Chess to be on pbs- Page 2

[Lavieboheme3090]

Posted: 6/6/08 at 9:29pm

This is the best news I have heard all day. I would like to know if anyone else thinks that Josh is a little miscast as the Russian. I wish there was someone in the role with a little more edge.

[goober1632]

Posted: 6/6/08 at 10:14pm

Hmm, the news isn't altogether good news. While Groban and Pascal were vocally great in their roles, Menzel was miscast. The style didn't suit her well and her "Nobody's Side" was lackluster. I am a fan of Menzel and her voice, but I don't think that score suited her.

[mauriposa]

Posted: 6/6/08 at 10:18pm

Oh, goody!

[DG]

Posted: 6/7/08 at 10:36am

"I guess you missed the part where her role is the main character"

I guess I did, too - I thought this was about CHESS.

[sally1112]

Posted: 6/7/08 at 11:19am

Hurry up 2009!

[Muhlethaler]

Posted: 6/7/08 at 11:29am

Updated On: 6/18/20 at 11:29 AM

[A Fleur De Toi]

Posted: 6/7/08 at 11:47am

sorry to pour cold water again, but Menzel was really nasal esp at the starting of her songs during the concert. Tho it gets better as she makes her way through it.

"She actually sounded like a young (and rockier) Elaine Paige."
really? i was actually listening to Paige in the run up to the concert and I heard idina and i was like, "god that sounds nothing like paige"

"While Groban and Pascal were vocally great in their roles, Menzel was miscast"

true, true. it was mentioned that Menzel and Ellis was cast because of the big Wicked following in London, so it kinda upstaged the true Chess lovers.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 6/7/08 at 1:41pm

So Kerry Ellis sung "Someone Else's Story"? I don't know why I thought Idina Menzel was playing the Judy Kuhn part (Kuhn sings "Someone Else's Story" in the OBCR, right?) I'm not much of a CHESS expert.

[sweetestsiren]

Posted: 6/7/08 at 2:51pm

Ray, Florence (Kuhn's character) sang "Someone Else's Story" in the original Broadway production, but in the many rewrites since, the song is more often sung by the Russian's wife, Svetlana. Idina did play Florence, but Kerry Ellis as Svetlana had that song in this concert.

I would like to know if anyone else thinks that Josh is a little miscast as the Russian. I wish there was someone in the role with a little more edge.

I wouldn't say edge, per se, but I sort of wish that Josh had a little more passion as Anatoly. You don't really get a sense of how conflicted he is during his "Endgame," and he isn't especially emotive in general. He sings the part gorgeously, though, so I'm willing to make some allowances on the acting side of things. I wouldn't say he's miscast at all, except maybe in being pretty young for the role.

Idina sounds not the slightest bit like Elaine Paige. Her actual singing was often fine, but she has this childish edge to the way she sings (and speaks) that undermines Florence's strength.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 6/7/08 at 5:07pm

I guess you missed the part where her role is the main character

So is the Russian, and Josh Groban is the bigger star.

The concert already happened; it would make more sense to publicize the news with production pictures from the actual event instead of pictures from a photo shoot Idina Menzel did for Vogue last year.

Updated On: 6/7/08 at 05:07 PM

[westcoast_wannabe]

Posted: 6/7/08 at 5:25pm

I’m really looking forward to this, regardless of whatever flaws it may suffer from. I really love the concert with Adam, Josh, and Julia and I’ll be thrilled to see a professionally filmed concert.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 6/7/08 at 9:18pm

ooh I'm just interested to see it. It has an interesting cast. I don't like everyone involved but it'll be one to see regardless

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 6/8/08 at 12:07am

Well, apparently Tim Rice is just crazy to get this on the West End and then Broadway. I'm not sure I like the whole score, but it sure has its gems.
Thanks for clarifying that out for me, sweetestsiren :)

[Muhlethaler]

Posted: 6/8/08 at 2:10pm

Updated On: 6/18/20 at 02:10 PM

[Boq101]

Posted: 6/8/08 at 3:23pm

damn, i prefer the cast of the concert here. Julia, Raul, Norm...it's a pity.

[Eastwickian]

Posted: 6/8/08 at 4:43pm

The concert sounds design in the actual hall was terrible, but I'm hoping that it was due to the fact it was optimised for the recording and that it will sound fine on there. Though that won't change Idina Menzel's lifeless performance and screechy nasal vocals...

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 6/8/08 at 8:04pm

Ughhh, I'd be happy if Idina weren't Florence.

I also don't like Groban as Anatoly because I think of the character was older.

Pascal isn't ideal either, but he's okay.

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 6/8/08 at 8:13pm

Updated On: 5/4/09 at 08:13 PM

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 12:31am

I just listened to the concert...I thought Menzel would do a good job with the few songs I enjoy...she didn't.
Kerry Ellis is pretty good though (I don't know the show so I'm not sure if she's right/wrong for her role).

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 12:38am

Updated On: 5/4/09 at 12:38 AM

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 1:31am

"The concert already happened; it would make more sense to publicize the news with production pictures from the actual event instead of pictures from a photo shoot Idina Menzel did for Vogue last year."

Who cares? It's just one article.

And if you read other Playbill articles, sometimes they only show a photo of one star or they don't have a photo at all.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 1:41am

Actually, it's two articles. BWW did the same thing with their coverage.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 1:54am

Still, who cares? It's one picture. The show isn't even slated to air until 2009 - who knows what publicity this show will get and with what pictures.

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 2:17am

Two pictures.

I don't know why you're flipping out over my comment, all I did was make an observation.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 6/9/08 at 2:49am

I hate that we have to wait so long, like Cyrano de Bergerac - when is that going to air?