Fastasia's Last Day/ Tony Performance- Page 3

[Testing1232]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 7:02pm

<< Celie ages though in the show. She doesn't stay 23. Jordin is a bit too young. >>

Diva...just out of curiousity... have you seen "TCP" w/ Fantasia?

I ask because just about the only criticism that many have mentioned in regards to Fantasia's Celie is her transition to the older Celie in Act II.

The first time I saw her, she did not have it down AT ALL.

A couple of gray streaks in her hair were not going to get it done.

Now, she has it down. My point is that it is all in the acting.

If a 23 year old can ACT much older, why cant a 17 year old?

Again, I am not saying whether or not she could play Celie. I am just saying that I dont think that her age would stop the producers from hiring her.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 7:04pm

<< Beyonce' was singing nominated songs>>

And that was probably the worst idea they have come up with yet !!! Having Fantasia perform could not possibly be worse than that travesty.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 7:06pm

OK, let's not fool ourselves. Fantasia isn't performing because she is talented or whatnot. Please, Donna Murphy and Michael Cerveris are giving performances that are considered by some the best of their careers and they aren't performing. The only reason Fantasia is performing is because people think she will bring in some viewers. That's it. Is it unfair? Yes, it is. Fantasia performing will be free advertisement for THE COLOR PURPLE, a kind of advertisement that shows that opened this season like LOVEMUSIK and LEGALLY BLONDE weren't allowed.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 7:07pm

Thank you Ray.

[dream on]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 7:10pm

Ray-have you seen Fantasia in The Color Purple? Why is it so foreign to some here that the first time out Fantasia is blowing people away?

And no, Theatrediva hasnt seen Fantasia in TCP - he lives in California.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 7:11pm

Testing,

Actually I think African Americans have an easier time with aging on stage. Marc Shaiman said it best in a song he wrote about how actresses of color are constantly playing roles far beyond their own years (Ciciley Tyson for one), called "Black Don't Crack".

Because of my race
Just look at my face
It's as soft as a babies behind
Because Black Don't Crack
Etc....

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 7:15pm

Where in my post did I say Fantasia isn't talented? I'm sure she is, I'm sure she is indeed giving a great performance. What I'm saying is that the reason she is performing at the Tony Awards has NOTHING to do with the fact she is so great. If that were the case, Donna Murphy would be allowed to sing "Surabaya Johnny" at the Tonys, Cerveris would be doing "It Never Was You," and Julie White her opening monologue from LITTLE DOG LAUGHED. By your logic, since Fantasia is performing because she's so great, then every other brilliant performance on Broadway this season should be honored the same way, right? No.
Murphy, Cerveris, and White bring no viewers. Fantasia does. Hence she is performing at the ceremony.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 7:16pm

<< Testing,

Actually I think African Americans have an easier time with aging on stage. Marc Shaiman said it best in a song he wrote about how actresses of color are constantly playing roles far beyond their own years (Ciciley Tyson for one), called "Black Don't Crack".

Because of my race
Just look at my face
It's as soft as a babies behind
Because Black Don't Crack
Etc....
>>

I am not even touching this one-

So, you think Jordin would have a harder time, why?

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 7:21pm

Well, she is only 17, but after the pictures I saw of Fantasia, looking very smooth skinned but, as you said, had a wig on with some grey in it, Jordin might be able to pull it off.

And Ray,
Don't worry. Dream-On only posts about Fantasia. If anyone says anything other that "SHE'S BRILLIANT!!!" Dream-On will just jump down their throats.

[hilltop]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 7:22pm

I agree that it's unfair for performers from LoveMusik and Legally Blonde to be shut out. But the Tonys have often had "special performances" from singers such as Mary J. Blige and Aretha Franklin. At least Fantasia is actually on Broadway.

I think part of the reason she was asked to perform, and not a far bigger star such as Usher, is that she's making a splash on Broadway and the Tony Awards Management Committee wanted to reward her in some way.

The ratings will be horrible either way. I doubt many of Fantasia's R&B fans will want to sit through 2 hours and 57 minutes of an awards show to hear 3 minutes of Fantasia.

//Actually I think African Americans have an easier time with aging on stage.//
Oh boy. I'm going to take a pass on this one, too.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 7:31pm

I really hope that doesn't come across as racist, because it's actually a compliment.

I was all for Patti LaBelle to play MotorMouth Mabel in HAIRSPRAY. Sure, in real life she's too old, but she hasn't aged a day in decades. And I KNOW she could sing the hell out of IKWIB.

It's just good genes!

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 7:35pm

So TheatreDiva, what you mean is that African-Americans tend to read younger than their age? The way you worded it I thought you meant it the other way around.
Anika Noni Rose is a perfect example of this, she believably played a teenager in CAROLINE, OR CHANGE when she's in her 30s to Tony-Award-winning effect.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 7:37pm

<< I really hope that doesn't come across as racist, because it's actually a compliment.
>>

Possibly, but it IS a generalization, and a sterotypical comment that could be seen as being racist.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 7:38pm

Either way, Fantasia's talents are hardly needed at the Tonys. Must she perform "I'm Here" for the 30th time on national TV?

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 7:39pm

Thanks Ray,

That's just what I mean.

Sorry if it was perceived otherwise.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 7:39pm

double post

Updated On: 6/3/07 at 07:39 PM

[Testing1232]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 7:40pm

Her talent might or might not be needed, but her name could be.

Face it, the Tony ratings are atrocious- couldn't hurt !

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 7:43pm

They'll be the same this year. Against the series finale of The Sopranos? Good luck to them getting people to watch.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 7:46pm

Well, I just hope she's singing something appropriate and it's not a plug for an album or anything.

And I agree, the ratings are still going to suck. I'm just dreading the day when they finally announce, "It's just not worth it" and not air it on TV any more.


*shudders*

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 7:49pm

Hopefull, if and when CBS drops the show, PBS will pick it up.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 7:49pm

I could see that within a year or two, Diva. The ratings are getting worse and worse !!

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 7:52pm

Well, if PBS picks it up, I hope they put the technical awrds back in.

Some of us care about those as much as the performances.

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 7:53pm

Me too. I hate watching them online. Still, at least they are broadcast somewhere.

[Virgo]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 7:59pm

Oh well she's performing at the Tony's and isn't nominated. I expect the ratings to be the same as they've always been if not lower. However, Fantasia will have a house of 3000+ of theatre's finest watching her LIVE. Can't be all bad. It's an honor as I don't think any other idol contestants have performed so there goes the theory of "ratings". I would agree if they had a habit of grabbing every idol contestant who's ever hit broadway and thrown them into a performance slot of the tony's. however, that has never happened and likely never will again, unless they are nominated for something. this is a rare occasion and an honor.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 6/3/07 at 7:59pm

Sometimes the technical awards are more fun to watch than the televised ceremony, as in, last year when Bob Crowley won Best Set Design for THE HISTORY BOYS and said that he should have won for TARZAN in his speech. Pure gold.
I wish the ceremony went back to the years when the performers were Bernadette Peters, Liza Minnelli, Bea Arthur, Angela Lansbury, Anita Morris, Chita Rivera, Donna McKechnie, and the like.