LOOK OUT MAGGIE'S BACK

Oh darnit. I thought you meant Martha "Maggie" Raye.

---

Really? I'm eager to hear what you would like to share.

How is her version of "Mr. Paganini"?

---

You prefered the Fadale Screech over the Benjamin Belt?!? Do you have ears and taste?!? Maggie has a VERY powerful disinct belt. True enough she doesn't do this one particular riff in "Take Me Or Leave Me" when she sings "everynight, who's in your bed?!?" anymore.. but her voice is quite impressive.

Jim, if you would like to hear Maggie singing "Take Me Or Leave Me", I can help you out there.

Yes, dear, I do have taste. Perhaps you have a different opinion, but that doesn't mean I have no taste. In this case, I thought Fadale was better. I didn't get Maureen's sexuality from Maggie Benjamin. I don't know, maybe it was an off night. Her voice is powerful, yes, but ordinary.

To me, it's ordinary. If you like her, I'm happy for you. Can I ask about your comment about the "typical" Mimi? I'm curious as to how Krystal does it differently.

Updated On: 2/3/04 at 09:59 PM

she's no idina.

Yes, Maggie has come and gone quite a bit.

I like Maggie. I used to LOVE Maggie, but I started to realize she kind of had a take on the character that was a little too ridiculous. Still, I'm excited to see her again. We'll see if I reinstate the love.

I loved Cristina too. It took awhile, but it eventually did come. My other favorite Maureen is Antonique Smith, who I thought was incredible, and better as Maureen than Mimi. All the non-eq Maureens I've seen basically don't do it for me, and neither does Kendra Kassebaum.

Broadway Guy, I do respect you, BUT.... NO!!!! She is not the MiMi "RENT" needs now to keep it alive on Broadway! She has No Feeling! never has had that..she has just "sorta the look" and happens to fit into the pants. No personality in the theatre or outside of it, check the many "Compulsive Bowler" shots and their take on her Tour with "Rent" last year! Very few upbeat and positive reviews on her since she took over the role,or on the Tour, obviously they are having a hard time filling it on Broadway!!!!! but I hope they do find the cast that keeps it afloat for the next year! God Bless Broadway! and those talents that grace it's presence every evening.

I don't agree about Krystal not being liked among the Rent community. There is quite a large community of people who enjoy her very much, both from the tour and on Broadway. I'm one of them.

Krystal just seems to be the love or hate type of performer. There is hardly anyone in the middle, but I think she's great. I've never seen a Mimi I haven't liked though.

And?

broadwayguy2, about Krystal.

I went back and read what I wrote - and I realized it sounded like I didn't like her. I actually did like her (I saw her for the first time in the non-equity tour and commented that I would put her up against any equity Mimi I've seen). What I meant to write was that I didn't get how they said Maggie was ordinary but loved Krystal (who is good, but nothing incredibly memorable in the history of Mimis). It could be that they truly love those girls (Cristina and Krystal), but I often hear the most recent performers listed as favorites these days - often times because they are the first performers some of these people are seeing. I also agree with a lot of your Mimi picks -- but I think my favs still are Daphne, Marcy, Yas, and Karmine. Pretty much in no order, except Daphne really had something I can't even describe and is probably the best I've seen. The other three are personal favorites that left huge impressions. Ooooh, and Krysten Cummings put on one hell of a show and I loved every minute - except that I will concede that I understand why some didn't care for her Mimi

Updated On: 2/4/04 at 10:39 PM