Gumbo: I don't know what her reviews were like during Rent but I can tell you that her voice has changed a lot since. I think most of their (the rent obc) voices have. Chalk it up to what you will: age, maturity, more training or, in most of their cases, ten more years of smoking. Personally I think Daphne sounds better now than she has in a while, and that is coming from someone who doesn't think she sounded bad to begin with!
Ken: Daphne's absence has been talked about to death. You didn't know she would be out in early March? She has been saying for a while now that she thinks she will be gone starting the beginning of February for 7-12 weeks. That is not new news.
"I wrote a book: "How to Be Popular". Now I've put together a top ten list of how to help you:
-Elphie, everyday... shower. I mean, who knows? Maybe some of that green is gonna come off!
-Deodorant Elphie. No body likes a stinky witch!
-I think we've covered the hair, we'll get to that.
-Clean underclothes. That's all I'm gonna say.
-Look at your posture. That's no way to be popular!
-Bed made, room straightened. We've done that.
-Colors blended. Oookay.
-But the most important thing to have, to make yourself popular, is to keep your beautiful smile."
~Kristin Chenoweth in her last performance of the song "Popular"