Company Reviews (and beyond) — Page 19

I hoped I'd be able to catch Nikki when she finally went on as Bobbie, and I was lucky enough to be in the audience tonight. She was simply stunning. I think there's a lot to love about Katrina's performance, but this audience was clearly thrilled to be hearing the score sung at this level. Nikki showed restraint at times, but when she belted, it was powerful. She sounded gorgeous on every song.

Can anyone who was there tonight or this afternoon speak to whether there were any different keys for Nikki? I could be wrong, but there was a moment in Being Alive where I could swear there's a key change for Katrina and it wasn't there tonight.

Nikki seemed completely comfortable and found a lot of humor and nuance in the character (maybe not Katrina's level of nuance, but that would be hard to match, especially on day one). I don't know how much longer this run will be for her, but if you have the chance to see her, I highly recommend you go.

Updated On: 3/30/22 at 11:27 PM

I would LOVE to hear Nikki.

I wonder why they wouldn't choose her to open the show? She would have gotten glorious reviews.

I just got back from tonight's show. I really enjoyed the show the first time I saw it without really loving it. This time I loved it.

- Claybourne Elder continues to be one of the best things about this production. He's hilarious, finds unexpected line readings that make them even funnier, and does completely unexpected, wonderful things. I thought he was just as good, and maybe better, than the first time I saw it. I really hope he gets a Tony nod.

- This group of understudies is incredibly strong, and in most, and perhaps all, cases I would have believed they were the regular performers. Tally Sessions was a great Harry and a perfect match for Simard (who I loved even more). I thought I'd miss Fitzgerald, but Matt Wall made me completely forget about him as a just as good, and completely different, David. Javier Ignacio made for a very sweet, likeable Jamie, even if I felt like the song got away from him a bit, so some of the laugh lines were lost. (Britney Coleman was great as the priest, and that role continues to be the highpoint of that number.)

- The revelation for me was Heath Saunders as PJ. The "Another Hundred People" number didn't work for me at all the first time I saw the show; I thought it was too frenetic and messy (and not just in the way it was supposed to--I just thought it was a mess). I have to wonder if it's because Conte played it as messy and frenetic, while Saunders has the required energy, but also was a lot more controlled. The number just clicked for me in a way it didn't before. Saunders had a really interesting, and compelling presence, and the sexual fluidity of the number really worked (I can't even remember if Conte played it that way; if so, it was unmemorable for me).

- Nikki Renee Daniels sounded as glorious as I thought she would. If Lenk's is a cool, sophisticated, aloof Bobbie, Daniels was more of a likeable, girl-next-door Bobbie. I could see why these people all wanted to hang out with her and cared about her, and that Doris Day line of Joanne's landed in a way it didn't with Lenk. That said...it did make me appreciate how strong Lenk's acting is in the role. Bobbie (or Bobby) as written is a character that can easily be too much of a cipher and it's up to the performer to provide much of the depth. I think Lenk does that. Daniels never did--though to be fair, it was only her second performance, while Lenk had months to work on it. Lenk has those moments of connection with other characters where it really feels like she's searching for something and trying to connect. Those moments were either glossed over or just didn't play the same way, losing their impact as Daniels did them. She sounds beautiful in the big numbers--the audience burst into applause at a big moment in "Being Alive," which I understood--but I never really got the sense of revelation and discovery that Lenk managed and the song really needs. It was "just" beautiful singing. But again, if she has more time in the role, maybe she'll get there, and yes, she was a pleasure to listen to.

Glad I went. Even with so many regulars out, it's such a strong cast and production.

MemorableUserName said: "I just got back from tonight's show. I really enjoyed the show the first time I saw it without really loving it. This time I loved it.

- Claybourne Elder continues to be one of the best things about this production. He's hilarious, finds unexpected line readings that make them even funnier, and does completely unexpected, wonderful things. I thought he was just as good, and maybe better, than the first time I saw it. I really hope he gets a Tony nod.

- This group of understudies is incredibly strong, and in most, and perhaps all, cases I would have believed they were the regular performers. Tally Sessions was a great Harry and a perfect match for Simard (who I loved even more). I thought I'd miss Fitzgerald, but Matt Wall made me completely forget about him as a just as good, and completely different, David. Javier Ignacio made for a very sweet, likeable Jamie, even if I felt like the song got away from him a bit, so some of the laugh lines were lost. (Britney Coleman was great as the priest, and that role continues to be the highpoint of that number.)

