Kiss of the Spider Woman - OBCR or 1994 BCR- Page 3

[jv92]

Kiss of the Spider Woman - OBCR or 1994 BCR#50

Posted: 8/11/13 at 11:44pm

You have the legendary star Chita Rivera...

...versus the bland hack Vanessa Williams. (Sorry, sorry. I just don't "get" her, even on the "new cast" recording.)

CHITA!!!! (At least for me.)

[CurtainPullDowner]

Kiss of the Spider Woman - OBCR or 1994 BCR#51

Posted: 8/11/13 at 11:58pm

I saw Bebes in London and was so bored by her it left a bad taste in my mouth for the show.

A scaled down version interests me but it really screams to be dance heavy, that just feels right. I wish Priscilla Lopez had gotten a stab at it.

I think that Spidey costume on Chits is part of the grand Web illusion and not meant to be photographed so close.

[EricMontreal22]

Kiss of the Spider Woman - OBCR or 1994 BCR#52

Posted: 8/12/13 at 7:02pm

Gaveston and I have argued about this before. I completely *understand* his take--and I admit, when I saw the tour I was 13 and didn't know the movie or novel. But it simply works as a piece of theatre for me. If I analyze it, I see the problems--but I found it theatrically so brilliant that I have trouble faulting it.

[kieranbec]

Kiss of the Spider Woman - OBCR or 1994 BCR#53

Posted: 8/12/13 at 9:04pm

Judy Kuhn could make a great Aurora/Spiderwoman.

[fashionguru_23]

Kiss of the Spider Woman - OBCR or 1994 BCR#54

Posted: 8/12/13 at 10:09pm

If I don't know much of the show, and want a way into the show through the cast recordings, am I better to start with the Vanessa Williams one?

[EricMontreal22]

Kiss of the Spider Woman - OBCR or 1994 BCR#55

Posted: 8/12/13 at 10:15pm

Vanessa's does have a significant amount more of dialogue...

[Glitter]

Kiss of the Spider Woman - OBCR or 1994 BCR#56

Posted: 11/11/13 at 7:59pm

wow......

I'm kinda surprised by the lack of knowledge on this thread

-Aurora is not supposed to be a "hot babe"

-The songwriter character in All That Jazz is based on Stephen Schwartz

-Donna Murphy? Heather Headley? Horrible choices. Aurora is tricky becuase she doesn't just have a big choreography load, it's a huge acting job because there is next to no dialogue for her. Donna Murphy and Heather Headley are great singers, but I've seen nothing in their skill set that suggest they'd be good casting here for Aurora

-Vanessa Williams' keys were raised wayyyyy more than a half step, and in some cases the songs were re-arranged altogether. The score sounded different while she was in the show.

-the show changed a lot between Toronto and London, enough so that the cast recording can't be called a Toronto cast recording.

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Kiss of the Spider Woman - OBCR or 1994 BCR#57

Posted: 11/11/13 at 8:12pm

I think Audra is very talented, but that her voice may not be suited for this score unless they make Aurora more of a classical type. She has the glamour and acting chops for the role, but unless she really wants to do a beltier show, this might not be right. I for one think that Naya Rivera would be great for the role once Glee is done if they go younger a la Vanessa.

"I saw Pavarotti play Rodolfo on stage and with his girth I thought he was about to eat the whole table at the Cafe Momus." - Dollypop

[Scarywarhol]

Kiss of the Spider Woman - OBCR or 1994 BCR#58

Posted: 11/11/13 at 9:19pm

I guess my concern would be Audra seeming ethereal enough...she always seems so earthy and raw.

[Gothampc]

Kiss of the Spider Woman - OBCR or 1994 BCR#59

Posted: 11/11/13 at 10:18pm

"she always seems so earthy and raw."

I see it exactly the opposite. Audra is a Julliard soprano. I always put her in the category of Barbara Cook. Polished, lyric soprano.

Chita was earthy and raw and that's why I liked her. Her gravel voice seemed to be the polar opposite of Molina's effeminate quality. I could see why Molina would be intrigued by her.

If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.

Updated On: 11/11/13 at 10:18 PM

[OperaBwayLover]

Kiss of the Spider Woman - OBCR or 1994 BCR#60

Posted: 11/11/13 at 10:32pm

Hey, I found the clip I mentioned earlier! I remember thinking it was incredibly weird when I was little: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQgrlIMFPMM

[muscle23ftl]

Kiss of the Spider Woman - OBCR or 1994 BCR#61

Posted: 11/12/13 at 12:11am

Since so many people seemed to be upset at the use of the word calamity, I will say it again. Chita was a calamity in this show, I don't care if she won a Tony or an Oscar or a Grammy or an Emmy. So miscast. Terrible. Sorry to all her fans, but I can't keep it to myself. I think anyone who doubts me needs to read the novel.

"People have their opinions and that doesn't mean that their opinions are wrong or right. I just take it with a grain of salt because opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one". -Felicia Finley-

[muscle23ftl]

Kiss of the Spider Woman - OBCR or 1994 BCR#62

Posted: 11/12/13 at 12:14am

I watched the clip of Donna Murphy and even she sounded and looked better than Chita. And I'm no fan of Murphy. Vanessa was the best Spider Woman by far.

"People have their opinions and that doesn't mean that their opinions are wrong or right. I just take it with a grain of salt because opinions are like as*holes, everyone has one". -Felicia Finley-

[Ciaron McCarthy]

Kiss of the Spider Woman - OBCR or 1994 BCR#63

Posted: 11/12/13 at 3:06pm

I'm always amazed when people compare Chita and Vanessa. IMO there is no contest here. Chita was incredible. Vanessa's performance was so boring and her SCREAMING the title song with no vibrato seemed.....amateurish.

Anyway....the OBC recording is the best. Brent Carver's "She's a Woman" still gives me chills. So glad I got to see him play the role.