Kathy Voytko is Grace Tnite---

[Testing1232]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 7:41pm

Has anyone seen her yet?

Waiting for report from wife on her performance.


Updated On: 4/4/07 at 07:41 PM

[B3TA07]

Posted: 4/3/07 at 7:53pm

Well it's not her first night, so hopefully she won't be as nervous and more confident. Will be waiting to hear what your wife has to say.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 12:00am

Wife just home. Loved show (and, once again, cried !!)

Said Kathy was good, but doesnt have the vocal chops that Stephanie has.

Said her acting was very good.

Audience very into show- (good to hear!!!)

[jeffrey2]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 12:32am

I was there tonight, to see Stepanie. VERY disappointed she was out. Kathy did a good job. Having not seen Stepanie, I cant compare, but she did seem to struggle a bit with a few songs, but won the audience over. There were a ton of kids there who this was there 1st Bdwy show. They were very into it. Kthy was so sweet at the stage door saying how nervous she was.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 12:35am

wasn't tonight a press night?

[Popular]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 12:36am

Thanks for the update, Testing.

I have nothing but respect for standbys. I can't even imagine having to cover a role of that magnitude at a moment's notice, and with such little rehearsal time.

I'm sure having gotten the first time out of the way did help a little, as did having a great audience. Hopefully the costumes fit better this time too :)

Sorry you missed Stephanie, Jeffrey.

Good question, WAT.

Updated On: 4/4/07 at 12:36 AM

[gottadance2]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 2:12am

I thought today was a press night as well, including the Times. Stephanie must be really sick.

Anyway, I was there and I thought Kathy did a fantastic job especially acting wise. The songs just don't seem to sit in her voice as easily as they do with Stephanie. Obviously doing the show more will help but I felt Stephanie was just able to effortlessly belt a lot of the material more often.

My main problem with the show is that it is hard to care about any of the characters. There are far too many and everything seems like you are reading a book. The songs simply don't advance the plot. Well, we'll see what happens when the reviews come out.

The dancing is spectacular and the performers are working very hard. I just wish it was in a better show.

[queenbee2]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 3:02am

I'm going to the matinee tomorrow afternoon (calling in "sick"!) for my last PQ experience for a while. I wonder if I'll see Kathy or Stephanie. I would be shocked if tonight was supposed to be a press night if they aren't having those papers come back another time this week- especially if The Times was supposed to be there. I can't imagine the producers would let the show be reviewed without their lead.

Interesting gottadance- you say your main problem with the show was that you didn't care about the characters and their are far too many?? There are really only six characters in the whole piece, right? Grace, Tiernan, Elizabeth, Donal, Bingham, and Dubdhara (not sure if I spelled that correctly?). I'm interested to hear why you thought there were too many characters to care about. I'd love to hear your thoughts if you have time.

And I'll try to post a review of tomorrow afternoon's show. In an already existing thread, I promise!

-QB
Updated On: 4/4/07 at 03:02 AM

[friedrichVT]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 3:28am

I believe the press has come and Stephanie was off so that Thursday will be all the more special. It needs to be. The show is not very good. Alot of talent in an unfocused, misguided mess. Be it Gallati, or Daniele, the show is in trouble ,and hopefully it won't be creamed by the critics, so that many a familiar face will have jobs for a while. Dempsy and Maltby's lyrics are pedestrian, laughingly so...Boublil and Schonberg prove that the sung through musical belongs back in the 80's, as it seems horribly dated now, with repetive musical (derivative) themes and rediculously clunky lyrics. The show was staged unimaginatively with extremely lateral,presentational staging,and worse so, seemingly canned Irish step sound effect. The choreography was usually exciting. Albeit concert/recital -like but still exciting. The staging is POOR. The talent is evidient.extremely....but sadly misused in my opinion.
Updated On: 4/4/07 at 03:28 AM

[TechEverlasting]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 7:15am

"Shire's lyrics are pedestrian, laughingly so"

Who is Shire?

[friedrichVT]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 7:26am

My mistake, Richard Maltby Jr, and Jonathan Dempsey are co-lyricists and responsible for the book. I get my Maltby and Shire's mixed up...my bad.

[kelzama]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 8:02am

Spellcheck is a wonderful invention.

[TechEverlasting]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 8:25am

friedrichVT, I thought that was who you meant. I don't know if John Dempsey has had much to do with the show since it left Chicago. I haven't heard his name mentioned. Boublil is also somewhat responsible for the book, although I suspect most of his original English lyrics have been rewritten by now.

