Bill, I saw IN TROUSERS when Bill Hutton played Marvin in LA, and I've enjoyed two productions of FALSETTOS since I saw the national tour, but I have to admit there's a secret place in my heart where Michael Rupert will always be Marvin.
You're right that we should beware of insisting that a new cast mirror the originals.
There is no way to mirror the original cast, they were true originals who really brought a lot of themselves to their characters. One almost wishes they could have cast some relative unknowns in one or two of these leading roles in the revival, so the audience could get to know them as their characters rather than just evaluating how good of a job they are doing. Of the three announced leads, I think only Christian has the ability to truly disappear into a character.
Buffalo Bill said: "All of the folks cast already are going to be absolutely amazing because they are all very, very fine artists. The casting struck me as odd. "
Yeah, we know you hated it. You made a whole insane thread about how Christian Borle shouldn't be allowed to be cast in it. Calm down, Bill.
This is actually a middling performance. He's not a strong singer and this proves it. And this version in no way stands up to the many other versions women have done in the past. This performance relates to Whizzer how??
Tracie Thoms is a brilliant and unexpected choice!
"Oh look at the time, three more intelligent plays just closed and THE ADDAMS FAMILY made another million dollars" -Jackie Hoffman, Broadway.com Audience Awards
FiddleMeThis said: "This is actually a middling performance. He's not a strong singer and this proves it. And this version in no way stands up to the many other versions women have done in the past. This performance relates to Whizzer how??
"
Not a strong singer? Your cochlear implants need adjustment.
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Thank you for the clip of Rannells' "Meadowlark", pj. It reminds me of the late Russ Thacker, who always included "Meadowlark" in his club act. (It was years before I realized it had been a "Patti LuPone" song.)
I'm not opposed to any of the cast that has been announced, but Rannells is the choice that seems utterly obvious and right, yet exciting at the same time. I can only hope they record an album.
Sorry, but Andrew is *not* what most people would consider a strong singer- he has more of a character voice. I stand by my assertion, and I still think he is quite miscast in this.
I have heard and seen many critiques of Rannells as a performer, but never anything about his singing. I doubt you would find many people who would characterize his voice as weak or a "character voice."
I do hope a recording of this cast occurs, at least to have the full score preserved. The original cast recordings don't accurately reflect the final material.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
I have to agree a bit with Fiddle. Rannells' voice has a shallowness, brightness, and limit of range that suits pop music, and character work more than full-throated ballads like "The Games I Play".
But I do think he sings with sincerity, charm, and style and all of those things are tools well-used for a winning performance. He may not bring the sheer vocal power, elasticity, and breath support that Borgardus did, but this will be his take on the character and perhaps his vocal style will enhance and inform that.