Footage of NIGHT MUSIC/CZJ singing Send in the Clowns — Page 3

Sondheim also approved the new prologue, and everything else, in the Roundabout FOLLIES. And his last "new" Broadway score was THE FROGS. Everyone makes mistakes and Steve is no exception. He gets his royalty check either way.

That being said, despite the myriad problems I have with what I have seen/heard/read about this production, the video enticed me enough to go see this and I hope when I do ADDAMS is in fantastic shape on Bway (with a vastly improved score) so I can see two great productions, though that hope dies a little more every day. Those are the 2 shows I have been looking forward to most this season, clearly, and it has been a litany of disappointment so far.

P

My god, that Scripps is such a pill.

I never said it was my "most important thing." I just asked a question. Maybe dial the hyperbole down a notch?

"I guess if your most important thing is the exact lyric rather than brilliant acting and musical perfection while making it appear effortless, then yes Ms. Lansbury blew it."

I agree completely. What on earth difference does it make really? I think sometimes people can just get too carried away with fussiness and criticism. Miss Lansbury is an accomplished stage actress, and she has been acting for decades, and now she is of a certain age, which is only natural and inevitable. I don’t understand why anyone, really, would have any reason to criticize her for such things as "flubbing lines," etc., etc. It doesn't matter. Do you honestly think it does? I haven't said all of this with the intention of participating in this debate. I'm not the kind to start arguments or treat others' opinions with sarcasm. I do respect everyone's opinions, and I just felt like writing in my own on this. If I get criticized for this post, although I would rather I didn't, I'm the kind of person who just ignores. I'm not a "Broadway buff," per se, like a majority of the rest of you, I merely enjoy talking about Miss Lansbury, because I've always been a fan of hers, and the more I see and read of "Night Music," the more I would really love to make the trip to NY again to see it.

Mr. Sondheim approves just about everything these days, so I'd take that with a grain of salt.

It's certainly a habit now. She sang it like that at the first preview, on the audio floating around, and in these press clips. I don't think it's a huge deal. She does similar things with some of her lines. She is 84-years-old and not using an earpiece, although one was made for her. I give her credit.

I agree and give Angela a lot of credit. She is such a gem to our industry and is in her old age now and performing without an earpiece.

Yes, I noticed the lyric flub, but it didn't bother me. Angela knows what she is doing and I can't help but continue to respect and adore her.

And as far as how Sondheim feels...if I had someone like Angela Lansbury performing my material I would definitely be able to forgive her for flubbing a few lines here and there.

I haven't seen the show yet, but even with all the negative things floating around about it I am still going to go in with high hopes. It's my all time favorite show (along with West Side Story).

bk - I actually liked what CZJ did with the delivery of her lyrics. Why didn't you care for it? Just wondering...

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It just seems like without the s it implies they no longer exist, while with the s it means that they have changed.

mywonderwa: It's ACTING - her ACTING slip is showing and not just a little. There's nothing real happening, it's all studied. Miss Johns in the original was larger-than-life at times but always real, which is why her performance of the song is so classic.

And the little rump bump with Fredrika - yeah. And You Must Meet My Wife - the humor is gone because there's nothing subtle going on. It's a performance, at least in the clips, which is all I have to go on until I see it, that seems painted on.

Angela is NOT quaint and adorable in her scenes.

I agree, she does in the clip. But she's not in her scenes. She is perfectly sardonic in her scenes with Desiree. Her act 2 is particularly powerful as she displays the degeneration of the character.

They showed some clips of her scenes on her CBS Sunday Morning segment, but unfortunately the segment can't be viewed online yet. It did show that she does bring an edge to the character.

But I do agree, the Liaisons clip is quaint and cuddly. I don't remember it coming across that way in the theatre. I don't think the clips are the best portrayal of the production. Zeta-Jones is much better live in the theatre.

Updated On: 12/11/09 at 02:40 AM