I was in the front mezz and really enjoyed her Bobby, just not the singing. Even in the opening number it felt out of her arena.
Kennedy, I agree with you and that’s why I wish they’d take the time to find a key where her voice actually lives and she can give us her cabaret style which I think would totally work. Think: how would Lenk perform these songs at a 54 Below cabaret.
One of the producers wrote “see you soon” on Instagram and several cast members have said they’ll be back. I think the show will return, but who knows what the future holds with this virus.
kennedy_rose said: "dabrams said: "Hey everybody. I have a specific question regarding Lenk's singing for anyone who has seen the show. When I saw her perform on the NYE Sondheim concertit sounded like she was still doing her Dina accent. Was I completely imagining this? Because I haven't seen this particular point discussed anywhere, but it struck me to the point where I had to confirm online that she is in fact American (and I consider myself a fan).I am wondering if the "accent" (or vowel choices or whatever) are still present in this production. Just curious, I've still got tickets for April and I can't wait to see the show!"
Here's the skinny on the accent, which was also quiteprevalent during her NYE performance...she thinks of herself in the vein of Edith Piaf...her style, voice, etc. Lenk is influenced by the Cabaret genre in general.Anyway, she can't shake it off, it's part of her schtick now.I find it terribly distracting and quite amateurish."
They’ve sunk money in the show. No way it doesn’t stick around. Maybe now they can take the time to find better keys for Lenk. Or she can take some vocal lessons and work on her break.
B7 last week. you miss very extreme left but almost everything is center. i had an awesome time, even with a splinted broken wrist suffered that afternoon. Jennifer Simard is comic gold.
Someone asked if those who weren’t enamored by Lenk’s performance were sitting far back. I was orchestra row H, and could see all of her facial expressions. Still wasn’t what I wanted. Omar Sharif? Breathtaking. Being Alive? Eh.
Was gonna see COMPANY tonight. So last few days I've been listening to the London cast recording. Have many thoughts but will share one glowing one.
Patti's Ladies Who Lunch is like none I have ever heard before and I can only guess at how impressive she is on stage. IT'S LIKE I'M HEARING THIS SONG FOR THE FIRST TIME! For the moment of hearing and I have no doubt seeing her, Lupone eclipses everyone else who has ever brilliantly put a stamp on this great song. Including her own past interpretations, among the best.
The primary emotion is no longer reflective mordant cynicism.
Now Joanne is a woman capable of so much joy in her reflections. Humility, humanity, love is at the forefront of here. Subtext is no longer just a jaded sophisticate know it all survivor. Patti inflects Joanne with earth mother goddess. Every line is as nourishing and empowering as it is wry. I am not, per usual, seeing her as our hero's jaundiced rich friend, but as - perhaps not incidentally - our heroine's (!) muse, guru, second mother and in many ways role model... The performance is laden with maternal love and the song now has a reason for being utterly new.
Joanne no longer seems like she is scrutinizing her generation of women. She now seems like she is celibrating them!
I'm in awe of what Patti's doing here.
Would love to hear more from people who have seen the show. Do you agree with me that this is a completely fresh transformative interpretation?
And, if you're with me so far, how do you feel about a Feminist analysis of what's happening here? How much of this innovative, empowering spirit is due to two smart, powerhouse women - director and star - collaborating and finding in this song their own shared truths?
Her interpretation on Broadway closely follows what you hear on the recording, but it’s more lively on stage. Of course, being it’s Patti, she changes it up each night. Her performance of the number is very grounded, very specific, very much a cautionary tale to Bobbie. And the icing on the cake is, on Broadway she holds the final note longer than she did in London. It makes the audience explode even more. It really is a brilliant performance, she’s still Patti but she wisely tones down many of her mannerisms and every movement, the way she sits, every expression, every line reading is so richly Joanne.
ljay889 said: "Lead producer Chris Harper just confirmed on his Instagram that the production will indeed return on April 13th."
Nobody can guarantee a return by the 13th of April at this point...but when Broadway reopens we really look forward to seeing this as we had tix for March 20-Friday!
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We saw some of the previews and really enjoyed the changes / improvements.
Noticed and heard many of the tech issues throughout the previews (we are aware of this happening, we don't mind it all) ; In fact on the last preview (Wednesday, March 11) Patti left the stage during "Side by Side by Side" to bring out the chair and her mic was still on and you could hear her saying. "Lights on" while Katrina's mic was off when she started singing the first four bars of "Side by Side by Side".
"Another Hundred People" has improved a lot. It was so boring in London, really the weakest part of the whole show. Now is not an issue anymore.
We can totally see Jennifer Simard getting a Tony Nomination and being a strong competition for Patti.
Christopher Fitzgerald was hilarious and sometimes we got the feeling he cracked himself up for real but he was still able to work it in the scene.
Patti has changed a few things from the London production. She makes other choices and it is refreshing seeing the few differences from her performance in the West End. We love that she now holds the last note longer.
Katrina Lenk's acting was good but we did not enjoy the singing at all and it is not because she didn't belt (belting is not everything). In our opinion she did not sound good in the first preview and was acting and performing the song more than singing; sometimes she was actually saying the lyrics. She changed that in the upcoming previews and we noticed that they've lowered the keys since the first preview.
Does anyone find the sudden key change from the company singing to Lenk singing “phone rings, door chimes, in comes company” jarring. This has always been an exciting moment in other productions, but in this one it feels underwhelming.
Yes, it’s jarring for a second, but my ears adjust to the new key right away. The number is performed with a lot of energy live, and thankfully they aren’t saddled with silly choreography like period productions have done, so the key change doesn’t bother me.
I believe the NPH version did the same exact key change.
Jenn Colella revealed she was up for the role of PJ. Was anyone aware of this? I’m intrigued at how she would’ve been in the part. I hope this production reopens when broadway does.
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Wow! That’s really interesting. Bobbie does flirt/interact with a woman in “Another Hundred People,” so her possible bisexuality is still touched upon.
That's fascinating! It makes me wonder if they ever considered changing Joanne's offer back to her and Bobbie 'making it'.
As the production was, I think it was the right decision to make the suggestion about Bobbie and Larry, so there's no confusion about why Bobbie rejects it. But if they established that Bobbie had dated women before, I could see it working. You'd get a very different dynamic, because in this version Bobbie and Joanne feel much closer. Joanne is like a mentor figure. It would be so interesting to watch how that played out!
I am looking to buy tickets now for January. I seem to recall that there were some dates where Patti Lupone would be our due to some shows that she has. Does anyone remember those dates?