Current NYC Cast of Spelling Bee

[keen on kean]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 1:28pm

I am going to the Wednesday matinee. I just read about the original NY cast currently appearing in the LA production. Will the NYC current cast be up to par? Looking forward to Mo Rocca (?sp).

[WaltSummersPI]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 1:33pm

There was just a thread about this... but yes, for the large part, they are vey good. I didn't care for Mo Rocca, though.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 1:37pm

The cast is wonderful. You won't be disappointed.

I LOVED Mo Rocca.

[Shawk]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 1:47pm

I never saw the OBC, so I can't compare the two, but I did see the current Broadway cast (and saw most of them numerous times in their previous incarnation as the SF sitdown cast), and they're great. Mo Rocca is... Mo Rocca, but I was just fine with that.

[MyLife]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 2:12pm

Not up to par at all. The new cast, though their voices are fine, their comedic timing is awful. Most of the jokes do not get across as fresh and innovative. And Mo Rocca is too awkward; he does not belong on stage.

The hsow, for the most part is still enjoyable, but it is not what it used to be, unfortunately.

[WaltSummersPI]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 2:15pm

MyLife - I thought Jared Gerntner (William) and Jenni Barber (Olive) were HYSTERICAL.

The kid playing Leaf isn't great, granted, but when you're doing Jesee Tyler Ferguson's performance, and you aren't HIM, how great could you be?

[waddledee524]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 2:19pm

"The kid playing Leaf isn't great, granted, but when you're doing Jesee Tyler Ferguson's performance, and you aren't HIM, how great could you be?"

Hey, to be fair, Barrett Foa could do it.

[WaltSummersPI]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 2:21pm

I thought Barrett gave Barrett's performance. It was a little bit different than Jesse's.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 2:27pm

I've only heard JTF on the recording, but I don't find Stanley Bahorek to be anything like him, and that's fine...

Love this cast. I'll continue to be the dissonant voice if need be.

[keen on kean]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 3:03pm

Thanks for the input - I'll let you know how the performance was.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 5/29/07 at 3:41pm

"Hey, to be fair, Barrett Foa could do it."

No he couldn't. He was awful in the show.

[keen on kean]

Posted: 5/30/07 at 7:32pm

I went to the Bee matinee today. Audience included two large groups of high schoolers - all well behaved, especially because it seemed that two of their teachers were chosen to be spellers. Mo Rocca was fine - not much of a part. I enjoyed the performance generally, and laughed a lot. I especially liked Carly Hughes who was subbing as Rona Lisa Peretti - reminded me strongly of Audra McDonald. Also liked Stanley Bahorek as Leaf - As much as I enjoyed the show (and the $50 ticket price), I have come to expect a little more substance from my Broadway experiences. So the next trip is probably going to be Frost/Nixon or Grey Gardens or LoveMusik.

[shesamarshmallow]

Posted: 5/30/07 at 7:49pm

I've seen them both, but I saw the SF (current broadway cast) first, and therefore prefer then. It depends, and opinions obviously vary.

[TapTapTapioca]

Posted: 5/30/07 at 7:52pm

When I saw it in San Fransisco I really liked Sara Inbar.

[MyLife]

Posted: 5/30/07 at 11:59pm

WaltSummers,

I do agree with you that Gertner and Barber are hysterical; IMO they and Inbar are the only one's ready for Broadway. Iglehart is almost there. Bahorek and Lee are boring and blah. I ebjoyed there performances in Boston not because they were great, but because it kept the spelling bee memories fresh in my mind. In NYC, I want Broadway quality, and two of my favorite characters just are not up to par.

With the OBC, Leaf, Marcy and Chip were my absolute favorites. I did not like Keenan-bolger's Olive or Fogler's Barfee. However, now I love Barfee and Olive and I cannot stand Chip, Leaf, and Marcy. It just goes to show that it is the actors, not the characters, that make the hsow great. Unfortunately, if casting isn't changed soon I think Bee's time is up.

I adored Barrett's Leaf. I was hesitant at first because Jesse was my favorite, but Barrett did the part justice. He made it his own, and it was great. Bahorek just copies, and it's boring. Barrett showed that a new actor could come into the show and keep it fresh. The rest of this cast, including Mo Rocca, does not reemphasize this point.

[Shawk]

Posted: 5/31/07 at 1:05pm

"Broadway quality?" It's not as if there's some mystical pond of "Broadway quality" actors from which people are pulled; many actors audition and some are considered. Sometimes casting directors make good decisions and sometimes they don't.

And sometimes actors have interpretations that you as an audience member don't happen to like, which is a whole other realm. There's a difference between that and an actor being underqualified.

Disclaimer: I liked the cast in SF and I liked those that went on to NY, some more than others.

[yellibean2]

Posted: 5/31/07 at 4:08pm

They are absolutely amazing, I cannot say enough about every single one of them. I have never seen the OBC, so I can't really compare, but I saw this cast many times in Boston and have fallen completely in love with all of them (I can't really comment on Rocca or Simard, but from what I've heard they're great too). Personally, I think Stanley is an incredibly talented actor and truly brings something original to Leaf, but I'm not going to get into that argument again. You're in for a treat.