Charity on Today- Page 3

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 1:29pm

Thanks for the report Sue. Any comments on Verdon's voice, since that seems to be the topic of such hot debate here?

[i*heart*fame]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 1:32pm

is there any way I can watch this, I really wanted to tape it, because I have school, but we ared renovating my house and the tv isnt set up so I couldnt, so is this anywhere online or anything?

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 1:35pm

Well, Roxie is not the most vocally demanding role, as was proved by Ms. Zellwiger, and Gwen was getting up there. However,for sheer star power, the whole package she could not be beat. And this was at least a good decade after she did CHARITY.

Posted: 4/22/05 at 1:42pm

I am officialy jealous . You got to see two of the greatest gypsys/stars together.

"I must sit down for a minute...I'm ready to fall in heap..."

ms.Betty Hutton
Updated On: 4/22/05 at 01:42 PM

[Huey's Pop]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 1:48pm

I got to see Gwen Verdon perform in "Chicago" years ago in NYC. (I sat in the front row and even caught a rose!)

She was absolutely amazing. God bless her.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 1:59pm

Oh, and Chita33, there was some guy named Jerry Orbach in it, also.




(Let's here it for Ms. Hutton!)

Posted: 4/22/05 at 2:06pm

Loved Jerry Orbach. Loved 42nd Street, Chicago, The Fantasticks, Crimes and Midemeanors(movie), F/X(movie) and I miss Lenny Briscoe!

[robbiej]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 2:25pm

I was obviously smelling burning toast and in the middle of a stroke when I typed 'Guys and Dolls'.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 2:27pm

I figured you were having a stroke RobbieJ, you seem pretty wise to the scene.

[robbiej]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 2:28pm

'wise to the scene'

that's my new favorite description of me!!

[swifty]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 3:30pm

Yes Christina is cute,but at 101 dollars a ticket people do not want 2nd best they want the best and sales show it

[decotodd]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 3:46pm

To the posters who keep asking if her Today show performance is available, go to the Today show website. They frequently post the clip on it (I haven't looked recently, but last summer Fleetwood Mac performed, and later that day, the performance was on the site).

[justme2]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 4:05pm

First of all, if "people want the best and sales show it", shows like Mamma Mia and All Shook Up would have closed long ago. Being on Broadway is no guarantee that the show is even good. It just shows how much backing you have to get your show booked into a theater.

Secondly, take a look around folks, Gwen Verdon and Bob Fosse are no longer available to work on this production. They are DEAD!

This is a NEW production of the Sweet Charity story. New actors, new director, new choreographer, etc. They are putting on a show for THIS generation to watch. Many people have not had a chance to see this show in any incarnation (like me!), and unless the creative team are giving interviews claiming "we are planning on copying both Fosse' choreography and Verdon's performance exactly in this version", then please...back off and judge the merits of THIS show on WHAT YOU ARE SEEING ON STAGE IN FRONT OF YOU.

Didn't enjoy the show? Fine. Think Applegate can't sing, dance or act her way out of a sitcom? Fine. Just don't start off your arguements with "Well, Verdon did it this way...", or "I heard her cast album and" ... Applegate ain't Verdon! She's not trying to be, either. Let her leave her stamp on this character, and then judge WHAT YOU ARE SEEING ON STAGE IN FRONT OF YOU.

Didn't like the choreography? Fine. However, please remember, Bob Fosse is dead. There is no way you are going to see his work up there on the stage. Cilento has a tough job to do in balancing HIS new choreograpy for this show without angering fans like you who nitpick that the Frug is a rip off of Fosse' work, yet this show sucks because it's "not Fosse enough". Get over it and attempt to judge THE SHOW YOU ARE SEEING ON THE STAGE IN FRONT OF YOU.

As for direction, Bobbie's job is no easier. I am sure he's all too aware of you fans out there who can't stand the fact that anyone dared to produce this show without Fosse and Verdon being exhumed to re-invent their roles in the project. He's had to deal with that, coupled with an actress that broke her foot, a columnist out for broadway blood, and a crazy producer that can't keep his mouth shut. God only knows what else is going on that we will never see or hear about.

For shame that these people want to bring a production of a great Cy Coleman score to Broadway for a new generation to watch.

For shame.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 4:27pm

Justme2,
Thank you
Thank you
Thank you......

[DAME]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 4:29pm

Justme,
THANK YOU! THANK YOU! You took the words right out of my mouth.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 4:34pm

And Dame, you took the thank you's out of mine!

Seriously, i'll post a review later, but I was at CA's first show on Monday night, and loved it. People need to shake the Gwen Ghost and give her a chance.

[justme2]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 4:40pm

Agreed...

I can't wait to read your review Princeton. I am assuming of course, it won't be the typical "It wasn't Gwen Verdon on stage..so" take on the show?

[Princeton78]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 4:41pm

No Justme2,
But I will compare her to Charlotte whom I did see twice in Boston. I still think Dennis O'Hare deserves a Tony for this show.

[justme2]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 4:46pm

Now see...that's fair. You can compare two actresses playing the same role, with the same direction and choreography, in the same generational timespan!! (LOL)

I wish I had seen Charlotte, but alas...

Sweet Charity was scheduled to be in San Francisco for it's pre-broadway premiere in 2003. I still have the handbill with Marisa Tomei's name on it!

[DAME]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 4:52pm

You remember when Paula Abdul was announced for it?

[Tom1071]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 4:58pm

Way to go justme2!!! Hats off to you!

[Princeton78]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 5:14pm

I'm trying to forget that Dame...

[justme2]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 6:34pm

(picks self up off the floor)

DAME! That's not funny!!

Paula Abdul????? When was this? I remember waiting for the SF pre-broadway show to open, then seeing Tomei was out, Bobbie was out, show was out and then I gave up until I heard in 2004 that Bobbie was back in, annd workshops were being held with Krakoswki.

Tell me more!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 6:37pm

Those Paula Abdul rumors were a good six or seven years ago. Thankfully they didn't happen, though she probably could have danced it just fine.

[justme2]

Posted: 4/22/05 at 6:54pm

My Lord...should we make this easier on everyone and just list the actresses who DIDN'T audition for this incarnation of the show?...

Bea Arthur
Carol Channing
Elaine Stritch

Although, I could see Bea belting out "If my friends..."