Jenna de Waal in "Kinky Boots"

[TheatreGuy2]

Jenna de Waal in "Kinky Boots"#1

Posted: 4/23/14 at 10:45am

How is she in the show? And how does she compare to Annaleigh Ashford? Reports, please ...

[macnyc]

Jenna de Waal in #2

Posted: 4/23/14 at 10:59am

A friend wanted to see Kinky Boots last week and I figured I would go with her. It was my third time seeing it. Jeanna is very good, but I thought Annaleigh was funnier during her big number. In my opinion, Annaleigh really let it all hang out. Or maybe she just has a gift for comedy. But if someone were going to the show today, fresh, they would find no fault at all with Jeanna. Just my two cents. (I feel the same about Andy Kelso.)

Edited to fix spelling of Jeanna.



Updated On: 4/23/14 at 10:59 AM

[wdwfreak]

Jenna de Waal in #2

Posted: 4/23/14 at 11:13am

Personally I found Jeanna to be better than Annaleigh, but that could have to do with the fact that I find Annaleigh's schtick to be incredibly annoying.

[Liza's Headband]

Jenna de Waal in #3

Posted: 4/23/14 at 11:15am

Would you care to explain the "schtick?" Helpful to those of us who don't see her natural comedic abilities as a schtick...

[neonlightsxo]

Jeanna de Waal#4

Posted: 4/23/14 at 11:18am

Her name is Jeanna, not Jenna. Haven't seen her, and don't care to, as Annaleigh was brilliant.

[broadwayguy2]

Jeanna de Waal#5

Posted: 4/23/14 at 12:26pm

Personally, I have seen ONE show where I appreciated Ashford's ability - Dogfight.
In her other , comedy centered performances, I have found nothing genuine or comedic genuis, I find them forced, hammy, disingenuous and not the least bit organic to her as a performer or the material. She is trying very hard to be a young Jackie Hoffman, but without the side splitting comedy or the natural ability to throw it out there and she pales.

[Liza's Headband]

Jeanna de Waal#6

Posted: 4/23/14 at 12:32pm

I thought she was hilarious in DOGFIGHT and that character is, believe it or not "comedy centered." So I'm not sure what you are trying to get at.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Jeanna de Waal#7

Posted: 4/23/14 at 12:35pm

"trying to be a young Jackie Hoffman"
WTF?
Funniest thing I've read in a long time.

[KathyNYC2]

Jeanna de Waal#8

Posted: 4/23/14 at 12:38pm

I LOVED Annaleigh in the role of Lauren - I thought she was both funny and touching. And I really missed her while watching Jeanna.

But I can't fault Jeanna for being herself and she does a really great job. The audience totally responded to her...and most people aren't comparing..so she is terrific.

I sort of felt the same about Stark vs Andy..but I really enjoyed Andy's performance too...so I came away feeling stronger about him than Annaleigh's replacement.



Updated On: 4/24/14 at 12:38 PM

[BwayinVan]

Jeanna de Waal#9

Posted: 4/23/14 at 12:54pm

I saw Jeanna back in March 12th and I was pretty impressed. One thing that was nice is that her accent was natural as she's a Brit already. Annaleigh's accent bugged me but she would totally rock History of Wrong Guys. Jeanna started the song a little shaky but once she got into it she killed it- I'm factoring in the fact she had only been in the role a week before I saw her.

After the show she came out the stage door and chatted with everyone even though it was a matinee. Really nice girl and overall I think a good replacement for Annaleigh, which let's be honest are big shoes to fill.

[Visceral_Fella]

Jeanna de Waal#10

Posted: 4/24/14 at 2:10am

I think Annaleigh does have a tendancy to tip her hand to the audience. It's more distracting in some performances than others. I think it worked well for Lauren, and Maureen, but I don't think it served her at all as Glinda. At times it makes me sit back from her work a bit because she's a very talented woman, and I don't like seeing people work too hard on me as an audience member. She could afford to be a little bit more easy because she's got it, and it's enough.

[RevoltingChild23]

Jeanna de Waal#11

Posted: 4/24/14 at 1:39pm

I saw Jeanna on March 19th and I thought she was wonderful. The audience loved her and her singing and acting were stellar. However, I didn't see the original cast with Annaleigh so I don't have much to compare to other than the CD.

[darreyl102]

Jeanna de Waal#12

Posted: 4/24/14 at 2:50pm

I found her to be great and like others have said, if it was you're first time seeing the show- you will be extremely pleased. I was less impressed with Andy Kelso, but that's another story.

Darreyl with an L!

[BroadwayNYC2]

Jeanna de Waal#13

Posted: 4/24/14 at 3:49pm

I'm looking forward to seeing the show again. I still believe Ashford should have won the Tony.