Posted: 5/24/23 at 5:51pm
Huge Cyndi fan here. Did anyone here see her performance? I've seen a few clips online and thought she seemed excellent. What was the general consensus of her performance at the time and why do we think she hasn't done more Broadway? (performing wise)
Updated On: 5/25/23 at 05:51 PM
Posted: 5/24/23 at 6:06pm
LOVED HER. I still listen to my “homemade” cast recording from that production all the time. Her “Ballad of Mack the Knife” and “Solomon Song”, to me, were perfection.
Posted: 5/24/23 at 6:09pm
Her performance? Fantastic. The production? Abysmal. Would love to see her find another show to give a shot. Victoria Clark replacement in Kimberly Akimbo? I’d see it!
Posted: 5/24/23 at 6:10pm
This production should have received a cast album.
Posted: 5/24/23 at 7:29pm
Love hearing that. Why do we think she ended up not being nominated? It seems people enjoyed her performance and she's well liked in the community.
Updated On: 5/25/23 at 07:29 PM
Posted: 5/24/23 at 7:40pm
I saw her as well and she was fantastic. Her 'Solomon Song' was so gorgeous and transportive - I remember something about her hair, makeup and the lighting made it look like I was watching a black and white silent film but live in front of me ....I don't know if that makes any sense but it was just magical. I found the rest of the show to be very interesting and entertaining but Cyndi Lauper stole the show for sure.
Posted: 5/24/23 at 7:52pm
I never thought of her look as a “silent film” look but it makes absolute perfect sense to me.
Posted: 5/24/23 at 8:00pm
That entire production felt like it was five hours long, and the rear mezz seats at Studio 54 are brutal. Having said that, Lauper’s performance of Solomon Song was absolutely haunting. And it was like watching a silent film; well put!
Posted: 5/24/23 at 9:50pm
Funny to remember back when Edie Falco was originally cast in this role but her shooting schedule for The Sopranos allegedly created a scheduling conflict. I remember someone at the Roundabout saying something like “yeah, no one thought Edie would actually do the show.”
Posted: 5/24/23 at 11:18pm
Cyndi's performance was the lone bright spot in the show. Any time she was on stage, I was immediately drawn to her; she was hypnotizing. I would love to see her in another vehicle where she can really shine.
Posted: 5/24/23 at 11:23pm
NoItAll said: "Jordan Catalano said: "Solomon Song"
Lotte Lenya
Night and day."
Right. But this was a discussion about Cyndi. Not Lotte.
Posted: 5/24/23 at 11:38pm
She was marvelous in a terrible production. She was one of the few in the cast who understood the assignment. Cyn has always had an air of melancholy and pathos in her work. It’s one of the reasons I love her. I wish there was a cast recording. Kimberly Akimbo would be a good role for her.
Posted: 5/25/23 at 8:48am
Jordan Catalano said: "I never thought of her look as a “silent film” look but it makes absolute perfect sense to me."
Maybe she should play Norma in the Sunset revival.
Posted: 5/25/23 at 8:59am
I'd also be curious to see her take a stab at Follies.
Updated On: 5/25/23 at 08:59 AM
Posted: 5/25/23 at 9:00am
Lot666 said: "Jordan Catalano said: "I never thought of her look as a “silent film” look but it makes absolute perfect sense to me."
Maybe she should play Norma in the Sunset revival."
I don’t know if that’s brilliant or insane but I’m obsessed, now.
Posted: 5/25/23 at 9:26am
I thought she would have made a terrific - and totally unique - Dolly, in the recent revival.
Posted: 5/25/23 at 11:28am
And as much as I loved Patti in Sweeney, I was kinda always obsessed with the idea of her as Lovett, slightly sad that didn't happen.
Wonder if they offered it to her to replace.
Posted: 5/25/23 at 12:07pm
Jordan Catalano said: "Lot666 said: "Jordan Catalano said: "I never thought of her look as a “silent film” look but it makes absolute perfect sense to me."
Maybe she should play Norma in the Sunset revival."
I don’t know if that’s brilliant or insane but I’m obsessed, now."
I think it’s both, but now I want to hear her voice on that score
Posted: 5/25/23 at 12:10pm
There’s also something that would ring true about a silent film star who had a “different” sounding voice that killed her career when talkies came.
Posted: 5/25/23 at 12:47pm
Jordan Catalano said: "There’s also something that would ring true about a silent film star who had a “different” sounding voice that killed her career when talkies came."
That's what I was thinking.
Posted: 5/25/23 at 1:58pm
I'm still really curious as to why she wasn't nominated her year. Was it just a super stacked year and she fell through the cracks? I know I could look it up but I'm more interestied in hearing what you all think.
Posted: 5/25/23 at 5:02pm
Jordan Catalano said: "NoItAll said: "Jordan Catalano said: "Solomon Song"
Lotte Lenya
Night and day."
Right. But this was a discussion about Cyndi. Not Lotte."
When a performance is called “AMAZING,” or any other qualitative word, there’s a necessary follow-up of “compared to what?” Well, compared to Lotte Lenya and who knows how many others in the role, Lauper was AWFUL. Based solely on the clip I posted (along with the egregious Tony Awards duet with Cumming on YouTube) that’s my answer to the question posed in the title of the thread.
