Les Miserables Review 11/4- Page 3

[TomMonster]

Posted: 11/5/06 at 6:06pm

He was great!

(Although his death "tableau" was a little hokey, IMO--it actually inspired some giggles in the audience)

Updated On: 11/5/06 at 06:06 PM

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 11/5/06 at 6:10pm

Do you hate Daphne as an actress, or do you simply hate her in this role? What else have you seen her in? I enjoy her as an actress myself, though I freely admit that Fantine is probably not a good vocal match for her.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 11/5/06 at 6:14pm

(Although his death "tableau" was a little hokey, IMO--it actually inspired some giggles in the audience)

Wow. Well, I'm glad you liked him, anyway.

[TomMonster]

Posted: 11/5/06 at 6:19pm

I've always like Daphne in the past. And some of her acting choice are interesting in this role. However, the part requires the audience to "fall" for her very quickly. She hasn't been able to quite do that yet...

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 11/5/06 at 6:30pm

Huh, I've never heard an audience react to Enjolras' death like that before -- how is it different this goaround that might prompt giggles?

[TomMonster]

Posted: 11/5/06 at 6:35pm

His body hangs there, but the current set is much more rickety and wiggles while it turns and he hangs there jiggling. As it's just a device to let the other actors exit the barricade, it seems to take WAY too long to turn and seems contrived. I get the idea of the "image", but it just didn't play as powerfully as before.

[lightinthepizza]

Posted: 11/6/06 at 6:23pm

Yeah I always worry about Enjolras falling off. Hard pose to hold yourself in, especially if the audience is laughing at you. Aaarghh!

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 11/7/06 at 12:39am

Aw, that's unfortunate. I've seen that happen with the skinnier Enjolrases. (And Aaron Lazar is pretty slim, right?)

Maybe they need to reinforce that thing, and/or teach the dead barricade boys to move more smoothly.

[ken8631]

Posted: 11/7/06 at 8:20am

The fact that 90% of the talk on this board is about Daphne indicates that there's a problem. Especially since most of it isn't positive. That shouldn't be..... Something about first impressions....

And if someone saw the show, they all are entitled to their opinions, good or bad.

I really didn't like her, but will be going back after the opening to see if the show has improved or not.

Again, just my opinion. Go Celia!

[musicalsFan]

Posted: 11/7/06 at 9:33am

And you "ken3861" is a major contributor to the "90%" of the posts about Daphne.

Since this is Election Day, the term for that sort of thing is called stuffing the ballot.

Sort of reminds me of GW Bush's henchmen. If you repeat a negative enough times, the public will think it is so.
Updated On: 11/7/06 at 09:33 AM

[NJRae]

Posted: 11/7/06 at 9:57am

Ahh . . . so those of us who love Daphne just have to keep repeating how wonderful she is. Every time Ken posts something negative, all of us Daphne supporters will have to jump in with a positive.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 11/7/06 at 9:59am

She was good.

And that's all I have to say.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 11/7/06 at 11:48am

Sorry, didn't read the whole thread ... but did they lower the song for her in the last 10 days? That, plus recovering from flu, is rumored to be a help in her recent improvement. I read that here or at the Other Board.

[Neverandy]

Posted: 11/7/06 at 11:57am

I know that they were lowering it for her in preparation for her final audition. I remember thinking at the time that it must make "But the Tigers come at night..." pretty low

[p.s.]

Posted: 11/7/06 at 12:07pm

I agree with you Ken, and I was singing the same tune
[ I saw two performances the first week ] --

Then the Nov 5 matinee: Dapne was wonderful. A real miracle?
She didn't miss a note or drop a syllable and she appeared comfortable on stage.

Yes, see the show again.
I will -- hoping that the "miracle" continues.

p.s. Total agreement about Celia as well. Hail Celia!

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 11/7/06 at 12:12pm

I'm seeing it tonight and will report back.

[theminutepast]

Posted: 11/7/06 at 12:50pm

In response to the part about the Enjolras death: I sometimes find it funny when the actor freaks out, shouts, and climbs up the barricade. It's just that freak-out moment which can be funny. I've only seen a few actors do this.

[HumATune]

Posted: 11/7/06 at 1:01pm

IMO, if they had to lower the key for her just so she could sing IDAD decently, that’s pretty bad. And before you say anything, imagine Bring Him Home in a lower key.

I’m not a believer in adapting songs/choreography to accommodate a performer. There are plenty of people out there who can do the stuff as written.

Updated On: 11/7/06 at 01:01 PM

[Neverandy]

Posted: 11/7/06 at 1:23pm

Hum- I think that view is a little myopic. While I think that the Lowering IDAD is a little weird, I don't think that Adjusting Keys is a bad thing at all. Keep in mind that when a show is created, songs are usually adjusted to suit the vocal quality of the performers that were hired. Colm wilkinson, when talking about taking on Valjean in the ver beginning said that they originally were looking for a baritone for the role, but they kept raising the keys for him. Now I am not advocating changing things so drastically that Bring Him Home turns into a song for Michel Bell, but little tweaks are quite common. There are whole alternate sets of Orchestra books written in different keys that are kept on hand. It would be like saying that everyone who plays Glinda should be 4'11 because that is how it was originally cast.
That being said, it seems that LOWERING IDAD is strange. Now Raising it...that might be interesting

[HumATune]

Posted: 11/7/06 at 1:45pm

Yes, they changed the key to suit Colm’s voice, but that became the “set” key for all Valjeans hereafter. Unless the Fantine understudies also sing IDAD in a lower key, they are catering to one actress’s limitations. I just don't see why that is necessary with all the talent that's out there. Updated On: 11/7/06 at 01:45 PM

[p.s.]

Posted: 11/7/06 at 2:30pm

If you go to LizzieCurry's Talkinbroadway.com link
[You might like this: http://talkinbroadway.com/allthatchat/d.php?id=323750]

Then click Home; Broadway Reviews.
Page down to "Past Broadway Reviews".
Find 2002-2003 Season
Les Miserables (Revisited).

You'll find interesting review by Matthew Murray- July, 2002.

He seems to express a problem with that Fantine in terms of acting, voice and range.

It is ok that our Fantine is different than that Fantine or other Fantines.

p.s. Daphne, beginning Nov 5, is different than Daphne Oct 24-Nov 4.

By the way: Hail Celia!

[HumATune]

Posted: 11/7/06 at 3:06pm

Interesting review. I've seen a few of those performers on tour, and I disagree with some of his points. (If anyone had worn out a role, it was Diana Kaarina.)

Whatever I guess. Maybe it’s my passive absolute pitch, but key changes (even by a half step) usually drive me crazy.

[ken8631]

Posted: 11/7/06 at 4:22pm

I'll be happy to post again after seeing Daphne a second time - maybe she HAS changed for the better! I really hope she has! Some indicate a miracle HAS occured! I'll be thrilled if it has!

I do have a relatively open mind, I only post on what I've actually seen/experienced (unfortunately it was bad), and of course it's always just my opinion - your mileage may vary...

And yes, Hail Celia (hopefully SHE hasn't changed!)