I'm a bit confused reading several poster's reviews both here and in the other chatroom stating what a terrible singer Ms. Gershon is. Descriptions of her voice are being reported as flat, off pitch, weak and overall irritating. Though I preferred Natasha Richardson and Joley Fisher as Sally Bowls in CABARET, I had no problem with Gershon's voice when I saw her in the role. Granted Sally is not suppose to be a great singer yet her non cabaret number "Maybe This Time" was belted effectively and was pleasant enough. I also don't see Charles Strouse's score to BIRDIE being anymore difficult to perform than Kander's in CABARET. So what happened to this woman's singing voice? If she could no longer sing was this not apparent in rehearsals? Did anyone out there see her in CABARET and did you find her singing terrible? Stamos' singing voice is reported to be pretty bad too. I'm very familiar with the score to NINE, saw Stamos in the show and he too was fine. Furthermore I find BIRDIE's score a piece of cake to perform compared to NINE's. So here we have two musical stars who were favorably reviewed in their last outings. I'm aware it's in previews and it's only fair to wait until they have a few performances under their belt to quibble. But what perplexes me is that although an actor can grow in a role as a singer you can either carry a tune or not. I'll be curious what the critics have to say on this count.
Her voice in BIRDIE is the same as her voice was in CABARET. The problem is that Sally is not meant to be sung well, but with character. Rose is meant to be sung well AND with character. Gina falls short. Quite a bit short.
She sounded okay in Cabaret. Sally wasn't supposed to be an amazing singer. I can't comment on Birdie, but I can't imagine the songs sounding all that great if she has the same voice she had in Cabaret.
Whoa! Spacesandparagraphsareyourfriends.
IHearThatEveryTimeGinaGershonSingsaKittenDiesandAnAngelLosesITSWings
Here is footage of Gina as Sally Bowles in the recent Broadway revival of CABARET (at Studio 54). This is from November 2001 and yes... that's Raul Esparza as the Emcee.
"Don't Tell Mama": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ajrXUft8p3g
"Maybe This Time": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LKqn2qaTjM4
"Perfectly Marvelous": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8v2yZn7STE
"Cabaret": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muhdACYD6Jc
Okay I have to say it. Her "Cabaret" seems to be played like she's having the abortion whilst singing.
She's an ok Sally, certainly not one of the best.
I'm not straight so take it for what it's worth but I don't get why men swoon over her. She's very odd looking to me.
Broadway Star Joined: 6/2/04
Gina should stick to playing Larrys Laundry woman in Curb your Enthusiasm.
I actually didn't have an issue with John Stamos' voice and I think once he gets a little more comfortable he'll sound better. I did have an issue with Gina Gershon literally screaming the end of Spanish Rose and not being able to hit one note properly.
She looks like Sarah Brightman in Repo in that picture from Cabaret.
^ I thought she just looked like Sarah Brightman in general in that picture.
It's the raccoon eyes and mouth shape.
It's just too bad she's apparently not very good in BIRDIE. She seemed genuinely excited about it in all of the interviews I saw with her, she was good in BOEING-BOEING, and I've heard she's incredibly gracious and nice.
... and I've heard she's incredibly gracious and nice.
Unfortunately, that wasn't the case per the personnel at Studio 54 during her numerous returns to CABARET.
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/17/06
Weird that the black lace outfit she's wearing in the photo from Cabaret looks exactly like the one she had on last night in the scene where she strips down and puts on the hot red dress in Birdie! I didn't understand why they had her do that in Birdie--it seemed odd to suddenly expose her in Penthouse-style underwear, especially in the modest 1960s, you could have done it more cleverly with a folding screen on stage. Maybe they were making a nod to her Cabaret past?
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/8/08
I agree with the op 100%. Her singing in Cabaret was perfectly fine. If all of the negative reviews on Gershon's singing are true, she must've really taken a dive.
Her performance of 'Cabaret' still remains one of the best I have ever seen.
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