Farewell Lea Salonga!- Page 2

Posted: 10/22/07 at 2:04am

Best of luck to her. I really agree with others and hope she returns for an original broadway show because she is my role model!

[jsg03jd]

Posted: 10/22/07 at 2:20am

Lea Salonga cried an awful lot during I DREAMED A DREAM -- I'm talking snot and all, and I don't usually cry at shows, but I couldn't help but get teary eyed watching her. It was just such a raw, visceral performance, and her tears were too much -- they really got to me. I thought her technique would get screwed up as well because of her crying, but it didn't, and she sang beautifully.

And the arrest scene was too much. I was heartbroken from that as well Fantine's death. Great way to end your run, Miss Lea. Just fantastic all around.

[My Oh My]

Posted: 10/22/07 at 3:24am

Farewell miss Salonga!

I had the pleasure of seeing you 2nd row center back in July, and LOVED your interpretation of the role.

I'd love to see you take on the role of Elphaba on Broadway!

[AlanAntonio]

Posted: 10/22/07 at 10:07am

Robert Hunt was TERRIFIC! His rendition of Stars got a thunderous applause and cheers from the audience. He has the strongest voice in the cast and of all the other actors who have portrayed Javert. His inunciation was perfect; very clear. You really understood why Javert had to commit suicide.

[p.s.]

Posted: 10/22/07 at 10:26am

At curtain call Megan McGinnis gave her her own bow, and she received a bouquet of beautiful roses. During the final bows she was basically dancing around and did a funny pose (almost looking like she was flipping someone off jokely or something I swear I heard a "F*ck yeah!").

Are you sure it wasn't Ali Ewoldt, not Megan?

And it would have been a regular old f-u directed toward the Marius guy (who has been groping her for a year).


p.s. If it was Megan, the f-u would have been directed toward the same guy (who has been groping her as well for months).

[Marianne]

Posted: 10/22/07 at 10:50am

S/he probably meant that the Eponine and Fantine actresses usually share a bow at curtain call, but Megan gave Lea her own bow.

[AlanAntonio]

Posted: 10/22/07 at 2:09pm

Megan looked really sad at curtain call because of Lea's departure. She pushed Lea to the front, then stepped back to allow Lea a solo bow. That was a very touching gesture. By the way, Megan gave a BRILLIANT and UNIQUE performance. Her portrayal of Eponine was not a feisty and rough girl of the slums. It was a gentle and vulnerable young woman in love. Her big, BEAUTIFUL eyes were very expressive. There was more hope in her "On My Own" than jealousy and despair. The audience loved her.
Updated On: 10/22/07 at 02:09 PM

[p.s.]

Posted: 10/22/07 at 2:25pm

At curtain call Megan McGinnis gave her her own bow, and she received a bouquet of beautiful roses.

Thanks. I got it now.
Megan gave Lea a separate bow, and Lea received a bouquet, and Lea did and said those other things.


p.s. Wasn't there any acknowledgement of Ali's last performance?

[jsg03jd]

Posted: 10/22/07 at 2:37pm

Nope. No acknowledgment that it was Ali's or Ann's last day. Seems the audience was pretty much in the know though that it was Lea's last performance.

[JKlock]

Posted: 10/22/07 at 2:38pm

Ann's last day is October 30th isnt it? It was not yesterday...

[cridecar]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 1:09am

I guess good byes really suck. But as what Lea said, it's time to move on, and it's alright, and it will be another fun and exciting journey. Can't wait to experience again that magic moment last Sunday at Broadway. I'm sure I will!

