of Bob Fosse's mouth at the end.

Hmmmm....

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