Kiss of the Spider Woman - OBCR or 1994 BCR- Page 3
Kiss of the Spider Woman - OBCR or 1994 BCR
#50Kiss of the Spider Woman - OBCR or 1994 BCR
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
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/4/04
#51Kiss of the Spider Woman - OBCR or 1994 BCR
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.
#52Kiss of the Spider Woman - OBCR or 1994 BCR
Posted: 8/12/13 at 7:02pmGaveston 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.
#53Kiss of the Spider Woman - OBCR or 1994 BCR
Posted: 8/12/13 at 9:04pmJudy Kuhn could make a great Aurora/Spiderwoman.
#54Kiss of the Spider Woman - OBCR or 1994 BCR
Posted: 8/12/13 at 10:09pmIf 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?
#55Kiss of the Spider Woman - OBCR or 1994 BCR
Posted: 8/12/13 at 10:15pmVanessa's does have a significant amount more of dialogue...
Glitter
Understudy Joined: 4/27/07
#56Kiss of the Spider Woman - OBCR or 1994 BCR
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.
#57Kiss of the Spider Woman - OBCR or 1994 BCR
Posted: 11/11/13 at 8:12pmI 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.
#58Kiss of the Spider Woman - OBCR or 1994 BCR
Posted: 11/11/13 at 9:19pmI guess my concern would be Audra seeming ethereal enough...she always seems so earthy and raw.
Gothampc
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#59Kiss of the Spider Woman - OBCR or 1994 BCR
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.
OperaBwayLover
Broadway Star Joined: 5/17/07
#60Kiss of the Spider Woman - OBCR or 1994 BCR
Posted: 11/11/13 at 10:32pmHey, 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
#61Kiss of the Spider Woman - OBCR or 1994 BCR
Posted: 11/12/13 at 12:11amSince 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.
#62Kiss of the Spider Woman - OBCR or 1994 BCR
Posted: 11/12/13 at 12:14amI 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.
Ciaron McCarthy
Broadway Star Joined: 10/15/06
#63Kiss of the Spider Woman - OBCR or 1994 BCR
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.
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