Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
I saw her in a cincinnati production of John and Jen and she was absolutely amazing. I had chills from the moment she walked on. She is also very vocally versitile, her soprano is very strong as well.
"The only way we live beyond our lives is to connect and carve ourselves into the souls of those we love." -Little Fish
She sings well, though she relies too much on vocal fireworks for my taste. But compared to other Elphabas I've seen, especially Ana, her acting is pretty awful.
Its strange you say that Augustus. From everything I have read on the web, people seem to think that Ms. Cates is an excellent actress compared to the others.
Oddly enough Gclef, I also saw her in that John/Jen show several years ago. I was in town for a convention and hated the show, but I did think she did a nice job with the Lippa material.
LOL. You know what Gclef, I am not really sure because it was a long time ago. Maybe I should order the recording? I do love Carolee. I just remember thinking that the show was difficult to follow and there were some glaring holes in the plot. However, I remember liking the two leads.
I'm afraid that I have not seen Ms. Cates, but I did meet her one day before a show. She was nice enough to stop and chat for awhile, as well as pose for pictures. My friend saw her, and he says that she was just awful. But, IMO I highly doubt that...
"If I have something to say, the whole world (BroadwayWorld) should hear it." - Thenardier
You know me_myself, I was thinking about it, and it's completely possible that she was just having a bad show when I saw it. I was also just so taken by Ana's performance...she was so natural. So I guess I had high standards when I saw Kristy. I still do think she embellishes her notes a bit too much.
so Kristy is in Chicago, right? Now i'm anxious to hear her. She looks great. What do you mean vocal fireworks? like she does a lot of runs and whatnot?
The box office IS doing very well. I've been looking for tickets for Feb 3-6 somewhere in that range and the best I can find are rear balcony. Ew.
On the fact of Kristy as Elphaba, I have to say that next to Idina she is my favourite. I'm not sure what "vocal fireworks" Augustus was talking about. Kristy is a classically trained vocalist and, to me, has a much more legit classic broadway belt than most today who try to "pop" up the music. Why does everything on Broadway now have to sound like Black Soul with riffs here there and everywhere, (nothing against Black Soul - I quite enjoy Pop, R&B and what have you - but enough with the Destiny's Child stuff)?
What I enjoy about Kristy's Elphaba is the fact that her character grows. She starts off so insecure in herself and by the end of it all she just doesn't give a damn what Oz thinks. I also enjoy the fact that she not only uses her body to act, but her whole face as well. Her eyes are very expressive.
I was lucky enough to see her very first performance as Elphie in New York and then again in Toronto while stopping over there on business trip and, seeing how much she'd grown into the role between those two times, I can't wait to see what she's done with it from Toronto's performances to those she gives in Chicago. Chicago certainly is lucky that she took the opportunity to head out there for the next while.
I really do enjoy her not only as a performer, but she's a delightful person. I had a chance to talk to her briefly and she was nothing but cordial about it. I really do enjoy her acting as well. She got some laughs out of me where the other Elphabas have not.
Kristy's acting is OK. I watched her performance in September of 2004. Horrendous job of singing; acting, was pretty good. Could not believe she got the Chicago gig. Waited to make a judgement. Saw her performance from October when Ana was out and it seems to me in my opinion that the only thing that has grown is her costume accuracy, as she now has all of the "correct" or official Elphaba costumes. I saw little to no change whatsoever, which was shocking considering what I heard many acquaintences say.
Here are some (legal) pictures of Kristy in WICKED that I have saved from when I started following her career in WICKED. Regardless of her talent, or lack thereof, she makes a beautiful Elphaba Thropp.