Lea Salonga Opens CATS In Manila With A Sprained Ankle, Show Extends Till 8/22

[ooliveros]

Lea Salonga Opens CATS In Manila With A Sprained Ankle, Show Extends Till 8/22#1

Posted: 7/23/10 at 12:29pm

https://philippines.broadwayworld.com/article/Lea_Salonga_Opens_CATS_In_Manila_With_A_Sprained_Ankle_Show_Extends_Till_822_20100723

[musicaltheater1]

Lea Salonga Opens CATS In Manila With A Sprained Ankle, Show Extends Till 8/22#2

Posted: 7/23/10 at 11:23pm

Thanks!

Here's Lea in Grizabella costume singing Memory at press preview:

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/video/entertainment/07/23/10/despite-injury-show-goes-lea-salonga

"I love acting. It is so much more real than life." Oscar Wilde
"After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music." Aldous Huxley

[BosBroad]

Lea Salonga Opens CATS In Manila With A Sprained Ankle, Show Extends Till 8/22#2

Posted: 7/23/10 at 11:32pm

Thanks.

I love Lea, but unfortunately this is a miscasting to me. Too sweet. Not "grizzled" enough.

But hey, I hope it goes well for her and the production is a success.

[Ourtime992]

Lea Salonga Opens CATS In Manila With A Sprained Ankle, Show Extends Till 8/22#3

Posted: 7/23/10 at 11:39pm

I actually speak Tagalog, but this high-speed Tag-lish report just made my head spin. Lea is such a sweetheart. You're right, BosBroad. She is not an ideal match for the role, but she is sort of the go-to star for productions like this, and I'm sure she acquits herself adequately in the role.

[ooliveros]

Lea Salonga Opens CATS In Manila With A Sprained Ankle, Show Extends Till 8/22#4

Posted: 7/23/10 at 11:45pm

Let's wait for some critical reviews. =)

[BosBroad]

Lea Salonga Opens CATS In Manila With A Sprained Ankle, Show Extends Till 8/22#5

Posted: 7/24/10 at 12:53am

@outtime992

Oh, I agree with you. She's always quite good (or more). But for me her age and sweet vocal tone doesn't work here. Just personal preference on casting, not a comment on the potential performance itself. *shrug*

[IAMmyownMUSICAL]

Lea Salonga Opens CATS In Manila With A Sprained Ankle, Show Extends Till 8/22#6

Posted: 7/24/10 at 7:30am

She isn't right for this role at all, but it's her homeland...who else were they going to get to be the big name star? Please don't say Charice!

And as far as going on with a sprained ankle, all I have to say is she doesn't dance during the show at all. Put a brace on it, swallow some pills and suck it up. I don't think it should really be "news worthy"

Now all I see are cute boys with short haircuts in a maze of their own...

[jo]

Lea Salonga Opens CATS In Manila With A Sprained Ankle, Show Extends Till 8/22#7

Posted: 7/24/10 at 7:15pm

This evokes a sense of deja vu --

The story goes that Dame Judi Dench was originally cast as Grizabella in the original production in London but she broke/sprained an ankle during rehearsals and could not perform... so they cast Elaine Paige as her replacement when the show opened. And MEMORY launched Elaine to stardom!

[DeNada]

Lea Salonga Opens CATS In Manila With A Sprained Ankle, Show Extends Till 8/22#8

Posted: 7/24/10 at 7:22pm

I'd say Elaine Paige was launched to stardom when she starred in EVITA with David Essex in the 70s (the first woman to play the part on stage, Julie Covington only did the show on record) - hence why she was considered to have as much star power as Judi Dench in the early 80s, at least in the UK.

I'd agree on the deja vu, though!

CATS really did have an all star cast when it opened in London - Wayne Sleep, Brian Blessed, Paul Nicholas, Elaine Paige... all big stars in the UK at the time.

[Mildred Plotka]

Lea Salonga Opens CATS In Manila With A Sprained Ankle, Show Extends Till 8/22#9

Posted: 7/24/10 at 7:50pm

She probably sprained her ankle tripping over the countless threads on this board detailing her every move.

"Broadway...I'll lick you yet!"

[jo]

Lea Salonga Opens CATS In Manila With A Sprained Ankle, Show Extends Till 8/22#10

Posted: 7/24/10 at 9:09pm

Oops, sorry, you're right about EVITA.

I should have written " MEMORY launched Elaine to worldwide stardom in the music world"

Re CATS - wasn't a relatively unknown Sarah Brightman also in the cast of the original production?


Updated On: 7/24/10 at 09:09 PM

[MusicAngel]

Lea Salonga Opens CATS In Manila With A Sprained Ankle, Show Extends Till 8#11

Posted: 7/24/10 at 9:51pm

Funny.. I'm actually coordinating with my dad in getting tix for him. I'm in Cali and he's there.. HAHA!

However, I'm extremely shocked about the ticket prices.. quite expensive! Top ticket price is $156!! They do have 20-25% discounts but dayam.. that's pretty steep considering!