Les Miz October 26, 2006 Review — Page 2

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#26

re: Les Miz October 26, 2006 Review

Posted: 10/31/06 at 12:10pm

siamese . . . You are absolutely right, and I didn't mean to sound like I think people should sugarcoat what they write. Only that perhaps they should think before they type. Of course everyone is entitled to their opinion, but some people seemed more harsh than was necessary (such as those saying she could not die fast enough).

I don't know. As I have said I haven't seen it yet so am not really one to judge, but having seen Daphne live multiple times I just don't see how she could be so bad that she deserves some of the comments people are making. Again, their opinion and they are entitled to it, but I will never understand why people have to be so harsh. Not just regarding Daphne, regarding any performer. They are only human and can have an off night. Or, if they are miscast, is it their fault? Are they doing the role to the best of their abilities? I just don't think any of them would be in the position they are in if they were "awful". *shrugs* I don't know.

"I wrote a book: "How to Be Popular". Now I've put together a top ten list of how to help you: -Elphie, everyday... shower. I mean, who knows? Maybe some of that green is gonna come off! -Deodorant Elphie. No body likes a stinky witch! -I think we've covered the hair, we'll get to that. -Clean underclothes. That's all I'm gonna say. -Look at your posture. That's no way to be popular! -Bed made, room straightened. We've done that. -Colors blended. Oookay. -But the most important thing to have, to make yourself popular, is to keep your beautiful smile." ~Kristin Chenoweth in her last performance of the song "Popular"

#27

re: Les Miz October 26, 2006 Review

Posted: 10/31/06 at 12:48pm

I saw Melanie Griffith in Chicago, and although I have no doubt she gave the role her best shot, she was truly and completely awful. I do think it's possible, although probably quite rare.

Anyway, I know it isn't fun to read criticism of one of your favorite performers, so I do understand where you're coming from. I do hope that when you see Les Mis, you thoroughly enjoy her performance.

#28

re: Les Miz October 26, 2006 Review

Posted: 10/31/06 at 1:12pm

Sorry - She WAS awful. Many people around us at intermission expressed the same feeling. I've NEVER had that happen before at intermission of ANY show (of many mnay shows) that we have attended.

Unprecedented.

Just my opinion, and also those of us sitting in the theatre for the performance it seems..... Your mileage may vary...

#29

re: Les Miz October 26, 2006 Review

Posted: 10/31/06 at 1:36pm

It's apparent to me now that Daphne has talent and hundreds (thousands?) of fans. She must be amazing at some of things she does. It's not her fault if she was miscast, and of course she's doing the role to the best of her abilities. And I'm sure she's a nice person.
In this role, however, she is "awful".
And a theater (even such a small theater) full of patrons is worth more than $100,000.
And (it is also apparent) at least most of them agree.
And the show suffers terribly.
And they need to come up with some official reason (or excuse) for a change [not for January, but rather] immediately
[before "Tomorrow Comes"].

It is just not fair.

p.s. I hope "they" get this done prior to opening night reviews.

#30

re: Les Miz October 26, 2006 Review

Posted: 10/31/06 at 1:37pm

ken,

To be fair, you (and I) saw the first preview... I'll be interested to see how this week's audiences see the situation.

#31

re: Les Miz October 26, 2006 Review

Posted: 10/31/06 at 1:38pm

But the thing is....they're already a week in. If the creatives found a fault, they would have let her go already.

Updated On: 10/31/06 at 01:38 PM

#32

re: Les Miz October 26, 2006 Review

Posted: 10/31/06 at 1:40pm

Is this a new staging or is it the CHORUS LINE-revival-like thing of "...but people LOVE calcified nostalgia!"

"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.” ~ Muhammad Ali

#33

re: Les Miz October 26, 2006 Review

Posted: 10/31/06 at 1:42pm

Chorus Line-like.

#34

re: Les Miz October 26, 2006 Review

Posted: 10/31/06 at 1:44pm

Still waiting to hear from the "week in" people then. Maybe she's changed how she's doing it now, who knows?

If she's still "awful", I'm suprised they are keeping her in....

#35

re: Les Miz October 26, 2006 Review

Posted: 10/31/06 at 1:53pm

At the first preview [10/24] she was apparently ill.
On Saturday night [10/28] her voice didn't crack as much, but she still was (sorry for the word) awful. Even as part of the ensemble (in disguise, between the major Fantine scenes) she seemed uncomfortable on stage.
All audiences are reporting the same thing. (Of course not everybody in all audiences.)
The "creatives" must be aware of the situation by now.

p.s. "Do you hear the people sing?"
Please find a way out.

Updated On: 10/31/06 at 01:53 PM

#36

re: Les Miz October 26, 2006 Review

Posted: 10/31/06 at 1:57pm

Her voice was fine when I saw it on the 28th.

The creatives must like her performance....the rest of the cast certainly does.

#37

re: Les Miz October 26, 2006 Review

Posted: 10/31/06 at 2:01pm

The rest of the cast does? Where is this info?????

#38

re: Les Miz October 26, 2006 Review

Posted: 10/31/06 at 2:04pm

For whatever its worth - most of the reports on ATC have disliked Vega but have disliked just about everybody else as well. That board is very hard to please, its true, but most of the people there seem to think this revival's casting problems extend way past Fantine.

I imagine the reviews are going to take less issue with individual performances than they will the apparent downsizing of the show - and the reduction of instruments in the pit, etc.