http://bigsis222.multiply.com/journal

[musicaltheater1]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 2:38am

The afternoon show was magical, emotional and powerful!! Lea Salonga was superb, sang flawlessly, truly gave it all. It was definitely electrifying and emotional. Even Ivan Rutherford was in tears. The entire cast was brilliant. My first time to see Harada, Von Essen and Hunt. Ann was hilarious. Max Von Essen was a superb Enjolras. Ivan Rutherford and Robert Hunt were amazing. Hunt's Javert was definitely better than Lewis'. Even Gary Beach was so energetic and added so many ad libs, he made me laugh so hard. Wow, I've never seen an entire cast so on since TAC and the closing of Miss Saigon in 2000. The theater was packed to the rafters. Her fans and supporters were amazing. I've never seen the backstage door packed with so many people, the rest of the cast came out from the second floor deck to take pictures of the huge crowd. Pandemonium broke in when Lea came out. Even the cops came in to control them. It was like being at the red carpet for a music award. What an amazing run! Ms. Salonga, we thank you for entertaining us and for coming back to Broadway for a brilliant performance. Please be back soon.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 8:49am

Farewell, lovely Lea!!! All the best to her for the future. I was blessed to have been able to see her in one of my all time favorite roles in my very favorite show of all time!!!

That said...

Bring on Judy!!! wOOt

[mikem]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 9:47am

Lea writes in her blog, "Fantine was the role of a lifetime thus far in my existence and experience as an actor. I was never given the opportunity to sink my teeth into anyone like her, to take a journey that was at times terrifying and exhilirating."

Does anyone else find this surprising? I would have thought she would have said that Kim in Miss Saigon was the role of a lifetime for her. Fantine's character arc and plotline is very similar to Kim's, except that the role of Kim is so much larger and more complex that I would think Kim's "journey" would have been more satisfying a role as an actor.

[Colle]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 9:50am

I have never been luckly enough to see Lea perform live in a show, and I wish I could have seen her as Fantine. I do wish Lea well in her future projects. What I will also miss about her being in the Les Mis revival is that Lea did a good job, though her blog, in keeping fans updated on the lastest news with the show.

[Andante]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 12:04pm

I had the pleasure of seeing Lea as Fantine this past April. What an amazing actress and singer she is- she brought me to tears within seconds of the start of "I Dreamed a Dream". Best of luck to her in the future!

Seeing Judy in November- hopefully her performance will touch my heart just as much as Lea's did.

[Marianne]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 12:27pm

Oh jesus, they had to call the cops to get her out safely? The poor woman.

From what the stage door was like on Saturday, I don't doubt it, but it's still insane.

[AlanAntonio]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 4:07pm

I understand why Lea said that portraying Fantine was "the role of a lifetime thus far" because compared to Kim, Fantine goes through deeper emotional depths. I think that to make the audience understand Fantine's pain, the actress has to break down and cry. Also, think about it, in IDAD, the range of emotions is really vast - there's childish hope, love for a man, love for a child, disappointment, longing, denial, hanging on to hope for a better life, yet realizing that some dreams just won't come true. That's just in one song. The actress has to go through those emotional paths and show the feelings physically and vocally. [Lea's facial expressions were incredibly raw and visceral.] Then there's the part where she swallows her pride and becomes a prostitute, where she begs for mercy for her life, where she wishes she was dead. [Fantine sold her teeth to provide for Cosette.] There's the part where she hallucinates, is afraid of dying, and dies. Portraying Kim did not necessitate all of that or going through the process. For example, Kim does become a prostitute, but the moment of becoming one was not depicted [she goes on a boat, leaves Saigon, then she is shown as a prostitute in Bangkok.] Now, do that eight times a week and see how draining it can be. Also, Lea is a mother now, and being so affected and made her portrayal even more believable.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 4:17pm

While I am excited to see Judy Kuhn's spin on Fantine, Salonga's interpretation was really something special.

Updated On: 10/23/07 at 04:17 PM

[musicaltheater1]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 7:38pm

Ann Harada will be back for a week only. Maybe Jenny Galloway had some problems with her schedule.

Updated On: 10/23/07 at 07:38 PM

[KQuill]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 10:26pm

I miss Daphne!!

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 10:53pm

Ann Harada will be back for a week only.

Oy! Why not rotate the understudies?!

[JKlock]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 10:58pm

Lizzie- They would rather torture us

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 10:59pm

LOL, just watch everyone else during Master of the House. That's what I did.

[musicaltheater1]

Posted: 10/23/07 at 11:09pm

She seemed surprised with the request as well.

Updated On: 10/23/07 at 11:09 PM