Daphne in Les Mis

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/3/11 at 10:25am

Seriously, how do people NOT love this???

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jjBpXXnKIs

[MikeInTheDistrict]

Posted: 9/3/11 at 10:43am

I never got to see her live. (Nikki Renee Daniels was on the day I went. She was amazing.) But, surprisingly, I didn't hate that clip of Daphne. I think she conveys Fantine's disillusionment well. It's not a pretty voice, but she does better than a lot of women I've seen in the role with prettier voices, but no feel for the character.

[lsinger2]

Posted: 9/3/11 at 4:56pm

I've seen the 20 times- it's my favorite ever. She was the worst and most awkward I have ever seen. I was a huge fan of hers from RENT. The audience barely clapped when she was done. It ruined the moment and made it a joke. She left for another project and did not return to the show. I wonder why....

[Unknown User]

Posted: 9/3/11 at 4:59pm

I heard Daphne was inspired and paying homage to Lucille Ball's singing performance in Mame when she was doing research for the role.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/3/11 at 5:07pm

I love her voice and how she sang this song. Plus she acted the hell out of it which can't be said for so many others who've taken on that role.

I feel she was so unfairly judged by people in this role.
Updated On: 9/3/11 at 05:07 PM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 9/3/11 at 5:20pm

I love her in the role. I think people just hated on her because her voice was so different from what they're used to hearing, but different doesn't mean bad. And she really did act the hell out of it. Way better than any other Fantine I've seen.

[AC126748]

Posted: 9/3/11 at 5:36pm

Jordan, I usually agree with you, but I really have to disagree on this one. I saw Daphne twice in the role and she was a disaster on stage. Beyond her voice being shot and inaudible at times, her acting investment was little more than clutching her chest and occasionally crying. It was Melodrama 101. Almost every other Fantine I've seen (Salonga, Kennedy, Kuhn, Ripley, Daniels, Morgan) acted the role better. To me, it just wasn't a good performance on any level.

[fingerlakessinger]

Posted: 9/3/11 at 5:52pm

I have to agree with Jordan on this one. While some of her singing can be a bit rough in areas, I think it adds to the part. And her acting IMO is superior to so many of the girls that are applauded in this role. Again, some of her vocal/acting choices are odd and I disagree with but I found her overall performance to be better then some give her credit for.

[chewy5000]

Posted: 9/3/11 at 10:06pm

It was Melodrama 101.

But isn't that what Les Misérables is anyway?

[philly03]

Posted: 9/3/11 at 10:14pm

I'm with AC on this one as well. With the exception of a regional production, the other three Fantine's I've seen were all heaps better vocally and acting. Judy Kuhn was my favourite, but Lauren Kennedy and Lea Salonga were also very very good. I'll even agree with the comment that she was awkward... It was an awkward performance that just didn't seem to mesh with the "classic" production. Not that it should be a cookie-cutter thing, but it just wasn't very enjoyable to watch.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/3/11 at 10:57pm

Daphne is constantly bashed for her performance in this show when the real "awkward" and just all around awful performance came from Alexander Gemignani.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 9/3/11 at 11:13pm

I had no problem with this performance. I wonder what we'd say if she originated the role of this sickened, used up prostitute instead of the vocal dynamos that are always cast.

[philly03]

Posted: 9/3/11 at 11:18pm

Or what about the awkwardly miscast (but still good) Drew Sarich as the lankiest Valjean ever??

I will say I had no problems with Alexander Gemignani until I saw John Owen Jones at the end of the role... I'm glad the revival lasted long enough to bring him, and of course a chance to see what Judy Kuhn did with Fantine.

[showchoirguy]

Posted: 9/3/11 at 11:30pm

1:20 plus I'm looking and I don't see any facials which creeps me out... I personally love Daphne, butt not as Fantine.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 9/3/11 at 11:37pm

Jordan you know I love you but I have to vehemently disagree here. I found her performance as Fantine to be disastrous. Aside from the awful vocals, her acting amounted to little more than pedestrian chest clutches and heavenly looks. Many other women played the role much better. Even Jayne Patterson, who belted away, but didn't for a second act like a dying woman, was more enjoyable.

I do agree about Alexander Gemignani. Quite possibly the blandest, most lost at sea Valjean I've seen. Drew Sarich looked ridiculous but sang the hell out of it. John Owen Jones was outstanding, though.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/3/11 at 11:41pm

You take that back, AdamGreer! You take back what you said about Daphne, or I'll tell Chris about all those love poems you write about her.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 9/3/11 at 11:58pm

Chris who?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/4/11 at 12:00am

*sigh*

Classic 80s movie reference. :)

[AwesomeDanny]

Posted: 9/4/11 at 12:55am

I really appreciate this performance. Addressing the concern over her singing, there's something that most people here overlook when discussing vocal performances, and that is the distinction between the singer and the voice. The voice is the natural sound the performer makes, which in Daphne's case, might not be the most pleasant sound you'll ever hear. But the important part is what a singer does with his or her voice, which Daphne did pretty well with. There are many good singers with not as great voices, Bernadette Peters's voice coming to mind first, and many bad singers with great voices, including Sarah Brightman, Alice Ripley (before she ruined her voice in Next to Normal), and Patti LuPone. I find it much more important to be a good singer than have a good voice, as any good singer should. Daphne isn't a perfect singer, but she's still a lot better than many people on Broadway, and I think in this video, she sang it better than Betsy Morgan did on the recent tour--another example of a great voice with technique that doesn't match up. Maybe she was miscast, but she sang the song quite well and whatever complaints you might have about her voice were far beyond her control.

[Actor2]

Posted: 9/4/11 at 1:10am

Jordan, I completely agree with you. She sounded great. Why is everyone hating on the raspiness and stuff? It's her voice, and I enjoyed it very much.

[hyperbole_and_a_half]

Posted: 9/4/11 at 1:58am

I liked her...on mute. I thought she acted it very nicely without overindulging, as Fantines are wont to do. All the best to her. I hope she gets more work in straight plays.

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 9/4/11 at 4:25am

AwesomeDanny, I think you hit the nail on the head.

[Marlothom]

Posted: 9/4/11 at 1:05pm

I saw the show and did not enjoy her. I love a "gritty" version of any role any day of the week but something else she did not think about was the rest of the cast - who were all singing in beautiful operatic voices; making her moments stand out and not in a bad way. The worst was when she came back in Act 2 singing with Eponine . . .

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 9/4/11 at 1:13pm

While I do think it's a dreadful performance, she wears the costume well. There's always something to praise.

[chrissydee]

Posted: 9/4/11 at 1:50pm

She's a used up, wasting away hooker. She should sound messed up. I actually think she SINGS its better than she acts it!