Company Previews Thread- Page 18
Company Previews Thread
#425Company Previews Thread
Posted: 11/16/21 at 1:55am
Nobody tonight said she couldn’t sing the role, though. Katrina was cast for a reason. Sondheim and Elliot love her. They could’ve gone the cookie cutter route with Bobbie with someone like Jessie Mueller, but they clearly chose an unconventional actress like Lenk who is very unique in the role.
JasonC3
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/22/21
#426Company Previews Thread
Posted: 11/16/21 at 2:17am
I seem to remember somewhat similar vocal concerns expressed about Rosalie Craig in the London production, but I saw it twice and thought she was fine both times.
#427Company Previews Thread
Posted: 11/16/21 at 2:24am
I mean, I love Katrina’s voice, so I certainly didn’t say she couldn’t sing or couldn’t sing this role. I think she’s the correct person to be leading this production; it’s a really interesting casting choice and I’m here for it.
#428Company Previews Thread
Posted: 11/16/21 at 3:25am
No, hepatitis didn’t change to coronavirus.
#430Company Previews Thread
Posted: 11/16/21 at 7:44am
I'll add she has a very interesting take on Bobbie. So often he is a cipher, charismatic but unknowable. Her Bobbie does keep her cards close to her chest, but is quite gregarious, goofy, and game. In a benefit to making Bobbie a women, her independence feels much more about keeping her sense of freedom to play. She's far less a wallflower than male Bobbie's can be and it makes her big numbers at the end of each act stand out.
As for her vocals, she's not a high belter. They knew this when they cast her. When I first heard the London recording, I remarked how high these keys are for a woman. And if they'd wanted someone like Cassie Levy, who could belt the sh*t out of it, they'd have gone that route. We know Sondheim always prefers actors who sing (no judgment on Levy, obviously, and she's wonderful in Caroline), so likely the belt is far less important to him. Hell, maybe he prefers a mix! Anyhow, she's giving a wonderful performance that, yes, has to work overtime with a supporting cast like that!
kwoc91
Featured Actor Joined: 9/2/21
#431Company Previews Thread
Posted: 11/16/21 at 9:57am
Well, I'm still tired from last night, but count me as another person who loved this production!
Overall I thought Katrina was great. My one gripe was that Marry Me A Little felt a bit anticlimactic due to where the key sits in her vocal range. I did like her rendition of Being Alive, though - it definitely packed the emotional punch I was waiting for. Heard some sniffles around me!
The cast is so, so, so great. Standouts for me were Matt Doyle and Jennifer Simard. Also, I could watch Christopher Fitzgerald dance around in those shorts and pajamas all day, lol
I also really loved the staging! For anyone who might be wondering...I sat in the side rear mezz and I didn't feel like I missed anything visually.
And the cherry on top of the wonderful evening was Patti LuPone dedicating the performance to Mr. Sondheim himself, as well watching her try to keep her composure during the ovation after Ladies Who Lunch.
#432Company Previews Thread
Posted: 11/16/21 at 10:10am
Question. This was my fourth time seeing this revival and I don’t remember seeing this before - There’s a line in the show alluding to Bobbie actually being older, something about “how many times can you turn 35? 11?” Or something like that. Is that new or have I just forgotten that?
#433Company Previews Thread
Posted: 11/16/21 at 10:15am
It’s always been in this revival, Jordan. Lenk plays that line brilliantly with a wink because as we know she’s much older than 35 in real life.
#434Company Previews Thread
Posted: 11/16/21 at 10:29am
Ok thanks. For some reason I just had no memory of it. Curious if Rosalie used it in London.
#435Company Previews Thread
Posted: 11/16/21 at 10:29am
“how many times can you turn 35? 11?"
This line is on the Raul Esparza cast recording. I have no idea if it was added for that production or what the history is/was... but it's been in there since at least then.
Jesus saves. I spend.
#436Company Previews Thread
Posted: 11/16/21 at 10:31am
It is?? Man, my brain must be fried! lololol
mlledir
Understudy Joined: 10/20/16
#438Company Previews Thread
Posted: 11/16/21 at 11:00am
Hey, it’s a testament to Katrina’s skill; it’s like you heard it for the first time and with fresh ears.
#439Company Previews Thread
Posted: 11/16/21 at 11:10am
Ha! Yes, let’s go with that instead of my fading memory! lolol
#440Company Previews Thread
Posted: 11/16/21 at 11:12am
This has to be the best musical to hit New York since the Yiddish Fiddler on the Roof. Everything about this show is very, very special. Lenk is my favorite part here, but Simard, LuPone, and Sieber are all wonderful. The character of Bobby is extremely difficult to make interesting, and Lenk does so with ease. In particular, when the character is a woman, she is a very dominant character, which Lenk knows how to do so well. I really bought that all of these people were totally under her thumb, even as she grew increasingly bored with them. Tourists, locals, even Sondheim skeptics should all be equally delighted with this gift of a production. Run to see it!