- The revelation for me was Heath Saunders as PJ. The "Another Hundred People" number didn't work for me at all the first time I saw the show; I thought it was too frenetic and messy (and not just in the way it was supposed to--I just thought it was a mess). I have to wonder if it's because Conte played it as messy and frenetic, while Saunders has the required energy, but also was a lot more controlled. The number just clicked for me in a way it didn't before. Saunders had a really interesting, and compelling presence, and the sexual fluidity of the number really worked (I can't even remember if Conte played it that way; if so, it was unmemorable for me).

- Nikki Renee Daniels sounded as glorious as I thought she would. If Lenk's is a cool, sophisticated, aloof Bobbie, Daniels was more of a likeable, girl-next-door Bobbie. I could see why these people all wanted to hang out with her and cared about her, and that Doris Day line of Joanne's landed in a way it didn't with Lenk. That said...it did make me appreciate how strong Lenk's acting is in the role. Bobbie (or Bobby) as written is a character that can easily be too much of a cipher and it's up to the performer to provide much of the depth. I think Lenk does that. Daniels never did--though to be fair, it was only her second performance, while Lenk had months to work on it. Lenk has those moments of connection with other characters where it really feels like she's searching for something and trying to connect. Those moments were either glossed over or just didn't play the same way, losing their impact as Daniels did them. She sounds beautiful in the big numbers--the audience burst into applause at a big moment in "Being Alive," which I understood--but I never really got the sense of revelation and discovery that Lenk managed and the song really needs. It was "just" beautiful singing. But again, if she has more time in the role, maybe she'll get there, and yes, she was a pleasure to listen to.

Glad I went. Even with so many regulars out, it's such a strong cast and production."

Thank you so much for that!

I hate the staging of “Another Hundred People” in this revival so much because it’s simply too busy, but I don’t attribute that to Conte, whose voice I love. You make me wish to see Saunders, though.

I really hope I get a chance to see some of these talented understudies. I hope those who are out feel better soon!

GiantsInTheSky2 said: "Oh, and the scene right after LWL in my new favorite scene from a musical, period."

I agree! Terence Archie handles it so beautifully. I take it his understudy did as well.

I just received an email from Telecharge saying Katrina will be out for the performance I have a ticket for, which is next Friday 4/8, so looks like she’s out for 10 days with a confirmed positive test. Excited to see who will go on in her place that night.

Markecib said: "I just received an email from Telecharge saying Katrina will be out for the performance I have a ticket for, which is next Friday 4/8, so looks like she’s out for 10 days with a confirmed positive test. Excited to see who will go on in her place that night."

Dang. I hope they give the other understudies a chance. Will be interesting to see what they do. It’s going to be quite a week for them if everyone that was out yesterday is out for 10 days.


Sad for Katrina - she is known for having impeccable attendance. Of course that’s all changed now for everyone with Covid. Hope she is feeling okay!

Updated On: 3/31/22 at 12:13 PM

Nick Rodriguez has also gone on as Larry. He played the role for a week in January.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CYjxi0mpBtn/

But yes, Archie was great last night and made even more of an impression on me than the first time (though I was also sitting closer, which may have made a difference).

Updated On: 3/31/22 at 12:23 PM

What would her first day back be? Trying to catch NRD!

MemorableUserName said: "Claybourne Elder continues to be one of the best things about this production. He's hilarious, finds unexpected line readings that make them even funnier, and does completely unexpected, wonderful things. I thought he was just as good, and maybe better, than the first time I saw it. I really hope he gets a Tony nod."

I've been enamored of him since the revival of Sunday in the Park with George. As I'm not a big Sondheim fan in general, Mr. Elder constitutes a significant part of my motivation for purchasing tickets to this show. I messaged him on Twitter recently and asked if he had any plans to be out on the chosen date and he quickly responded, "I'll be there!". With all this COVID talk going on, now I'm worried that he's going to get sick.

We only know of Lenk and Doyle having COVID. No word on Sieber, Fitzgerald, Manu or Bobby Conte yet. It would be nice if they also gave Coleman and Faure a chance to perform as Bobbie, too.

ACL2006 said: "We only know of Lenk and Doyle having COVID. No word on Sieber, Fitzgerald, Manu or Bobby Conte yet. It would be nice if they also gave Coleman and Faure a chance to perform as Bobbie, too."

Manu has COVID, it’s on his Instagram.

Edit: Well, it was. Either he took it down or the story expired.

Updated On: 3/31/22 at 02:15 PM

Ah, mystery solved!