I suspect that Boublil also gets a lot of the credit, such as it may be, for the structure of the show's story.

I agree with your observations about many of the lyrics, but these have improved a great deal since Pirate Queen was in Chicago.

To be fair some of the songs, such as "If I Said I Loved You" have always had lovely
poetic lyrics, which makes the more pedestrian ones that much more frustrating.

I also don't agree that Pirate Queen's problems indicate that the sung through musical is a thing of the past. I believe a well written sung through musical could be a great success today, and I'm not certain that Pirate Queen itself won't be a great success in spite of the complaints of critics and theatre afficianados.

[friedrichVT]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 8:56am

I hope you're right, truly.

[DRSisLove]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 9:25am

Do you know if she's on for the mat today?
I have a friend going, who really never sees shows, and was hoping she'd get full cast.

[DRSisLove]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 9:36am

Testing...
I gotta say this.

It seems you see a show, and then your wife goes a few days later, and sees all the understudies.

First, Drowsy. Now, Pirate Queen. Whatcha seein' next?

...just kidding.

...or am I?

[gottadance2]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 10:22am

queenbee - I think you will see this after the matinee but it's not that it's too hard to figure out who the characters are. It's that they are trying to squeeze so much in back story-wise. Funny because the love relationship is already solidified from the get go.

****SPOLER ALERT****

...and everything in the end is solved with a simple agreement?!?! I dunno, I just wish I had been able to feel for Grace and her journey more as an audience member.

Would love to hear your review of the matinee. Maybe we can start a new thread if Stephanie is back in! haha.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 10:31am

<< Testing...
<
It seems you see a show, and then your wife goes a few days later, and sees all the understudies.

First, Drowsy. Now, Pirate Queen. Whatcha seein' next?

...just kidding.

...or am I? >>

No, actually... she saw Stephanie at "PQ" before I did--- she went last Weds nite, and then I went on Thurs--- When she saw
"Drowsy", Bob had already left (wife doesnt normally care anyway---- she just goes with the flow) ---

I am seeing "Frost/Nixon" today (matinee) Wife will be at "JE" this afternoon with a couple of BWW people---

Wife will be seeing "Frost/Nixon" next Tues--- Hopefully, Langella will be in it ! LOL

[Testing1232]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 10:32am

From what wife heard around theatre least night--- Steph was off to give voice a rest prior to opening night.

[wishinguweresomehow]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 10:50am

Kathy was on a couple times during the Chicago run, and was fantastic. However, she and Steph definitely have their own unique qualities, and Kathy is not as strong as Steph. When I saw her, it was her first night performing the role for an audience, and she was great.

:)

[Popular]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 11:24am

From what wife heard around theatre least night--- Steph was off to give voice a rest prior to opening night.

Good to know, thanks! It makes sense to not risk straining yourself or getting others around you sick so close to opening. I hope they have a very strong and healthy opening tomorrow!

[jeffrey2]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 11:58am

I asked one of the Theater personel and they said she was resting for Thurs, but would probably be doing both shows on Wed. The house was filled, if not sold out. I would have rather heard she was ill, for not being there not that she was taking it easy for opening night. If this was the case it should have been posted before selling tickets. When I walked in I did not see the board listing who was not there until I got into the theater lobby and saw the board on the 43st entrance , and the listing said the part of Grania will be played by Kathy Voytko, when I saw that I was relived, only to find out the character is Grace(Grania)O'Malley in the Playbill. Seemed sneaky. The little slip in the Playbill then made it perfectly clear. Sorry for the rant , but hearing "resting" for the opening night crowd, made me feel the 1700 people there were for a Tues night did not matter in a way. I saw Stephanie Boy From OZ and was the only reason I was seeing the PQ , so thats why I'm a little bummed out.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 12:13pm

Stephanie was the only reason I went to see PQ...twice...and she was excellent. I would have been extremely upset had she not been there.

[Popular]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 12:46pm

Jeff - "resting for opening night" doesn't necessarily mean she was taking it easy. It's really none of the theatre personnel's business to disclose why someone is out and it may have just been a standard answer they were giving without knowing the whole story.

That being said, I totally understand your disappointment and I'm sorry that you didn't get a chance to see her.

[jeffrey2]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 4:26pm

Thanks, I think I will se it again, with Stepahnie. My daughter loved it and she is a tough critic. Took her to Drowsy and she was bored.