DRS Ranges

[MrSweetNAwful]

Posted: 7/11/06 at 4:37pm

Can someone tell me the ranges for Freddy, Lawrence and Christine in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels?
Highest notes if anything.


Thank you in advance.
:)

[jv92]

Posted: 7/11/06 at 5:32pm

I don't know the ranges, but Lawrence is a Bartione, Freddy is a BartioneTenor (He kind of does both) and Christine is an Mezzo-Soprano or Alto.

[Kevo711]

Posted: 7/11/06 at 5:49pm

Christine goes to a High A at the end of "Here I Am" I believe... but the note she hits in "Love is My Legs" is higher, if my memory serves me correctly.

[Joshua488]

Posted: 7/11/06 at 5:53pm

The final note of "Here I Am" is not a high A. It is a D sharp. (I have the vocal selections book.)

That note she sings in "Love Is My Legs" is an A, I believe, but that was Sherie René Scott doing her own thing. It's not written to go that high. It is written for Christine to sing the same note as on the word "your," which is an F sharp.

In "Son of Great Big Stuff," Freddy goes up to an A flat. I think that might be the highest he goes. (If I'm wrong, pardon me... I'm skimming through the score quickly.)
Updated On: 7/11/06 at 05:53 PM

[guitarperson]

Posted: 7/11/06 at 8:45pm

Freddy sings a Bb at the end of "Dirty Rotten Number" but I saw one of Norbert's understudies and he didn't hit it so it might be optional.

[Joshua488]

Posted: 7/11/06 at 8:47pm

Yes, you're right, guitarperson. In the vocal selections book, the B flat is not written as an optional note, but perhaps things are different if you're actually in the show!

[Kevo711]

Posted: 7/11/06 at 8:51pm

Wow! Was I off or what? Lol... I must have been thinking of the last note of the demo version that Yazbek sings on the cast recording (which is an A).

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 7/11/06 at 9:11pm

In the beginning, I don't believe that note(the high one in DRN) was optional, but I think as time wore on, it became too difficult to reach 8 times a week for Norbert. In terms of the understudies, Joe Cassidy often hit that note--he has an amazing range. I've never seen Jason attempt it--I feel like Jason sounds like he has a bit of a lower range; I could be wrong. He hits the "hand" note beautifully.

[guitarperson]

Posted: 7/11/06 at 9:57pm

It was Joe Cassidy who didn't hit the note when I saw it, but I'm sure his voice was just tired that day or something. It was during the time when Norbert was out a lot due to vocal issues so I'm sure Joe Cassidy had been on a lot that week. After all nobody can hit a high Bb ALL the time.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 7/11/06 at 10:04pm

They should have pulled a Phantom and pre-recorded the high notes.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 7/11/06 at 10:10pm

I'm in agreement with guitarperson and Joshua488... Norbet & Sherie have "special abilities" even many other talented people don't. I can imagine it might be altered and adapted for the person performing the role at the time.

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 7/11/06 at 11:11pm

Rachel York hit the really high note in "Love Is My Legs" as well, but went into her soprano range, whereas Sherie belted it. I personally liked Rachel on that note much better, but both women are fantastic in that role (to state the obvious).

[Joshua488]

Posted: 7/11/06 at 11:18pm

Sherie may have mix-belted it, but it always sounded shaky and sometimes a bit flat. I prefer Rachel York's soprano sound on that note.

[Yero]

Posted: 7/11/06 at 11:21pm

^^I agree, it does sound a little shaky on the recording.
I saw Rachel in DRS in May.. but I don't really remember every detail about it, so I can't remember how exactly she sounded with the higher notes.

[lovesclassics]

Posted: 7/11/06 at 11:50pm

I saw Rachel York in the role in March and again in June, and not only did she hit the high note at the end of "Love Is My Legs," but she added a riff to it both times - "l'-eh -eh -eh -eh -eh -eh -egs." Wow. She also was able to sustain the hold on "Here I Am" right to the end, whereas on the cast album, Sherie slides it down.

I think it's so cool that two such talented ladies have been able to add their own little flourishes to the songs and to the character. I can only comment on Sherie's performance on the cast album, because I haven't actually seen her in the show, but it seems that each woman has been able to make Christine her own. Rachel's soprano was able to make Chrisine more - I don't know - innocent, optimistic, vulnerable? Whereas Sherie's belt seems to make Christine more of a country bumpkin.

I never got to see Norbert as Freddie. (-:

I saw Joe Cassidy in March (GREAT voice and understated comic timing), and Jason Gillman in June (liked him, too, but was very disappointed that I missed Norbert again, so I think that took away from my enjoyment). I'll probably catch it on tour, too. Should be fun.

LC