Kevin Anderson abruptly leaves BKLYN.. Broadway.com- Page 2

[Derek]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 9:18pm

I also loved Brooklyn. I thought it was soooo creative. I think it will def. last until summer

[emo_geek]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 9:27pm

I LOVED LOVED LOVED BKLYN I thought it was amazing. I wish people would get off there FAT ASSES to see the show and not just listen to what some bitchy people said about the show. I thought it was going to be horrible before I saw it...but now I listen to the cd EVERY day. I mean sure not EVERYONE is going to like it but not EVERYONE likes Wicked. SO IN SHORT get off your....ya you know.

[Justice]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 9:40pm

It's not about people getting off their fat asses...it's about priorities. For instance - yes, I want to see Brooklyn. But it's not on the top of my list.
Spelling Bee and Parade are. Once I see those, then I will consider Bklyn.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 9:47pm

Justice-

At least you have your priorities straight. I'm sure we can think of about 100 other shows for you to see before "BKLYN".

[Jwei123]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 10:04pm

hmmm...kinda shady...

[mallardo]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 10:05pm

I liked Kevin Anderson very much - unlike some - but the show doesn't stand or fall on whoever plays Taylor. I remember Lee Morgan in Tommy. He'll be fine.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 10:08pm

In an already weak show, he was the weakest link. Maybe his departure isn't such a bad thing...

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 10:30pm

I just came back from the show and I saw Lee Morgan as Collins and Horace Rodgers as Streetsinger.

Horace Rodgers, in short, was a much better singer then Derricks, and he had presence, but something about Derricks is magical, and he really brings forth this mystical kinda of presence. Altogether, Horace carried the show very well, and I loved his voice.

Lee Morgan I started out dreading. The man's voice is simply raw rock. And at first I hated it. He went flat and sharp at some points, he would do some wierd things with his vibrato, sometimes he was really breathy, sometimes not, etc. He was very inconsistent, but there were some points where he showed promise. Altogether, I came to the conclusion that it doesn't matter if Collins is a good singer. It fits fine with the character, and as long as you have a strong actor in the role, you're fine. And Morgan's acting was PHENOMENAL.
WHo did he play in Tommy?

Otherwise, the girls were great. Eden, though, at the end of Once UPon a TIme kinda lost it. The last chorus, she sings "Now once upon a time has never felt more right, right, more right" or something like that. But she didn't sing the second more right that leads into her belting the A flat ending or whatever it was, i think kinda bracing herself for the end. She cracked noticeably on the last note, but she held it, and was strong for the rest of the show. She really is great. Her knockout harmony with Ramona at the end of "Bklyn in the BLood" also was kinda weak, though.

Karen Olivo was also a standout. This girl has a knockout energy and a kick ass belt. I think she's underappreciated in that show, and she grew to be my favorite.

Altogether, the show is good, at some points wierd and over the top (i.e. reminiscing Collins in his army days when he was writing the song), but was collectively great. I enjoyed it a lot.

[Tiny-Toon]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 10:40pm

Remember, Eden was sick not long ago.
I saw BKLYN on Friday, Eden was amazing, but you
could see she was still not feeling that well.

[mallardo]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 10:47pm

Billy Lawlor, Morgan was an Ensemble player in Tommy but he had good moments - he was one of the two guys who sang Sonny Boy Williamson's "Eyesight to the Blind" outside the Gypsy's place.

[ifagirlisntpretty]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 11:03pm

Tiny-Toon--How are you so sure he will be back? What happens if they get someone with a slightly bigger "name" to replace him? Or are you saying that part of the story isn't true and they aren't trying to replace him?

[Gypsy2]

Posted: 2/8/05 at 11:45pm

He was also Mrs. Walker's lover in the beginning of Tommy.