#39

re: Les Miz October 26, 2006 Review

Posted: 10/31/06 at 2:07pm

Bennett - That is true. The show's problems extend beyond any 1 cast member. They're all GOOD, but none of them are outstanding. They'll get trashed by the critics collectively if the don't step it up.

ken - http://www.broadway.com/Gen/Buzz_Video.aspx?ci=538283 is the link to the broadway.com rehearsal video. Gary Beach spends his entire interview raving about Daphne.

#40

re: Les Miz October 26, 2006 Review

Posted: 10/31/06 at 2:21pm

I saw the first preview, and I am going again tonight. Will report back on Daphne, as well as the rest of the show.

#41

re: Les Miz October 26, 2006 Review

Posted: 10/31/06 at 2:40pm

Sorry, I'm just a regular fan.
ATC? Is that Action Theatre Conservancy?
I'm not trying to judge all this from the standpoint of a theater student or professional.
It's not necessary that this be the best Les Miz ever.
The entire cast (including the musicians) seemed nervous at the beginning of Preview #1.
They were all better after the initial nervousness, and certainly, in my humble layman's opinion, great by Saturday night.
The orchestration is different (there were even changes, notably in Gavroche's "Ten Little Bullets", from one preview to the next).
But the orchestration will be fine; and the pit already has it down pat (subject to further changes); and the theatergoers will be thrilled that they were at a Broadway show; and many should come to love Les Miz as we do.
Except for the "Fantine problem". I truly believe that is a show killer. The show won't close, but the experiences of theatergoers will be less than they deserve.

p.s. I loved Mickey Mantle. But he wasn't singing.
. And Bob Dylan couldn't swing a bat.
. Neither would be suitable as Fantine

Updated On: 10/31/06 at 02:40 PM

#42

re: Les Miz October 26, 2006 Review

Posted: 10/31/06 at 2:42pm

ATC: All That Chat (http://www.allthatchat.com). Kind of the Big Kid's Broadway Board.

#43

re: Les Miz October 26, 2006 Review

Posted: 10/31/06 at 3:35pm

I don't think Gary Beach can be considered the whole cast, and it doesn't sound like much of a rave (he said she's raw?). Anyway, to each their own. I thought it was an awful Fantine rendition.....

Again, only my opinion....

#44

re: Les Miz October 26, 2006 Review

Posted: 10/31/06 at 3:48pm

To answer about the little children and the ensemble:

-I thought that the children I saw (Kylie...as Little Cosette,{the gavroche's name is escaping me at the moment}) did a very good job. The little Cosette went off pitch a lot during Castle on a Cloud though. The Gavroche was hard to judge because he didn't really have as much to do as he did in the original production (regarding the cut of 'Little People' in the second act), but with what he was given (some of which was the same) he did a great job.
-The ensemble was fantastic. I was surprised to see some of the cast members I had seen during the original run in the revival. The ensemble consisted of fantastic voices (Megan Mcginnis, Justin Bohon, Haviland Stillwell, Becca Ayers, Nikki Renee Daniels, Drew Sarich..etc.)This was probably the best ensemble (vocally) that I have seen in the show.

"People asking questions, lost in confusion. Well I tell them there's no problems, only solutions." ~The one and only John Lennon

#45

re: Les Miz October 26, 2006 Review

Posted: 10/31/06 at 3:50pm

These boards share a startling number of posters. I haven't noticed some major distinction -- except there's no off-topic arena for political stripes to stand out in dayglo. I have read both for three years, and generally find the discourse at both to be more similar than dissimilar. There's a widespread belief that some distinction exists -- but too many of us visit (and post) at both.

I find the debate about Daphne very troubling, because it totally overshadows any discussion about the rest of the show. By anyone's definition, she's a liability. We're not talking the John C. Riley Stanley issue. He was considered physically miscast, but his performance was nuanced and accomplished. This is a case of quality -- the simple ability to deliver the music -- more than "interpretation."

"I'm a comedian, but in my spare time, things bother me." Garry Shandling

#46

re: Les Miz October 26, 2006 Review

Posted: 10/31/06 at 4:44pm

Oh, I think there is a difference between ATC and BWW, though it is true there are several people who do post on both. There is a lot of nastiness on ATC - I guess "bitter show queen" would be the right term, but you also find a lot of people who are really learned and know their stuff. I greatly prefer the format of BWW and the round table discussions here in general, but if I needed to find somebody who could answer questions about the original production of GUYS AND DOLLS or 110 IN THE SHADE - I'd probably post on ATC.

#47

re: Les Miz October 26, 2006 Review

Posted: 10/31/06 at 4:50pm

"...that's her voice."

Which sounds like it's not the right voice for Fantine. Being able to sing RENT is not even close to being able to sing LES MIZ.

Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson

#48

re: Les Miz October 26, 2006 Review

Posted: 10/31/06 at 4:53pm

Yankeefan, I'm sure Gary Beach would have enthusiastically spoken to broadway.com about how bad Daphne was. That would have been excellent press

I recognize the addiction to being alive.

#49

re: Les Miz October 26, 2006 Review

Posted: 10/31/06 at 4:56pm

Oh, lord, can you IMAGINE how many people would buy tickets, though, if one cast member openly bashed another's performance?

#50

re: Les Miz October 26, 2006 Review

Posted: 10/31/06 at 4:56pm

Well, to me its not so much an issue of being able to sing it as fitting in with the concept of the cast. I mean hypothetically you could cast LES MIZ with all rock singers, or RENT with all legit vocalists and perhaps both would work as their own entities - but it sounds like at least part of the problem with LES MIZ is that Rubin Vega doesn't fit in with the overall, more traditonal vocal style chosen for the rest of the cast.

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