Les Miserables- first preview review- Page 5

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 11:08am

There have been many performances torn to shreds on this message board and than heavily lauded by critics...

[Ciaron McCarthy]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 11:09am

There have been many performances torn to shreds on this message board and than heavily lauded by critics...

Ooooooo. Can you give me some examples?

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 11:19am

Even if Rubin-Vega is as bad as everyone seems to think she is, I highly doubt she'll be replaced by opening night.

I know it's only the first preview and it may be a bit rash to pass judgement, but I am not suprised by the reaction she's getting at all. I always felt she could pull off acting Fantine (although most people say she dropped the ball on that too,) but her raspy voice is completely unsuited for "I Dreamed a Dream." You need a nice pure belt for the song to really work that way it's intended to, and that's just something she's never had.

My guess is that she'll stay with the show until mid-January, and then end up not returning from her seven to twelve week planned absence.

Perhaps they only alloted her this long break so soon in the run because they figured they'd use her name recognition to open the show and replace her shortly after?

Here's hoping they get Alice Ripley (one hell of a performer and a fantastic Fantine in her own right) to step in at least temporarily while Rubin-Vega does her show at the Public.

Either that or put on Nikki Renee Daniels, the Fantine cover in the ensemble who is an extraordinary talent and who deserves a big break....

Updated On: 10/25/06 at 11:19 AM

[WaltSummersPI]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 11:22am

I'm just not sure why Les Miserables, of all shows, needs someone with name recognition.

I'd LOVE to see Emily Skinner as Fantine.

[Janki]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 11:26am

Could Gavroches new song be the original "Ten Little Bullets"?

[WaltSummersPI]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 11:30am

Yes, it is. (as mentioned somewhere in this thread)

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 11:30am

Melanie Griffiths being the biggest to come to mind.

Emily Skinner is too heavy to play Fantine. Sorry to say it but it is true.
Updated On: 10/25/06 at 11:30 AM

[ken8631]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 11:38am

Daphne needs a longer break from this show than she planned....

Michael Bennett - where you there last night?

[WaltSummersPI]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 11:40am

As an alternative to Skinner, I think Caren Lyn Manuel (who was recently replaced by Brescia in "A-Changin'" would do wonders with the part.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 11:48am

You need an unbiased source to review this show - someone who has never seen it, heard it, and is virtually unfamiliar with the actors.

Not to promote myself, but I seem to be that man. I'm seeing it Saturday - have no idea what to expect. The only song I know is Master of the House, which I only know from the episode of Seinfeld where George goes around seeing it. I know of some of the actors from their various projects, but have no bias towards them. I don't care how good or bad Daphne is compared to others who have done the role. I don't know who else did the role.

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 11:50am

Thanks so much for the reviews everyone. I'll just chime in to say that I too was hoping Daphne would pull it out of a hat and surprise everyone. But let's face it...her voice is what it is. It's always been raspy and raw and scratchy and sharp and cracking. That's just her. Her voice isn't going to suddenly change/get better by opening night. It is what it is.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 11:55am

Walt: I totally agree with you! I was on the phone last night saying that Daphne's performance in LES MIS was worse than Caren Lyn Manuel's performance in THE TIMES (not that you can really compare them), and that Caren should replace Daphne!

[ken8631]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 11:58am

I'm more than willing to hear other's opinions about Daphne's performance when they see it... Did anyone who saw it last night actually like it? Please chime in...

[liotte]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 12:04pm

I am going to see it again in a couple weeks, so I will definitely report back on how everyone is doing and what was changed.

[theminutepast]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 12:10pm

"Bamatabois, instead of calling Fantine a "little whore", calls her "an ugly slut"... I'm not sure WHERE that choice came from,"

It comes from London where Bamatabois says ugly slut instead. I'm not bothered by it. The phrase is definitely more crude and mean, but that's kind of Bamatabois' character.

[KQuill]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 12:10pm

I liked her performance. I thought she acted the part very well. Although some of her singing was rough, I say this: a) her I Dreamed a Dream wasn't that bad, it was some other parts that her singing went downhill, and b) even though it's all sung, i still see Les Mis as a PLAY, and there are sometimes more important things than an entirely pleasant sound.

[ken8631]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 12:20pm

"there are sometimes more important things than an entirely pleasant sound."

Not to my ears.....

Thanks for the comments though! Glad to see someone didn't think she was horrible.....

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 12:35pm

I'd LOVE to see Emily Skinner as Fantine.

Emily actually fainted during her Les Miz audition 9 (?) years ago. It's in "Making it on Broadway."

[winston89]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 12:37pm

You know which actress is in NYC doing nothing while her husband is in RENT? You guessed it. Ruthie Henshall. She should replace Daphine when she goes on her leave.

Her husband Tim Hower is Roger in RENT. And, she is just hanging round the city while he is doing his stint in the show.

But, she should play Fantine on Broadway.

[Kalimba]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 1:06pm

Daphne gave a "wtf" performance. My ears are still bleeding. This is one instance where I would not have minded an understudy going on.

[theminutepast]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 1:12pm

I didn't know Ruthie Henshall was married to Tim Howar. I love when couples arise from Les Mis. Kevin Kern and Megan Lawrence, for example.

[.LittleWing. 0224]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 1:38pm

I enjoyed Daphne purely from an acting point of view. As for her singing... I knew what her voice sounded like going into the show, so it wasn't like she sang those first notes and i was immediately appalled. I was expecting it, and there it was. So i tried to put together the sound of her voice and the pain her character must have been going through and it really worked for me. It's not beautiful in terms of a well placed, pure and clean belt that simply soars, but there is a power there that thrilled me.

[liotte]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 1:55pm

I will grant that her character was in pain when she was dying, but what was the excuse for the rest of it?

[HOUFlip04]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 2:08pm

"I will grant that her character was in pain when she was dying, but what was the excuse for the rest of it?"

What a narrow minded statement. There's more than just pain from dying. There's also the pain from the man who leaving her? Pain from having her child taken from her? I think the song "I Dreamed A Dream" explains some of that.

[WaltSummersPI]

Posted: 10/25/06 at 2:09pm

Honestly, as someone who HEARD "I Dreamed A Dream" last night, I agree with liotte.

Yes, pain is an EXCELLENT emotion to use in that song. However, it's also necessary to hit the right notes, and on key.