that's so funny! I've also seen 2 productions of L5Y, one amazing and one terrible. The amazing one was the California premiere at Laguna Playhouse with Rick Cornette and Kim Huber. Both were excellent in their roles and managed to make the show work marvelously in a large theatre. Huber was a Belle in BatB a few years back, and she really sang the hell out of the Cathy role. Cornette had a more-than-capable voice but it was his personality onstage that made you love his Jamie. It was very over the top, most notably the goofy dancing he incorporated into Shiksa Goddess and the Schmuel Song, and alternately understated, vulnerable, and heart-wrenching during such songs as "Nobody Needs To Know". By the end it was "Norbert who?"
The terrible one was that Speakeasy attempt newsieboy mentioned. Becky Ayers was fine for the most part, until her voice gave out during "We Can Do Better". But it's very demanding music so it was understandable, if unfortunate. Not so fine was the guy playing Jamie, Tally Sessions. His credits were impressive but this role is clearly out of his comfortable voice range. Much of it was too high for him, and it took a toll on his confidence and overall character. The result was a performance that felt under-rehearsed and hesitant, making true chemistry with the hard-working Ayers impossible. By the end, I couldn't wait for the relationship to be over and done with. Also, the set was rather unattractive and the orchestrations were anemic. I'm sure Speakeasy does some good work, but I can't say from personal experience.
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Say a prayer and induce insincere self-abuse,
till I'm fast asleep"- In Trousers