#26
Posted: 9/4/05 at 2:23pm
Ruthie Henshall
A little swash, a bit of buckle - you'll love it more than bread.
Best Fantine on record... — Page 2
#27
Posted: 9/4/05 at 2:33pm
Unfortunately, I have only seen Ruthie in the concert video. But I was AMAZED at her acting. She showed so much emotional growth in "I Dreamed a Dream" alone. And that was only standing in front of a microphone!!! Hats off to Ruthie.
I have only heard Jayne Paterson, but she is phenominal. She and Ruthie are my favorites.
I saw Tonya Dixon on the tour this year and she was GREAT! This was the first time I'd seen Les Miz, and before "I Dreamed a dream" was over I knew i had to make it my life's mission to someday play fantine.
EDIT:
<- no longer jayne
I have only heard Jayne Paterson, but she is phenominal. She and Ruthie are my favorites.
I saw Tonya Dixon on the tour this year and she was GREAT! This was the first time I'd seen Les Miz, and before "I Dreamed a dream" was over I knew i had to make it my life's mission to someday play fantine.
EDIT:
<- no longer jayne
-Was that a fart?
-My fault, I fear.
-My fault, I fear.
Updated On: 9/9/05 at 02:33 PM
#28
Posted: 9/4/05 at 2:37pm
Ruthie Henshall is the best when she says God it is absoultly amazing.
#29
Posted: 9/4/05 at 3:06pm
Ruthie!!! she has sooo much emotion in all her songs! Something I really don't get much out of Randy and Patti...
and all that I could do because of you was talk of love...
#30
Posted: 9/4/05 at 10:07pm
Wow. Is this as close to a consensus as this board will ever have?
I expected lots of people to like Ruthie, but didn't think it would be like this...
I expected lots of people to like Ruthie, but didn't think it would be like this...
#31
Posted: 9/4/05 at 10:13pm
Alice Ripley was the best Fantine. Too bad she was never recorded.
#33
Posted: 9/4/05 at 10:22pm
Ruthie Henshall pretty much defines Fantine for me. =)
#37
Posted: 9/5/05 at 3:38am
i will say Ruthie... but i must ask for those that liked Debbie Byrne (or is is Debra.. meh)... why do you like her? was she better live or something because her Fantine sounds so freaking odd to me on the CSR.... she sounds like a ghost or like she's shivering and cold while singing it... annoys the crap out of me
#38
Posted: 9/5/05 at 10:27am
Hmmm. I agree with Mother's Younger Brother - English version, Ruthie, but overall, definitely Louise Pitre.
"Years from now, when you talk about this - And you will - Be kind. "
#39
Posted: 9/5/05 at 11:01am
'she sounds like a ghost or like she's shivering and cold while singing it'
Wellll... to be fair at that point in the show Fantine should at least be showing some signs of the consumption that eventually kills her... that's one of the reasons I like Debbie Byrne, she doesn't fall into the trap of belting the song for all it's worth and then suddenly getting sick and dying a few scenes later.
Wellll... to be fair at that point in the show Fantine should at least be showing some signs of the consumption that eventually kills her... that's one of the reasons I like Debbie Byrne, she doesn't fall into the trap of belting the song for all it's worth and then suddenly getting sick and dying a few scenes later.
#40
Posted: 9/5/05 at 11:12am
Laurie Beechman hands down.
Fantine Foyer
Fantine Foyer
"For me, THEATRE is an anticipation, an artistic rush, an emotional banquet, a jubilant appreciation, and an exit hopeful of clearer thought and better worlds."
~ an anonymous traveler with Robert Burns
#41
Posted: 9/5/05 at 12:45pm
I have a recording of Judy Kuhn singing "I Dreamed a Dream" which is pretty terrific. Too bad she never actually played the part! I think they should have cast her as Fantine in the OBC over Randy Graff.
#42
Posted: 9/5/05 at 1:00pm
I haven't seen or heard all of them, but I do like Ruthie Henshall.
If Percy Blakeney were in Les Mis....
Percy: Sink me! If it isn't Javvurt!
Javert: Zsah-vair, it's pronounced Zsah-vair.
Pecry: But it's spelled J-A-V-E-R-T Javvurt.
Javert: Repeat after me Zsah...Zsah....
Percy: Oh! Zsa-Zsa! Like the Gabor sister! Well I personally have always prefered Eva.
Javert: (Looks for gun)
Percy: Sink me! If it isn't Javvurt!
Javert: Zsah-vair, it's pronounced Zsah-vair.
Pecry: But it's spelled J-A-V-E-R-T Javvurt.
Javert: Repeat after me Zsah...Zsah....
Percy: Oh! Zsa-Zsa! Like the Gabor sister! Well I personally have always prefered Eva.
Javert: (Looks for gun)
#43
Posted: 9/5/05 at 1:05pm
Ruthie, by far. I love the part- "you let your foreman SEEEEEEEEND me away..." Her voice is amazing!
"It breaks my heart to see a grown man dressed as a Taco." -David Sedaris
I love Les Miserables.
My new pic is me(on the left)at my last dance recital:(
I love Les Miserables.
My new pic is me(on the left)at my last dance recital:(
#45
Posted: 9/5/05 at 2:58pm
I agree with LuPone. And it does have a lot to do with the first time you ever heard the song.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
#46
Posted: 9/5/05 at 3:06pm
Umm... never seen her, but I'm pretty sure Ruthie is the one on the 10th anniversary CD and I love her personally. Definetly my favorite.
The 10th Anniversary CD is the best in all aspects really, except Thenardier, his wife and his gang... I don't really like them in that recording. Everything else is awesome though...
The 10th Anniversary CD is the best in all aspects really, except Thenardier, his wife and his gang... I don't really like them in that recording. Everything else is awesome though...
#47
Posted: 9/5/05 at 3:15pm
One more vote for Ruthie Henshall.
Patti just failed to thrill me, she sounded so...blah. I wasn't swept away by it.
Patti just failed to thrill me, she sounded so...blah. I wasn't swept away by it.
"This is what I trained to do, and this is what I love about theater. What I love about being an actress is being able to really look into myself and understand another human being. And out my own self, to shape and form and fashion a real human being--and to present that in such a way that people see something of themselves or their own understanding in that human being."
--Phylicia Rashad
#48
Posted: 9/5/05 at 3:19pm
Prinsoner 24601, YES! I TOTALLY agree! I have the Broadway, London & Symphonic Recordings of Les Mis and I am a huge LuPone fan in general, but when I recently saw Tonya Dixon on tour I absolutley fell in love. She has one of the most powerful and poignant voices I've ever heard and is by far my favorite Fantine. After the show, I went to a couple Les Mis fansites and found a recording of her singing "I Dreamed a Dream" and it is my "definitive" version of the song (no matter how poor the quality of the clip is).
#50
Posted: 9/5/05 at 4:01pm
Please click on the link and listen to a clip of Laurie Beechman singing "I Dreamed A Dream" and you will see what I mean.
"I Dreamed A Dream"
"I Dreamed A Dream"
"For me, THEATRE is an anticipation, an artistic rush, an emotional banquet, a jubilant appreciation, and an exit hopeful of clearer thought and better worlds."
~ an anonymous traveler with Robert Burns
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