Carolee Carmello Sister Act

[jamiekennywicked]

Posted: 11/19/11 at 4:40pm

Is anyone going to see Carolee's first performance in Sister Act tonight? I'm a huge fan of hers and am excited to hear reports.

[binau]

Posted: 11/19/11 at 4:44pm

I still find it awkward that Victoria Clark just left and no one has really talked about it....

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/19/11 at 4:47pm

She actually went on at the matinee! Adamgreer, TJ2, and I will be there tonight.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 11/19/11 at 5:19pm

Yes, I hope she's well...and I hope there was no backstage drama involved.

[nealb1]

Posted: 11/19/11 at 5:24pm

Just returned from the matinee today and Carolee was fantastic as the Reverend Mother. She was very, very strong and very touching in her final scenes. This was the 4th time that I've seen the show - London in August of 2009, and 3 times here in NYC - May, Sept & today.

I remember from London there was quite the clash between Deloris and the RM. When I saw Victoria, I never really got that from her. Her understudy did the role in Sept. Carolee was the best out of all the 4 ladies that I've seen do the role.

She got a big round of applause from her fellow cast members during curtain call. It's too bad that there's no really big show stopper for The RV to show off her steel pipes, like she would be nightly in "Mamma Mia," when she sang "The Winner Takes It All."

It was a great performance, and you just walk out of the theatre feeling good.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 11/19/11 at 5:28pm

How did she sound on the high notes at the end of Here Within These Walls? I just can't imagine Carolee singing anything out of belt range.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/19/11 at 6:03pm

Can't wait to see her tonight!

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 11/19/11 at 8:30pm

She used lots of head voice in Kiss Me, Kate and sounded great!

[bjh2114]

Posted: 11/19/11 at 9:16pm

Ah, I didn't see her in Kiss Me, Kate. I don't think I've ever heard her sing in head voice.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/19/11 at 11:04pm

Carolee. Was. Amazing.

Having absolutely loved Vicki Clark in the Clark in the role (and detesting Jennifer Allen), I was excited for Carolee, but wondered if she'd be able to top Vicki, and she does, in her own way.

Clark's Mother was stern, there was still always a bit of warmth to her. Perhaps it was her calming midwestern tone. Carmello's Mother has none of that for 98% of the show. She's stern, cold as ice, and you can tell that she openly detests Deloris, whereas with Clark, you got the sense that she found her somewhat amusing. All of the one-liners Mother gets (and she really does get the best lines in the show), were delivered with a dead-on seriousness by Carmello that was hilarious. She absolutely nailed all of the acting moments- her frustration turning to sheer anger at the end of act 1 was a highlight. I was actually terrified when she yelled at Officer Souther to get her out of here NOW.

Another fine moment was at the top of act 2 during Sunday Morning Fever, when she gets roped into joining the line- her look of absolute disgust as she's doing leg kicks is hilarious.

I could go on and on about the one-liners, because she nails them all. Her facial expressions are also priceless- there's one in particular that really stands out. Late in the show, when Mary Robert finally stands up to her and is defiant, she sneers to her, "This doesn't concern you, dear" and then gives her the nastiest, most condescending smile I've ever seen.

She belts most of Haven't Got a Prayer, with the exception of the very end. She does a great job with that number, which she delivers with complete deadpan. She removes her habit when she sings this song (something Clark started doing later in her run), and allows us to see just enough of her humanity to know that she isn't a total ice queen. Her trademark vibratto is out in full force throughout the evening.

The rest of the cast remains outstanding. I continue to be in awe of Patina Miller (who should have a Tony...there I said it), whose boundless energy and enthusiasm is infectious. She still sounds as strong as she did at the beginning of the show's run. It's also impressive that in age where people seem to think everyone needs an alternate, Patina continues to show up every night (her only missed shows have been her pre-planned vacation), spends nearly the entire show onstage, and makes it look easy. The green girl down the street has nothing on Deloris van Cartier when it comes to a demanding role.

One of the show's strongest assets has always been its impeccable supporting cast. They're all quirky, and they're all outstanding at what they do. From Sarah Bolt, whose facial expressions are worth the price of admission, to the hilarious Audrie Neenan (who steals every scene she's in), to the belty Marla Mindelle (who needs to play Elphaba after she leaves this show)- they all amaze.

After suffering through the hell that was Lysistrata Jones this afternoon, it was nice to sit back and let the nuns take me to Heaven tonight. Updated On: 11/20/11 at 11:04 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/20/11 at 12:49am

She was wonderful. She found a way to make the role her own, and it really worked. I still love Clark's performance, but Carmello is just as good.

[jamiekennywicked]

Posted: 11/20/11 at 5:35am

"She removes her habit when she sings this song"

So we get to see Carolee's beautiful ginger hair?

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/20/11 at 9:13am

So we get to see Carolee's beautiful ginger hair?

No, just like Vicki she wears a very plain looking greyish-brown wig.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 11/20/11 at 9:30am

She takes off her habit now? They must've started doing that shortly after I saw the show in August given that Vicki left shortly after.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/20/11 at 9:41am

It was a very recent thing. I only saw Vicki do it a couple of times, both were at the end of her run (her last performance was October 12).

Jennifer Allen never took it off.

[jamiekennywicked]

Posted: 11/20/11 at 9:50am

Can I ask why you didn't like Jen Allen?

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/20/11 at 11:40am

Allen lost nearly all of the laughs because her performance consisted mainly of an endless series of scowls. It lacked the gravitas and "oomph" that Vicki and Carolee bring to the role. She made Mother seem insignificant.

[fingerlakessinger]

Posted: 11/20/11 at 12:53pm

Totally off topic...but Adam you got me thinking hahaha
anyone else think Patina should totally take a crack at playing Elphaba? I mean AFTER she originates a few more roles cuz she deserves a Tony but I dont know...I would kill to hear her belt out "Defying Gravity"

Aaaand back on topic. Anyone know how long Carolee is contracted for? I want to see her when I come to NYC in April

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 11/20/11 at 12:54pm

I'm considering returning to the show for my third time to see her, but it would be over a bunch of new shows. Is she that worth it?

Updated On: 11/20/11 at 12:54 PM

[ACL2006]

Posted: 11/20/11 at 12:59pm

I'd say so. I plan to see the show again just to see Carmello.

[TJ2]

Posted: 11/20/11 at 1:37pm

I think it is absolutely worth it!

[Copperfield2]

Posted: 11/20/11 at 1:42pm

So happy to read the support for this show. I love Carmello but I can't afford to see this again right now. I tell all my friends to see Sister Act but no one seems to listen.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/20/11 at 1:53pm

I think it's worth it, but I've always loved the show.

If you didn't like the show initially, Carmello alone is not going to suddenly change your opinion of the entire show.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 11/20/11 at 2:25pm

Oh no, I totally already adore the show. I loved it when I saw it in previews, and then again even more from the first row over the summer. I love Carmello and have never seen her live, so the case for returning is strong, but I hesitate because if I do return, it would mean I can't see The Mountaintop, or Sons of the Prophet, or Wit, etc. If Carmello is that good, it just makes my choice even tougher!

[jamiekennywicked]

Posted: 12/21/11 at 12:24pm

Found this, anyone have any more of Carolee in the role?