Has Rachel York ever...NOT been brilliant?- Page 2

[zoran912]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 1:03am

She's one of my favorite performers.

Ever.

In any medium.

[bythesword84]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 1:32am

Has Rachel York ever...NOT been brilliant?

Well...she was good in Dessa Rose for the most part, but I couldn't stand her in The Scarlet Pimpernel. I really thought she played the Marguerite poorly and I never listen to her on the Encore! version of the CD.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 2:04am

Yes, she is incredibly versatile and her voice is God send ("Lost and Found" is my particular favorite song she sings). But, I do have to ruin this by saying that I found her bland, boring, and out of her league in Kiss Me Kate (judging from the video). Her voice was just to harsh for the melodies and her comic timing was royally screwed up. I think this reaction comes from seeing Marin Mazzie on Broadway and when I saw footage of Carolee Carmelo and Rachel doing Lilli it just looked forced and unnatural. I'm still bummed about Marin Mazzie never getting awarded for Kiss Me Kate.

But, besides for Kiss Me Kate she has been wonderful, her Mother was excellent.

[feinstein9]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 2:17am

Parks- if you live in Dallas, then you're going to be sorry you missed her at Casa Manana in 2004. It was the first (I think) regional production of Summer of '42, which I had the pleasure of working on. The show, alas, was eh (due to material not talent). But she was terrific.

[MimiJudith]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 8:01am

I agree that she was kind of bad in DRS. I thought her voice sounded terribly weak in that show. I understand that nothing can compare to Sherie Rene Scott's gorgeous voice, but I was extremely disappointed when I saw Rachel in that role. I could hardly even hear her in "Here I Am."

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 9:31am

feinstien-
I almost went to see "Summer of '42" but I refuse to support anything at the "new" Casa.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 9:57am

meh. I didnt love her in either Putting it Together or V/V.

[philcrosby]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 10:07am

She is extremely talented, but her performance in Victor/Victoria was a pale carbon copy of Lesley Ann Warren's.

I do give her props, however, for singing "Paris Makes Me Horny" every night without being visibly embarrassed.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 10:13am

That's exactly what I thought about her in V/V, Phil. Every line was read exactly like LAW. She brought nothing to the role, imo.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 10:48am

lc, you crack me up. I loves ya.

I agree about the sound levels and such during DRS. I mean, she has such a huge belt, and people were leaving the show saying they could barely hear her. There was definitely a period when she was in the show where they were having lots of problems with sound. Still, she handled the situation quite well, and I loved her in it, especially in Nothing is Too Wonderful and Love Is Your Legs, and her riffs during Love Is Your Legs and in the Finale. And as others have said, the character was completely written for Sherie and her voice, so for Rachel to come in and put her own spin on it and be so, IMO, amazing, was a huge accomplishment.

"I could hardly even hear her in "Here I Am.""

Mimi, I really think that was the more the fault of the sound system of that time than Rachel's, unfortunately Honestly, not being able to hear Rachel sing is laughable, in Camelot, everyone is talking about how her singing voice just booms out and reaches the last row of the balcony, no matter how big the theatre is. I just really think there were some sound/mike problems.

Don't forget Les Miz. Not that I had the honor in seeing her in that (boo!), but her performance of "I Dreamed A Dream" at Seth's Chatterbox, no less after telling funny stories about Julie and LIza so it was a huge stretch to go from that to that song, gave me absolute chills and eargasms.

Ooh, one more I forgot-Scarlet Pimpernel! They have the "second" version, the one she starred in, at Lincoln Center Library, I wasn't even expecting to see her! Amazing, of course! What a hot little French dancer. Ha! And her gorgeous duets with Douglas Sills, her chemistry with Rex Smith, her dismay at the danger of losing her brother, their scenes together...just amahzing!

And thanks lc, I know where I'll be Oct. 14th or 15th...maybe even both.

[Steve2]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 10:58am

I still haven't forgiven her for being out when I saw Victor/Victoria.

[BroadwayBelle2]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 11:15am

I love Rachel York! I though she was very good as Lucille Ball in the tv movie "Lucy" in 2003. I'm a huge Lucille Ball fan, and I thought she portrayed her as best as anyone could!

