JANE LYNCH in ANNIE Tonight! — Page 2

I'm a bit confused. Jane is Kate's understudy? Or is Kate done with the show? Why would they market Jane as an understudy?

Jane Lynch's "official" sstart date was not yesterday, it was an unofficial 'sneak preview' so to speak and was not publicly confirmed until an hour before curtain, hence her name being posted and the announcement - much like when Liza Minelli went i to the original production of Chicago.

newintown,
Lapine seems to have an odd fascination with Asian females in his version of Annie. Iy's just strange.

Matthrain,
You'd be surprised!

Oh no, it's still offensive. Very "Geisha".

Does it hurt?

Beth Leavel should have been Hannigan to begin with. Finneran is great and all, but I think Leavel would have KILLED it.

I thought Katie was hilarious... Especially her delivery of "You don't want Annie - she's a drunk".

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I want Abby Lee Miller to play the part.

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Roseanne Barr for Hannigan!

Jane Lynch was in the matinee show today! She's not in the Playbill yet, but they made an announcement before the show started that she will be playing Ms. Hannigan. I decided to do the lottery for the matinee, it was not that busy, they had the exact amount of tickets that people needed, so everyone who entered got to see the show. I liked her in the role, she was pretty funny! Oh, and for anyone who wants to know, Jane Lynch did not come out the stage door after the matinee today.

Saw the show tonight for the first time. The understudy for Annie, Taylor Richardson, was on tonight. Was a little disappointed that I didn't get to see Lilla Crawford, but what can you do?

This production lands with a big "eh." Something just felt off about the entire evening. That being said, it's still Annie, and it will always have some fun, enjoyable moments.

I thought that Jane Lynch was very good, but not great. She can definitely get there eventually, but she needs a bit more "ummpff" or nuttiness. She's fun to watch up there and definitely has found a character, but I feel like her jokes could land even better. I'd love to see her in a month or so with a few more performances under her belt.

Anyway, just my two or so cents.

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The production in general is somewhat "eh" as you put it, Musikman. I think in this production of Annie, some parts work really well and some not so much. That's not just tonight. But yes, there are always some fun parts and I am not sorry I went.

I've seen it before with Lilla but I really went back to see Jane tonight so I didn't care the alternate Annie was there. Lilla and Taylor are completely different Annie's...Lilla's is tougher and more streetwise - Taylor's version is a little sweeter and more gentle...and Taylor seems much younger and smaller than Lilla. Each girl also works with a different dog.

I have to admit everyone seemed a little tired - even Jane. But I really enjoyed her performance though I agree it would be interesting to see her again in a month. Considering she did three shows in two days for the first time ever on Broadway, I thought she did amazingly well.

Updated On: 5/16/13 at 11:58 PM

ClydeBarrow, Anthony Warlow will be leaving in the fall not long after Lynch departs, so it's entirely conceivable they may try and cast a name to replace him as Warbucks, in which case getting someone like Leavel for Hannigan would be appropriate.

With Lynch having succeeded Katie Finneran, I imagine they'd be hard pressed to find anyone for Hannigan capable of substantial star power who'd be willing to be the second replacement in the role. Besides, the fall heading into the holidays is when they can coast on the brand recognition of the title with tourists and families anyway. They have a star now when they really need one, during the slow summer months.

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Updated On: 5/16/13 at 12:38 AM