Betsy Wolfe to Star in Waitress- Page 3

[Dancingthrulife2]

Posted: 6/10/17 at 7:56am

There's something really unique in Jessie's performance that unfortunately both Betsy and Sara don't have or can't replace. She has this rare quality to make the show believable despite the stiff writing and rather clunky direction. It covered many weaknesses of the musical so well that it was only when I saw Sara (an early performance) that I realized their existence. From the short rehearsal clip, I'm not too optimistic about her performance (she does have an amazing voice though). I can only wish her the best in finding her footing in the role along the journey.

[broadwayboy223]

Posted: 6/10/17 at 10:06am

I know it's too early to judge her performance, but she seemed a little too happy in What Baking Can Do. It's not exactly a super happy song LOL I'm excited to see what she does with the part all in all though.

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 6/10/17 at 11:41am

Dancingthrulife2 said: "There's something really unique in Jessie's performance that unfortunately both Betsy and Sara don't have or can't replace. She has this rare quality to make the show believable despite the stiff writing and rather clunky direction. It covered many weaknesses of the musical so well that it was only when I saw Sara (an early performance) that I realized their existence. From the short rehearsal clip, I'm not too optimistic about her performance (she does have an amazing voice though). I can only wish her the best in finding her footing in the role along the journey.

 

"

Interesting that you can determine that Betsy will not be able to match Jessie's unique performance without her having performed one performance yet. You must be really psychic.  Sorry one rehearsal video is not a comparison in my mind. 

Personally i thought any weaknesses in the script were much more obvious when Jessie was there...which I noticed the first time I saw the show. For me they were less obvious when Sara took over  because of her humorous and spunky interpretation of the role. Granted I've seen her more recently than you have. But each actress (including understudy Stephanie) is unique in her own way and brings her own special talents to the role. Besides most people only have the opportunity to see this once and so to compare is useless and unnecessary. 

[JennH]

Posted: 6/10/17 at 1:20pm

Call_me_jorge said: "She sounds AMAZING!! https://www.facebook.com/Broadway/videos/10155446042518885/

 

"

I love Betsy and I'll be seeing her...at some point, but hearing the typical musical theatre voice in a pop/rock score is just strange. It defeats the entire point of a show that's in that style, it'd be like hearing a musical theatre voice do Rock of Ages ( which I have heard before, it's ridiculous and not in a good way) without adjusting to that style of music and singing. It doesn't work. Jessie is THAT versatile that she can do a traditional soprano and then go sound AUTHENTICALLY pop/rock. I get the feeling Betsy is doing her best but the "musical theatre-ness" of her natural voice comes through at will. No matter, I love her anyway.

Updated On: 6/10/17 at 01:20 PM

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 6/10/17 at 8:50pm

JennH said: "Call_me_jorge said: "She sounds AMAZING!! https://www.facebook.com/Broadway/videos/10155446042518885/

 

"

I love Betsy and I'll be seeing her...at some point, but hearing the typical musical theatre voice in a pop/rock score is just strange. It defeats the entire point of a show that's in that style, it'd be like hearing a musical theatre voice do Rock of Ages ( which I have heard before, it's ridiculous and not in a good way) without adjusting to that style of music and singing. It doesn't work. Jessie is THAT versatile that she can do a traditional soprano and then go sound AUTHENTICALLY pop/rock. I get the feeling Betsy is doing her best but the "musical theatre-ness" of her natural voice comes through at will. No matter, I love her anyway.

 

"

I'll have a hard time hearing anyone but Sara in this role after seeing Sara twice. As good as Mueller was I didn't realize how much this music fit Sara's particular voice and vocal mannerisms until I saw Sara sing it. 

Also Betsy is sort of an ingenue type and I don't see Jenna as this ingenue. There's got to be something offbeat and down-to-earth about her. Jessie and Sara were both able to convey that. But Betsy is very cute and a great actress so maybe she'll bring something special to the role.

I disagree that this is a weak musical. It has a very strong score, a storyline that speaks to a lot of women, and seems to bring out the best in a lot of actors. 

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 6/10/17 at 11:19pm

Betsy's voice sounded a little rough in the interview portion so I don't want to judge her vocals in this clip knowing that. I agree with poisonivy2 that after hearing Sara, I really realized how much the score is tailored to her voice and what it can do. Jessie made choices in how to sing it that I personally don't think showed the songs at their full potential. I think I'll wait a bit for Betsy to find some more depth in her performance. Also, I associate her with a killer high belt but she also has a lovely warmth to her voice, particularly in her lower register so I hope she embraces that and finds a middle ground between Sara and her own strengths as a singer. 

[JennH]

Posted: 6/11/17 at 11:22am

poisonivy2 said: "JennH said: "Call_me_jorge said: "She sounds AMAZING!! https://www.facebook.com/Broadway/videos/10155446042518885/

 

"

I love Betsy and I'll be seeing her...at some point, but hearing the typical musical theatre voice in a pop/rock score is just strange. It defeats the entire point of a show that's in that style, it'd be like hearing a musical theatre voice do Rock of Ages ( which I have heard before, it's ridiculous and not in a good way) without adjusting to that style of music and singing. It doesn't work. Jessie is THAT versatile that she can do a traditional soprano and then go sound AUTHENTICALLY pop/rock. I get the feeling Betsy is doing her best but the "musical theatre-ness" of her natural voice comes through at will. No matter, I love her anyway.

 

"

I'll have a hard time hearing anyone but Sara in this role after seeing Sara twice. As good as Mueller was I didn't realize how much this music fit Sara's particular voice and vocal mannerisms until I saw Sara sing it. 

Also Betsy is sort of an ingenue type and I don't see Jenna as this ingenue. There's got to be something offbeat and down-to-earth about her. Jessie and Sara were both able to convey that. But Betsy is very cute and a great actress so maybe she'll bring something special to the role.

I disagree that this is a weak musical. It has a very strong score, a storyline that speaks to a lot of women, and seems to bring out the best in a lot of actors. 

 

"

Precisely. Of course it fits Sara, she basically wrote what she does normally, except it's for a musical, much like Lin writes with his style in mind since they're the writers who now are known for staring in their own show. And I wouldn't call Betsy an ingenue...at least not a SUPER ingenue with no quirks Ala Osnes and Boggess. She actually has a quirk a comic timing that isn't seen much, so while I NORMALLY wouldn't peg Betsy for Jenna, this show just might bring it out more. Betsy is by no means wrong for this role, she's what I would say is a traditionally pretty look with a traditional MT voice...so she's a slightly offbeat choice for the role itself  but in that case...why not allow some wing stretching? No performer wants to be pigeonholed. 

[@z5]

Posted: 6/11/17 at 11:24am

From what I've seen so far....I am not impressed at all. I don't think her voice is right for this show. 

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 7/10/17 at 6:51pm

Heads-up that Christopher Fitzgerald is apparently out of the show for the next month: https://twitter.com/understudies/status/884528949807775744