Kelli O'Hara: The Ingénue Who Roared (NY Times)

That was a great article. Thanks Foster!

And I guess we can kind of tell where Isherwood sits on the best actress in a musical category...

Could she possibly be the "upset" at the Tonys?

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I saw South Pacific yesterday. I think Kelli O'Hara is giving the best lead actress performance of the season. Understated, well sung, appropriate to the piece, and authentic.

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I, too, would love to see Kelli take it home. Or someone other than Patti (Kelli especially), although LuPone is giving a wonderful performance.

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Updated On: 5/18/08 at 04:04 PM

-- "It's a shame that people can't distinguish a very good performance of a belty musical assault on an audience from an extremely great performance of a more mellow character."


Why couldn't it be that some people find Ms. LuPone's performance to be the better one? Does it really have to be labeled "a belty musical assault on an audience" just because one likes Ms. O'Hara more?

I just think it needs to be noted that the character of Rose is quite a different woman than that of Nellie Forbush. The roles require different elements. Both Ms. LuPone and Ms. O'Hara are doing extraordinary things in their respective shows. But the fact that Ms. O'Hara is playing a role that allows her to be a little more "mellow" does not make her performance better or even more nuanced. Ms. LuPone can't and shouldn't be "mellow" in the role of Rose. She or any other actress would tank doing that with this character. Her performance, though, still contains lovely details and a great deal of nuance throughout.

Ms. O'Hara deserves and has received great praise for her work. I just needed to jump in because I don't think degrading Ms. LuPone's work (which is just as extraordinary and maybe better, but as we all know, that's subjective) is appropriate just because one prefers Ms. O'Hara's performance. They are both doing incredible things with very different animals.

Updated On: 5/18/08 at 06:42 PM

Higgins, I didn't make myself clear, so I am sorry. I LOVED Patti. Don't get me wrong. I think she is wonderful. And I don't think that people who liked Patti's performance better than Kelli's are wrong. Everyone is allowed to have an opinion. And I completely agree with everything that you said. My statement is based on the fact that Patti has gotten significantly more press as being outstanding in the big, brassy role of Rose. Kelli, who is equally wonderful, has gotten little to no press. Also, many people on BWW have referred to Kelli's performance as boring (which is fine if they truly believe that, but is unfortunate if it's just that it isn't as showy of a role as Rose). But that's neither here nor there. I just mean to say that Kelli has finally received some deserved praise, and that is a great thing.

bjh2114-

I'm so glad you responded. I completely agree with everything you just said =)

Ms. O'Hara certainly earned this very kind article.

Count me in as someone who sees tremendous merit and value to both Ms. O'Hara and Ms Lupone's work. Everyone is going to have his/her pick of who they'd give the awards to, but as you noticed and so nicely commented on, I just think it's important that both of these ladies be given their due and neither have anything taken away from her incredible performance.

What a great article. Truly speaks to what a special talent Kelli is. I saw SP two weeks ago and am eager to see it again.

(Hopefully whoever sits behind me this time won't be humming quite so loudly).

Thanks for the link.

Updated On: 5/27/08 at 11:19 PM

Loved Kelli in the show.

She was my choice for Nellie from the moment I heard South Pacific was headed for Lincoln Center.

This is really a great production of South Pacific.

Kelli (and her castmates) should be at the Beaumont for quite a while.

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awww i just wanna hug kelli

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