Posted: 1/21/16 at 9:28am
"Anyone too lazy for Ken Watanabe can turn on the closed captioning. "
Wow. There's a novel idea. The actor was unable to be understood, so anyone who didn't use closed captioning was the "lazy" one. It's being lazy to go to the theatre and expecting to keep your eyes and ears on the actors as they convey the story?
Posted: 1/21/16 at 9:43am
I think it's lazy to not make any effort to listen closely to an actor who speaks differently from you, which is clearly what was happening with some of the bluehairs at an early preview, at which a woman complained: "He speaks so Chinese!" (Wrong country for both actor and character, nice racism.) All I'm saying is that I had never seen the show before, or even the film, and I was not confused.
that was also a facetious comment in response to the idea of the show being broadcast on PBS.
Updated On: 1/21/16 at 09:43 AM
Posted: 1/21/16 at 9:49am
I think it's lazy to make the assumption that everyone listens and hears accents the same way you do. I'm not being racist when I say I truly could not understand him. I spent a great deal of mental energy trying to understand what Ken Watanabe was saying, so much so that it distracted from the rest of the show. So for you to call that lazy is lazy.
Some of you understood Ken. Great. Some of us didn't. That's just the way it is.
Posted: 1/21/16 at 11:05am
My take: Ken was thrilling and unpredictable and I would call his performance a fantastic take on the part if you already know the dialogue and lyrics by heart going in.
When I went back with my husband to see the show with Hoon in it, I enjoyed the performance infinitely more-- the comedy, the sexual magnetism, the vocal power, the nuance. I personally give Hoon Lee the win.
Updated On: 1/21/16 at 11:05 AM
Posted: 1/21/16 at 11:17am
It's so cool that Daniel Dae Kim is revisiting the role!!!
Posted: 1/21/16 at 11:27am
I read in an interview that Judy Kuhn's dream role is Anna in TKAI. Anybody have thoughts if she'd depart Fun Home to join TKAI once Kelli leaves? I would absolutely go back to see her in the role! While Kelli was amazing as Anna, I think Judy could also do some amazing things with the role.
Posted: 1/21/16 at 3:44pm
She can be a buffer between Kelli and kate Baldwin
Posted: 1/21/16 at 4:08pm
Someone in a Tree2 said: "My take: Ken was thrilling and unpredictable and I would call his performance a fantastic take on the part if you already know the dialogue and lyrics by heart going in.
When I went back with my husband to see the show with Hoon in it, I enjoyed the performance infinitely more-- the comedy, the sexual magnetism, the vocal power, the nuance. I personally give Hoon Lee the win."
I agree 100% as much as I am excited for Ken to return I think Hoon Lee is the best King we have seen thus far for the reasons that you stated already. As for the suggestion that Judy Kuhn could replace Kelli, I think she could do wonderful things with it and she has a strong enough talent to pull it off.
Posted: 1/21/16 at 4:34pm
Kuhn as Anna would definitely be something.
Posted: 1/21/16 at 4:39pm
Call_me_jorge said: "She can be a buffer between Kelli and kate Baldwin "
I thought Baldwin was doing TKAI in Chicago for the next few months? She's going to be fantastic as Anna, so I could absolutely see her taking over the role after Kelli leaves, too!
Posted: 1/21/16 at 4:42pm
The lyric run is only a month long and it right around the time we are supposing Kelli will end.
Updated On: 1/21/16 at 04:42 PM
Posted: 1/21/16 at 4:44pm
Call_me_jorge said: "The lyric run is only a month long and it right around the time we are supposing Kelli will end."
Ahhh didn't realize it was for that short of time, my bad!
Posted: 1/22/16 at 7:16am
They filmed it before Ken left the first time. This has been mentioned several times throughout the year on all of these boards.
It was too bad that the first choice for Kellie's replacement turned it down. It was such an inspired choice.
Posted: 1/22/16 at 7:32am
Who was it?
Posted: 1/22/16 at 10:31am
When they did South Pacific Live From Lincoln Center they actually broadcast live the next to last Saturday night performance. It seems pretty cool to watch a live broadcast, but I guess in the end it doesn't make much difference to the viewer.
Posted: 1/22/16 at 9:55pm
They filmed it for the NYPL archives. They have not filmed live from Lincoln center yet.
Posted: 2/9/16 at 8:17am
https://twitter.com/kenwatanabenews/status/697035586163445760
"Ken @Watanabe has undergone laparoscopic surgery for stomach cancer. His return to Broadway will be postponed by a few weeks."
Posted: 2/9/16 at 9:01am
That sucks. I wonder if this will impact Daniel dae Kim's run.
Posted: 2/9/16 at 9:56am
Thinking positive thoughts for Ken. I wonder if this means Hoon Lee will be extending.
Posted: 2/9/16 at 11:07am
Question:
Is Greg Wantanabe of Allegiance in any way related? Just curious
Posted: 2/9/16 at 11:36am
They are of no relation. Watanabe is a very common Japanese surname, as common as "Smith" or "Jones" in America.
Updated On: 2/9/16 at 11:36 AM
Posted: 2/9/16 at 11:50am
Does anybody knows who will be replacing Watanabe, until he is able to return to the show?
