Just wondering if anyone has seen Jenifer Lewis in HAIRSPRAY yet. How is she as Motormouth? How is her rendition of "I Know Where I've Been?" I found a clip of her understudy, Territa Reed, on 'that other site' and was pleasantly surprised at how she put her own twist on her part in "You Can't Stop the Beat."
I don't see her as Motormouth... I LOVE Jennifer Lewis, but she is one crazy chick!
I went to the Premiere of 'Meet the Browns' and she was in the audience. She was talking loud and throwing popcorn! I thought she was a joy! And in the movie she's great...
I saw her a few weeks ago. She's an incredible actress but she's a little more aggressive in the role than others I have seen in the past ... Sometimes she even seemed a bit standoff-ish. Though, seriously, she made me weep with the little monologue right before she starts "I Know Where I've Been" ("We can't get lazy when things get crazy! ...").
But I thought her IKWIB itself was a little odd. She seemed to only sing about 4 notes the entire time (it must be said that she has an INCREDIBLY deep alto) and she was constantly about 2-3 bars behind the instrumentals. Yeah, I know that was her artistic choice, but sometimes I really thought to myself "how is she ever going to catch up?"
I definitely prefer Mary Bond Davis (perfection) and Darlene Love (vocal divinity and a very warm personality), but Jenifer Lewis is definitely up there. She reminds me a lot of the Motormouth from the original JW film.
I loved Darlene as Motormouth. Would love to see Jennifer as well.
"He found something that he wanted, had always wanted and always would want— not to be admired, as he had feared; not to be loved, as he had made himself believe; but to be necessary to people, to be indispensable."
-F. Scott Fitzgerald's This Side of Paradise
I didn't see any problem with her version of I Know Where I've Been when I saw her in the show. I was in the front row and it was most likely one of the most amazing moments I have ever had in the theatre. There were a few people me included who gave her a standing ovation after the song. Truth be told, I didn't realize I was giving her a standing ovation until I was standing up clapping. It sort of just happened.
"If you try to shag my husband while I am still alive, I will shove the art of motorcycle maintenance up your rancid little Cu**. That's a good dear"
Tom Stoppard's Rock N Roll
I think shes amazing. I cried when she sang IKWIB and I havent done that since Mary Bond was in the show.
Darlene had powerhouse voice but I didnt think it was a fully realized within her other character choices. It was just odd to see such a small performance otherwise followed by this big voice. I interviewed Mary Bond way back when and she spoke about the creative process of making Hairspray and how there was a lot opposition to having someone come in sing the crap out of IKWIB and steal the show which informed her own choice to sing it simply without the extra riffs.
With Jenifer Lewis, it does sound like youre in church. Ive seen her sing lines usually spoken and speak lines that are usually sung. She begins with a bigger than life personality so when she sings, she does it in a way that you would expect her character to do it.
I saw Jenifer in late June and she blew my socks off and they down the aisle! She exuded so much power and I could tell that she really meant what she was singing...or atleast acted as if she did. What everyone has said is true, she is AMAZING, she is a deep alto, and she does sing a few bars behind the music. But that's typical in African American culture, and in Black churches. It sounded like she was in church because it is a gospel song. It even mentions God in the lyrics " Lord knows I know where I've been" "I give thanks to my God 'cause I know where I've been". It's a testimony and I think that Mary, Darlene and Jenifer all understand that and have brought their own sense of what the song means and they've done a wonderful job with that. The song stops the show because it is a powehouse number and it is one of the only times that we truly see the real effects of racism in the show. The dance and the detention scenes show it but you sometimes don't fully understand how they feel. But the song is deeply rooted in hurt, anger and pain and sometimes there is no structured way of singing it if you've actually been through it. You have to repeat some parts (As jenifer does) to get the point across. Now I'm not going to go the route and say that some people of other cultures can't understand that but its true, I'm just not going to say it. I got the chance to talk to Jenifer after the show and she was the nicest, even invited me back the next day and we chatted in her dressing room. She told me that she thinks the song knocks people back and they don't know how to react afterward. Which I think is true because it is so unexpected and packs quite the punch.
Wow. Well said Sharon Lover. Thanks for your post. That is so awesome that Ms. Lewis invited you into her dressing room. Did she mention how long she plans to be with the show? Is she having a good time? I saw Darlene's last performance and IT blew my socks off. She got a standing o. I'd love to get the chance to see Jenifer in the role as well.
Zamedy, Jenifer said that she was shceduled to do the show until August 20-something, I forget the date. I asked her how it felt to do a role that was in a way tailor made for her (The musical at least) and she said that she never would have guessed that it would feel so good. She's a very conscious performer and was quiet because she wanted to save her voice. It was wierd seeing a subdued Jenifer but she was great and sweet none the less.
Yeah not many people realize this, but Motormouth was written with Jenifer in mind. Her and Marc Shaiman go waaaaay back. I'm glad she's finally doing it!!!! I'm sorry but I was VERY underwhelmed by Queen Latifah. Of course film always mutes the power of a live performance. I NEVER wanted to see Hairspray live until Jenifer joined the cast.
