Georgeanddot2 said: "How come this role has been played for decades by male actors who could maybe do slightly better than carry a tune (some that flat-out couldn't sing) and when a woman steps into the role it's suddenly expected to be a high-belting, balcony-blasting, vocal showcase??
I don't think Katrina Lenk's voice is any weaker than NPH's or Esparza's. I just don't think she has a very generic *broadway* sound. She vocally reminds me a bit of Bjork (in a very good way).
Sorry but this has never been a big singing role and Katrina is perfect."
You’re absolutely right. I was thinking about Neil Patrick Harris’s performance, which is absolutely fine, but he is certainly no great singer. He has charisma in spades, can carry a tune with finesse, and is a damn good comic actor.
I don’t remember anybody tearing his singing in the role to shreds.
I’ll take a great performer like Katrina over many of these young women who are technically perfect belters but are all steel and no soul. I won’t mention names, but there are a lot of them, and none of them can play any discernible character.
2010
Feb. 28 - Looped, Feb. 28 - Next to Normal, March 4 - Hair, March 11 - A Little Night Music, March 24 - Time Stands Still, April 6 - La Cage Aux Folles, April 10 - Anyone Can Whistle (City Center), April 10 - Looped, May 9 - Enron, May 15 - A Little Night Music, May 15 - A Behanding In Spokane, May 30 - A Behanding In Spokane, May 30 - A Little Night Music, June 20 - A Little Night Music, June 23 - Red, June 23 - Sondheim on Sondheim, July 13 - A Little Night Music, July 18 - The Grand Manner (Lincoln Center)