[lovesclassics]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 11:32am

Everything you said and more, wrq.

I LOVE her versions of Storybook and I'll Forget You on the Scarlet Pimpernel Encores CD. And I thought her Marguerite was so hot and feisty. The trio of Doug Sills, Rex Smith and Rachel really sizzled.

I'd really like to see her originate more roles so that she can put HER OWN stamp on a character like she did with City of Angels and Dessa Rose. Replacing beloved stars is tough. Comparisons will always be made. But I do think she has done a wonderful job of putting her own spin on every role she's played. Most recently, her Guenevere was astounding!

lc

[MusicAndPassion]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 11:34am

Actually, she was not brilliant in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. "Here I Am" is one of my favorite numbers in the show and I was highly dissapointed. She was just plain and okay until "Love Is My Legs". Her love her recorded singing, but live and on stage she's just bland but she's a great actress.

[lovesclassics]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 11:44am

"Live and on stage she's just bland"

Sorry, but that's about the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Try "luminous," "radiant," "charismatic," "a powerhouse," "a scene stealer" and on and on. These are the words that reviewers constantly use to describe her.

During intermission at Camelot the audience was positively buzzing about Rachel. She totally carried that show, and people were marveling at her voice and acting.

lc

[Ftworthguy]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 12:16pm

Parks --

fienstein9 is absolutely right on -- Ms. York was AMAZING in Summer of 42. I've been lucky enough to see her in KMK, Les Mis, V/V, City of Angels -- Always the stand out -- she's incredible.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 12:31pm

Seriously, you know, audiences came into Camelot excited about MICHAEL York, but at intermission and at the end of the show, all anyone could do was rave about RACHEL York.

And you know I totally agree about her originating a role, LC, though sometimes I wonder if it's more difficult replacing, as has been demonstrated. Really, to win such raves and praise in at least most of her roles, which have been replacing someone else that a role was created for, and constantly dealing with comparisons, is pretty remarkable.

I can't wait for her original star-taking turn in a new musical, which better happen ASAP!

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 12:38pm

Don't forget her sizzling performance in City of Angels...

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 12:46pm

I adore Miss York. Love her on the Kiss Me Kate video and several of her cast recordings.

However...

I saw her in Dessa Rose and she was in horrible voice and nearly phoned in the entire performance.

[lovesclassics]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 12:59pm

BobbyBubby,

I know that she was struggling with a sinus infection during the entire run of Dessa Rose. I saw the Saturday night before closing performance and got to talk with her at the stage door afterward. She said that she had missed the matinee because her voice was in such bad shape. I understand that the entire cast was pretty sick throughout that run. Rachel said something about the bad air quality of the Newhouse.

lc

[Parks]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 2:26pm

I believe the reviews in Dallas said something along the lines of, "You can forget Julie Andrews while watching Rachel York up on stage" (because she was so incredible, I'm assuming).

[lovesclassics]

Posted: 7/27/07 at 5:54pm

Parks,

I found the reviews you were talking about. The Dallas Morning News said, “Rachel York sings Guenevere with such strength and purity you can actually forget Julie Andrews for the moment. She has a radiant stage presence, as well.”

And the Sulphur Springs News-Telegram said, “As Guenevere, Rachel York will make you forget that Dame Julie Andrews created the role or that Vanessa Redgrave played her so luminously on film. I would happily pay to hear York read the phone book, so perfect are her pitch and intonation. York is a triple threat: she has impeccable diction; she can act; and she is drop-dead gorgeous. She perfectly captures both the innocence of maidenhood and womanly wisdom.”

I'd say the word "brilliant" is apt.

lc

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 7/28/07 at 5:16am

Feinstien-
I'd love to respond to your PM about Casa, but you don't accept PMs.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 7/28/07 at 3:15pm

She was lovely in the awful Camelot tour.

[BroadwayBoy2]

Posted: 7/28/07 at 10:55pm

I think everyone on this board can agree noone sings "Back to before" like Marrin does, but when I herd York sing that song I had elmers glue pants.