Is Laura B really out of Wedding Singer? — Page 2

Laura Benanti is amazing. As a singer, she's my role model. It was her beautiful singing in Nine that really convinced me to start singing legit stuff, and I've discovered my inner soprano. I recently sang Much More for a competitive audition, and I got in to what I applied for!

*ends tangent*

Why? Have you been dreaming of seeing Celia do it for millions of years or did you just randomly pluck Celia Keenan Bolger out of your mind because you're fond of her, it's fun to be persnickety, and somebody else already randomly suggested it?

Celia obviously has a great career ahead of her and Laura is amazingly talented, let's just be happy for everyone :P

---

She had a great song in "Nine" which she performed wonderfully. But her role was not as big as Antonio's or Mary Stuart Masterson's.

*amused* Who said you shouldn't be harrassed when you express an opinion? That's usually what happens when you express opinions. People challenge them! After all, half the fun of an online message board is getting outraged at other people's stupid opinions. Warm fuzzies and winks right back at'cha in spades, aces.

---

I have to agree that those who didnt care for her Claudia. I saw her towards the end of her run of Nine and she seemed to want to be somewhere else. I found her accent strange (as was everyone's but MSM, who deserved the Tony) and I had no idea what she was feeling, if anything, during her number.

I dont deny that she is a good performer and has a very good voice, but that performance turned me right off. She was out when I saw ITW and her understudy was wonderful.

I have to agree that, tho she isnt Drew Barrymore, there is no reason that she cant play the part in TWS...and to perpetuate a rumor seems strange to me. I think I'll rely on Jamie McG until I read otherwise.

---

Oh yeah. She was the best of the 5 leads in NINE.

Whoa, I totally disagree. That distinction would go to Mary Stuart Masterson. But, I do think Benanti is very talented.

I just saw THE WEDDING SINGER last night. Laura B is so beautiful and excellent in it. But Musical Julia is less well-defined than Movie Julia. Drew Barrymore's Julia was more vulnerable and quirky (e.g. her liking of European pop such as Bowie and Nena isn't referenced in the musical.) Musical Julia is a tad too bland; if any last-minute rewriting is done they need to give her a more distinct personality.

Stephen Lynch is terrific, very likable in the Sandler role. It was cool to see Rita Gardner, FANTASTICKS' original Luisa, as Lynch's grandmother although there were a few too many "hip and groovy granny" jokes.

Very tuneful score. I liked it better than HAIRSPRAY's. The book is essentially faithful to the film. I disliked a change in which two cartoony college nerds are used at the Bar Mitzvah instead of the more chaming scene in the movie with the shy 12-year old boy. A convoluted scene in Las Vegas has some funny moments, but lacks the swiftness of the movie's airplane scene. And why do some of the Vegas characters travel to New Jersey for the final scene? Again it's a cartoony effect.

Otherwise a sound adaptation. But will the predictablity of the plot help or hinder its success? THE WEDDING SINGER is not an astonishingly inventive show, but I hope it succeeds. It's a sweet crowd-pleaser.

I love Laura.

Ok I have read many post and reviews about the wedding singer and this subject of Laura. I have not seen the show, so I can not comment myself but I feel that it is strange that so many comments about her being miscast from audience members to critics (all whom seem to love her work in general) and so much effort going forth to make her not miscast in the role. I think it shows the production team has faith in her...but the fact of the matter MAY BE they need to have a plan b here. It is like they are putting all their eggs in her basket when they may have to say..she is lovely but you know what we may have to move along with this if we plan on it working. Now I am not sure they do this but can they throw in Tina Maddigan for one night to see if the problems lie with the writing of the character or in the casting itself??

well then for the sake of seeing if they need to be reworking or recasting they should just try it. I understand no one wants to be that person but I mean this is a broadway show it is show business. BUT I guess they could make more money with a flop then a hit in true producer style.