H.S. Mama Rose is now H.S. Joanne in Company- Page 2

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 5/31/10 at 12:57am

Girls! Girls! You're both pretty.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 5/31/10 at 1:02am

While this girl is clearly talented, she also very clearly has a horrible tendency to produce carbon copies of other people's performances.

This was evident with her Patti LuPone impersonation in "Rose's Turn," but it is even more painfully obvious here, where she literally goes as far as to rip off the very specific beats with which Barbara Walsh acted and sang this number in the John Doyle production.

In fact, all elements of this production seem to be stolen from the Doyle one, from the "orchestrations" and stationery set to the cast uniformly costumed in basic black. How incredibly disappointing.

Updated On: 5/31/10 at 01:02 AM

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/31/10 at 1:03am

^ Thank you! People were not happy last time when I said this girl/director does not come up with original ideas.

[wicked_beast4]

Posted: 5/31/10 at 1:03am

The contraction "you're" is formed by the joining of "you" and "are," as strange as that may sound.

And my vision is 20/20, thank you for caring!

[best12bars]

Posted: 5/31/10 at 7:28am

"this girl/director does not come up with original ideas."

Then she should be right at home on Broadway, where so many plays and musicals produced today don't either.

I can't tell the fourth Elphaba from the sixth Gurlinda from the second Simba, unless an "original idea" constitutes riffing on the second beat of the high note instead of the third.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 5/31/10 at 7:41am

best12, while I agree with that statement as well, I at least have to acknowledge that those girls are replacements in the same production. While they should be making their own choices, their surroundings have to affect their performances in some way. This girl, on the other hand, is in her own high school productions that SHOULD be different. These productions, however, are just carbon copies of the Broadway versions.

[TalkinLoud]

Posted: 5/31/10 at 8:42am

I wish I went to that high school!

[My Oh My]

Posted: 5/31/10 at 8:56am

I agree that a good actor will put their own spin on a character as opposed to mimicking or downright copying a distinct performance right down to the inflection used by another actor. While it is always nice to see high schools and regional companies successfully put their own spin on the designs and direction of a musical, it's not the same as when performers blatantly rip-off another's performance.

Unless the school caters to aspiring set designers and theatre directors, there's nothing wrong with reproducing an award winning production. Part of an actor's craft is to offer their own vision of a character. If acting is all about copying your favorite Broadway star's take on a role, then you might as well make a living as an impersonator and stay away from acting.

She is talented and I'm glad she is going places. I'm pretty sure she didn't intend to copy Lupone or Walsh. It happens when you look up to and admire a particular performance--you subconsciously tend to mimic what you admire. I'm sure she knows better now.

And those of you outraged over the use of the same orchestrations are utterly ridiculous. What do you expect? For a high school to write whole new orchestrations? Oh man, LOL.

Updated On: 5/31/10 at 08:56 AM

[sondhead]

Posted: 5/31/10 at 9:37am

"And those of you outraged over the use of the same orchestrations are utterly ridiculous. What do you expect? For a high school to write whole new orchestrations? Oh man, LOL. "

I kind of hope you're joking, but the 2006 revival orchestrations are not licensed. I believe you have the option of using the 1971 original or 1995 revival versions, neither of which are piano-only for this song as the 2006 revival was.

[My Oh My]

Posted: 5/31/10 at 9:52am

OK, that'll teach me to skim through threads.

I admittedly missed that fact and assumed they were licensed.

Oops.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 5/31/10 at 10:29am

I'm pretty sure she didn't intend to copy Lupone or Walsh.

Considering it's pretty much motion for motion, I think it's pretty evident that she did.

[kidbroadway2]

Posted: 5/31/10 at 11:16am

But it does look better than 1000x of any other HS show. Nevertheless if she doesn't know how to make something her OWN, then she'll just be a chorus girl for the rest of her life. Hopefully she takes some acting classes or something.

[Biff AKA Levi]

Posted: 5/31/10 at 12:18pm

It looks like this directors the one at fault. She's only doing what she's told to do, and if she doesn't want to mimic these other actors, then she should probably take it up with the director.

Point is, she's a good singer but I don't like her acting in this video.

Didn't anyone here take high school theatre? My high school director wouldn't let us do anything that she didn't tell us to do.

[Biff AKA Levi]

Posted: 5/31/10 at 12:20pm

This video is even more of a copy!
"Little Things"

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 5/31/10 at 12:36pm

Didn't anyone here take high school theatre? My high school director wouldn't let us do anything that she didn't tell us to do.
^This.^

[CateBroadway]

Posted: 5/31/10 at 12:47pm

Okay people. Lets set some things straight.

#1 The orchestrations are NOT the same. The revival orchestrated this song for piano, stings and trumpet. This production only uses piano, so I have no idea why you have been going on a crazy vendetta when you're actually wrong.

#2 Other than the a cappella "Rise, Rise" at the end, I haven't found anything that she copied from Barabara Walsh. And really, the "Rise" section probably was not even her, but the director. So are you saying she's copying Barabara becuase she's taking drinks from her glass or laughing at her jokes?? If so, that's just ridiculous to me. Those are kind of built into song. What do you want her to do? Use a crazy straw??

#3 What IS similar in the performances is that they both play it simply and don't over do it and go for the "crazy old drunk lady" bit which you'll often find in regional theaters and college productions. What is also apparent to me when I watch both Barabara's version and Hannah's version is that they both have something specific going on behind every phrase which makes their work come off as very honest.

#4 The costumes are both black. Well in that case, no regional or college production of Chicago should be allowed to wear all black either because they're obviously copying the revival. C'mon, people.

Well, I can't believe I've been reduced to defending some random high school production. HAHA!

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 5/31/10 at 3:18pm

It looks to me that this production uses only the piano, so I would say it is most clearly not the same orchestration as the revival. The use of only a piano is almost always an option when licensing a show, perhaps not this one.
As for her performance, yes she does do some things similar to previous actors in the role, keep in mind she is 17, and working with a high school theatre director who probably also teaches english and coaches speech and debate for an extra $50 a week. The girl is clearly talented, and when she is working with the right people, who know how to direct and guide her, I am sure she will do just fine.
The funny thing i have noticed here is how many people say they wish this was their high school. Has anyone noticed the very small stage size, lack of a pit, the fact that all the chairs are on the same level in the house, every thing is very black box looking, very low budget, and she is really the only one that has any true talent? Kids here are wishing this was their school based solely on her and not on anything else in the videos. I noticed the same thing on the Gypsy thread. Aside from her it is a very typical, maybe even less than typical high school production.

[actionjaxson91]

Posted: 5/31/10 at 4:55pm

This girl sickens me. She's like a copy machine.

[BroadwayBound115]

Posted: 5/31/10 at 6:36pm

She also copies Debra Monk in her illegal production of Curtains.

[binau]

Posted: 5/31/10 at 6:40pm

Her COMING UP ROSES is the closest Patti Impersonation she has pulled off imo

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfCCs1Hsfc0&feature=related

[BroadwayBound115]

Posted: 5/31/10 at 8:10pm

Well this just gives me another chance to see Kate Shindle in Legally Blonde!

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 5/31/10 at 8:12pm

Hopefully she can pull off Shindle's remix note.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 5/31/10 at 8:33pm

^She definitely can. Watch her "Beethoven Day" and "Fools Fall in Love (Reprise)" videos- she hits that very note in both.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 6/1/10 at 10:28am

It's not an exact copy of Doyle at all. These people look at and touch each other.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 6/1/10 at 10:31am

"This girl sickens me."

Wow.