JasonC3
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/22/21
#441Company Previews Thread
Posted: 11/16/21 at 11:27am
In my dreams this production would run in repertory with a traditionally cast version, so that the richness of the story could be seen through two different lenses back-to-back.
StylishCynic
Stand-by Joined: 7/5/16
#442Company Previews Thread
Posted: 11/16/21 at 1:58pm
I was one of the fortunate few in the audience last night, and this truly felt like smashing the champagne bottle on the ship Broadway. I knew that after we walked in to free Company masks and then party hats + totes on our seats that the producers and cast weren't holding anything back last night.
The audience floated into the theater and our spirits soared higher than we could have imagined, just in the first ovation to salute Sondheim –which, if i may add, carried a subconscious cheers to his 90th birthday celebrated in isolation, his good health during and after a global pandemic, and in anticipation of new Sondheim material waiting in the wings.
I spotted Adam Lambert near me in the audience and possibly Joanna Gleason (in a Company-red column dress). Did anyone notice any celebrities in the house?
As far as the performance went, sparing a broken chair, this could have been opening night. The cast was simply in top form. Lupone's big book scene was a ravishing, layered character study. She also added plenty of vocal flair to both TLTYDT and TLWL that seemed to be a bit of fan service (with respect to the score, I must underscore).
I was really bracing for Lenk to underdeliver, but she was a pleasant surprise. Her voice is much more comfortable with the score. The only critique that I have to add is that she doesn't quite bring charm to her role. I don't know how else to describe this other than the fact that Bobby/Bobbie is a popular person, given the sheer volume of their friends, but with Lenk I simply didn't believe that her Bobbie would have all of these friends.
Matt Doyle possibly worked the hardest with the break. He nailed Jamie. Prior to this performance he was giving me Off-Brand Jonathan Bailey. He's found the character. He's a g*ddamn neutoric mess. It's FABULOUS.
Perhaps the biggest surprise of the night for me was Another Hundred People. Bobby Conte brought such a burst of energy and highly thoughtful different interpretation by his choices to a song that I've always found... tedious.
kwoc91
Featured Actor Joined: 9/2/21
#443Company Previews Thread
Posted: 11/16/21 at 2:04pm
StylishCynic said: "I spotted Adam Lambert near me in the audience and possibly Joanna Gleason (in a Company-red column dress). Did anyone notice any celebrities in the house?"
Ha, I squeezed past Adam on my way back from the bathroom during intermission. That theater layout is a bit of a clusterf*ck.
ellbellthomps
Leading Actor Joined: 11/15/17
#444Company Previews Thread
Posted: 11/16/21 at 4:44pm
Anyone know if they still have rush since reopening? Dying to get to this one, trying to stay on a budget.
#445Company Previews Thread
Posted: 11/16/21 at 4:47pm
The person in front of me At the box office yesterday asked for rush and was told they were sold out for the day and to try back tomorrow.
ellbellthomps
Leading Actor Joined: 11/15/17
#446Company Previews Thread
Posted: 11/16/21 at 5:07pm
Thank you, that's very helpful! I'm pretty close to the theater, so I'll check Friday before rushing Saturday.
fosterfan2
Broadway Star Joined: 8/7/11
#447Company Previews Thread
Posted: 11/16/21 at 5:18pm
ljay889 said: "It’s always been in this revival, Jordan. Lenk plays that line brilliantly with a wink because as we know she’s much older than 35 in real life."
But she sure doesn't look her age!
Not like Kristin Chenoweth playing 20 years younger in Promises,Promises.
#448Company Previews Thread
Posted: 11/16/21 at 6:10pm
fosterfan2 said: "ljay889 said: "It’s always been in this revival, Jordan. Lenk plays that line brilliantly with a wink because as we know she’s much older than 35 in real life."
But she sure doesn't look her age!
Not like Kristin Chenoweth playing 20 years younger in Promises,Promises.
"
Oh, absolutely. She looks incredible, and is believable as 35 on stage.
joshdog2014
Stand-by Joined: 2/9/18
#449Company Previews Thread
Posted: 11/16/21 at 6:14pm
ellbellthomps said: "Anyone know if they still have rush since reopening? Dying to get to this one, trying to stay on a budget."
$43 rush tickets available daily per their most recent Instagram post
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