Updated On: 2/8/05 at 11:45 PM

[rKrispyt]

Posted: 2/9/05 at 12:48am

TinyToon, I'm inclined to go with ifagirlisntpretty on this one - judging solely from the only source of information at this point, that being the broadway.com article, it looks as though this spokesperson for brooklyn is saying whatever he/she can to avoid gossip and panic, etc. The fact that they said that he'd be in feb. 8th and through the rest of the week but then he had ALREADY left town...doesn't that seem just a bit fishy? and that they're saying he'll be back feb. 19th, however it's been discovered that the movie he left to film is ALSO filming in March...and he shows no vacation dates from Brooklyn then either...kinda like now...and the fact that he just apparantly took off and left - didn't seem to wait for permission or seem to make sure he'd have a place to come back to once he was done...all I'm saying is that I wouldn't hold my breath.

As much as I disliked the show and felt like it was a waste of my time, I do hope it stays open long enough for the few that deserve the Tony nominations to get those nominations (have to admit, don't think anyone in the cast will edge others out and win, nor should they). Then...shoot, then I say move over for Spelling Bee yo!

[SWTaffy]

Posted: 2/9/05 at 9:53am

BillyLawlor, Glad you mentioned that Karen was a standout to you. I think she shines in the role and even though it's the "smallest", her energy and passion make up for it.

I'll be interested in see Morgan as Taylor. He looks younger then Kevin, did that distract you?

[sparky310]

Posted: 2/9/05 at 10:19am

there's a brilliant comment coming from a melissa erico fan..ercio can't act..stiff and boring...great voice..no emotion. or connection

[umgeoboy]

Posted: 2/9/05 at 10:33am

sparky that was extremely uncalled for bashing melissa ERRICO in a thread that has absolutely nothing to do with her.

and if you are going to bash her PLEASE SPELL HER NAME CORRECTLY!

[alphadog]

Posted: 2/9/05 at 11:19am

Good for him. He's too good an actor to stay in this dreck (as anyone who has seen him in a Steppenwolf production or on Broadway in Death of a Salesman knows).

[paradox_error]

Posted: 2/9/05 at 11:43am

"Kevin Anderson abruptly leaves BKLYN.. "

A smart career move...to say the least...

[MagicToDo82]

Posted: 2/9/05 at 4:53pm

Wow, I'm glad I saw the show when I did with the entire original cast intact. I really enjoyed Kevin's performance, but I wish him the best with Charlotte's Web or whatever he pursues.

Now, PATRICK SWAYZE? Good Lord... The Stunt casting begins....Prepare yourself for (Insert American Idol contestant's name here) in Brooklyn as soon as Eden, Karen, or Ramona leave.

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 2/9/05 at 5:46pm

Like I said, as long as you have a great actor in the role, it doesn't matter if his voice is so good. I don't know Swayze's work to well, but from what I hear he's a great actor, and he was being considered for Albert in "Birdie" at Encores, so he can't be ALL that bad.

SWTaffy- Morgan looks terribly young in his headshot, but he doesn't appear that age at ALL onstage. He looks about the same age as Anderson. His hair was a silver gray, and he didn't appear too young.

My mom and I were discussing this--Fantasia Barrino would make one HELL of a Paradice, and Kelly Clarkson would make a great Brooklyn. These are two stunt casting choices that could definitely work.

[i*heart*fame]

Posted: 2/9/05 at 5:52pm

I'm hoping that when eden leaves, Sara Schmidt, her understudy, takes over the role of BKLYN, I would be happy though if sara took over for faith, I'd just prefer Brooklyn! YEA SARA!

[emo_geek]

Posted: 2/9/05 at 6:23pm

Some of you are saying this is a SMART move. I think that it was such a dumb move for him. It shows lack of commitment plus other things.

[boatsintheghetto]

Posted: 2/10/05 at 9:10pm

guess who friggin saw BKLYN February 5th!!! haha wow, i was lucky

[bwaysupporter]

Posted: 2/15/05 at 10:44pm

I've seen Brooklyn a couple times and all of the actors are marvelous. Although it has its cornball moments, it's a feel-good show that really does have a lot of heart - and a lot of magic thanks to Cleavant Derricks. The three u/s I've seen are also good, including Lee Morgan who is an impressive actor although his singing leaves more to be desired.

I hope Anderson will be back as I always enjoy seeing him on stage and would like at least one more chance during his current NYC stay. But there certainly is a profound lack of information on this coming from the production.

[Tiny-Toon]

Posted: 2/15/05 at 11:06pm

Again - Can't wait to see Lee!