Christina Applegate as Sweet Charity

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 9:00am

I'm sorry, I was just watching clips of her on YouTube (they brought back some bad memories) and I have to ask:

Whose idea was it to put a non-dancing, breathy-singing semi-talent in one of the most demanding roles in Broadway history? I mean, at the Tonys, she could barely get out "If My Friends Could See Me Now". It just seems like such a disrespect to those who made the original so great (Bob Fosse, Cy Coleman, Dorothy Fields) who have now passed. Why the hell did this happen?

[madbrian]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 9:10am

My recollection was that this revival was in the works for a while with several different actresses' names associated with it before Applegate came on board. I saw her twice in the run, and I thought she was just OK at the beginning, and terrific by the end of the run. If she hadn't missed so much time due to breaking her foot, she probably would have been quite good in time for the opening.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 9:29am

I thought she was very good and really enjoyed her. I was pleasantly surprised.

[songanddanceman2]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 9:35am

I also have to say i was very surprised at how good she were.Sure she was not the best singer but still sang it well.The role has to be acted so well though and she brought a real dizzy charm to her, i have never fell in love with a character as much as i did with her when i watched this revival.

The revival was a bit hit and miss but the leading lady was spot on

[KathyGriffinLovesYou]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 9:43am

I've only heard the recording and I love Christina but she can't sing and they changed some of my favorite parts of the show to make sure it wasn't so obvious, which annoyed me.

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 9:51am

Actually, she was lovely. She acted well and danced fairly well, her singing was alright... but wasn't awful... at least she was all these things on opening night in Chicago. I was astounded... as my expectations were very low. And for the record, Ms. Applegate has a lot of dance training... so I wouldn't really go with "non-dancing" as an accurate description of her as a person. Also, I don't get the "disrespect" thing... the estates were paid... who cares? The idea that a revival ruins the memory of an original production seems misguided and slightly selfish.


kmc

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 9:57am

I thought she was terrific. Very engaging and convincing.

[Steve2]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 10:05am

I agree with all of the above favorable comments. Yes, she wasn't the best singer but her dancing and acting was quite good. She WAS "Sweet Charity" and won you over.

[newsieboy23]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 10:12am

I thought Christina was fantastic. Very Loveable. Singing wasn't her strenght, but I found it appropriate and somewhat comparable to Gwen Verdon, who's voice does nothing for me.

As posted above, Christina is a trained dancer who moved very well, especially considering her injury.

[#1Elphie]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 10:18am

I agree with those who enjoyed her performance. Her singing wasn't fabulous but her acting was. I thought she was charming in the role.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 11:20am

I saw her and thoroughly enjoyed her performance. Maybe she wasn't the best singer or dancer I ever saw, but she was a a breath of fresh air and brought a charm to the role. Not to mention she was quite dedicated - didn't she perform with a broken foot or something? Also, didn't she help keep Sweet Charity from canceling Broadway plans?

Sorry you didn't like her PiraguaGuy2. I don't know if you saw her live, but the Tony Awards performances aren't always the best representations of the performer's talent. I've seen many lackluster Tony performances that have been 100 times better when I saw them performed live as part of the show.

[uncageg]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 11:47am

I thought she was excellent! I walked out of the theater with a big smile on my face and humming the songs. The only thing that I didn't care for was that they had her wear the same dress throughout the entire show. Otherwise, great performances all around. Had I not been booked for other shows while I was there, I would have seen it again.

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 11:49am

off topic but Christina Applegate is one of those women who ages so beautifully.. i loved her in Married with Children and as that series got older she just got hotter and hotter... and now she looks amazing..

[boombaboy]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 3:09pm

I saw Christina as well as her understudy, Charlotte D'Amboise. IMO, there was no comparison, Charlotte nailed the role and Christina was adequate.

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 3:13pm

Christina was charming and delightful in the role. She did the best she could with CIlento's awful choreography. Her singing was stronger towards the end of the run. But the problem with the role is, the actress will constantly be compared to Gwen Verdon. Almost every critic compared her to Gwen Verdon.

[BroadwayBelle2]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 3:19pm

I was really impressed with her performance when I saw her. Her singing and dancing were really good. I would love to see her in another show.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 5:45pm

I thought she was pretty fantastic. The rent of the show not so much.

[kissmeimirish]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 6:10pm

I also saw both Charlotte and Christina in the role. Was the opposite for me. Though Christina nailed it and was disappointed with Charlotte who danced well but lacked the charisma and presence Christina brought to the stage.

[son_of_a_gunn_25]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 6:19pm

Updated On: 4/3/10 at 06:19 PM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 6:30pm

I tought she was pretty good. I never liked the show very much until I saw this revival as I always thought the ending was pretty lame, but the revised ending for this produvtion, and the reinterpritation of the character made me fall in love with the show. I also saw Molly Ringwald on tour and thought she was spot on as well. Her dancing wasn't as great, but I still give props to anyone able to make Wayne Cilento's spastic choreography look like dancing.

[being.jeremiah]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 6:48pm

I thought she profoundly channeled Charity Hope Valentine. She was perfectly fine.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 7:45pm

They never had the intention of getting a dancer/singer in the role for this revival. Marisa Tomei did the first workshop, then I believe came Jenna Elfman (why were people so into the idea of putting her in a musical?), then Jane Krakowski, then Applegate. None of them were trained dancers in the way that a Gwen Verdon, Debbie Allen, Bebe Neuwirth, or Donna McKechnie are.

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 7:48pm

Krakowski would have been the best choice, but she had to talk back to Simon.

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 7:48pm

.. Updated On: 12/20/08 at 07:48 PM

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 12/20/08 at 8:46pm

What exactly do you mean by that, ljay?