Frenchie Davis to Leave the Cast of 'Rent' on May 24

May 24th will mark Frenchie Davis' last performance in Rent, according to the performer's blog.

"After 4 wonderful years, I am sad (and a little happy) to announce that I will be leaving Rent this spring...I want to take this chance to say thank you to all of the fans and people that came out to support during my time in the show...I also would like to offer my sincerest thanks to the producers of the show for allowing me the opportunity to contribute to such a wonderful piece of theatre history....i know that i will look back at these times as some of the best of my life...thank you so much!," she wrote.

Link

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Updated On: 2/27/07 at 02:17 PM

Well, Jennifer can act.

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Glad she is going. Personally, I think that her seasons of love solo has been the same exact thing every night.

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Thank God this woman is leaving the show. As I've stated on these boards before, she looked utterly bored every time I saw her on stage. Lesson for Frenchie - even when you don't think people are watching you in the ensemble scenes, they are, so it's probably in your best interest not to look in the complete depths of ennui while on stage at any time.

I guess we won't be seeing her as a Sofia replacement in THE COLOR PURPLE anytime soon?

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, Bobby.

broadwayguy2, while I have to disagree with you that the only bright spots of the cast were Hanke and Benjamin during Novemberish (in fact, I'd probably say Benjamin was a weak spot), you're completely right about Frenchie being the weakest link of the show. I get that being the bag lady and a SOL soloist for 3-4 years has got to be boring after a while, but there's no excuse for the type of performance she constantly turned in.

i liked frenchie lol. im not trying to throw the whole attitude around but im happy i saw her. i thought she was very good. and i love maggie benjamin. i saw her on youtube first and thought she was crazy but then i saw her and thought she was so perfect. her "oh honey bear.." made me laugh lmao ok im done

Because it's a job. I feel like that's a reason plaguing Rent lately -- it's a fallback for people and often regarded in the "well, a job's a job" sense. It's probably where you get so much boredom on stage.

Frenchie can certainly sing, but I think it's time she end her run with Rent, honestly. Not only does she look bored on stage (and if she can supposedly act, she should um, pretend not to be?), but she seems to have this air of doing the world some divine service by singing this solo for audiences to hear and is just God's gift to Broadway. Sure, she is performing which in a sense is "giving" something that we should be grateful for and whatever, but boredom plus visible attitude? Sorry, I don't buy it. Having ego is one thing and undeniably common in actors, but don't let it project into your performance.

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Updated On: 2/27/07 at 04:20 PM

Please god let Crystal Monee Hall take over for her

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I saw her in November, and let me tell you, she was AMAZING! Her solos in "Seasons of Love" and in the "I'll Cover You (reprise) were breathtaking! Her voice is so powerful. She was a joy to hear and watch.

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Lol, Matt, YOU want Crystal to take over when Frenchie leaves? Shock! I didn't think you liked her even a little

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Crystal Monee Hall is my girl
and she umm....hits the solo
and her joanne isn't a spoiled rich girl

and how many homeless woman have dye jobs???

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Perhaps I caught her on an off night, but I didn't care for Crystal's Joanne at all. Utterly boring in both her vocals and acting, and I didn't feel she hit the notes with as much power as Joanne should. Snorefest.