MARA SHOWS OFF!!!

[Janki]

Posted: 8/3/07 at 4:04am

Just saw the video of Mara Davi as Janet Van der Graff on wwww.Broadway.com...and OMIGOD!!!!!!! Thought she was stunning in A Chorus Line, but after seeing this video I'm stunned! (Think I might turn straight..hihihi)
She is so gorgeous, and so humble. She sings like a bird, and dances like a godess....so yup! LOVE MARA!

[TapTapTapioca]

Posted: 8/3/07 at 4:09am

Put it on the Opps girl thread.

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 8/3/07 at 7:41am

I love how she does like 1,000 more tricks then Sutton did.

[cubanpab]

Posted: 8/3/07 at 8:13am

i think she needs more tricks to make up for her singing voice which i thought was extremely nasal and thin. but she did look gorgeous and danced well.

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/3/07 at 11:16am

She's going through the motions really well. She can sing, dance and act... but she lacks the star quality that Sutton has.

Not even close.

You either got it, or you ain't.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 8/3/07 at 11:33am

Neither LaManna nor Davi have been able to replace the star quality of Foster who may not have done twenty different tricks but who has an incredible presence. I think that may be the reason the show isn't doing as well, replacements who can sing, dance, act the show but who don't have the kind of charisma, star quality, and chemistry that the original cast did.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 8/3/07 at 11:53am

Davi comes off, to me, as the ultimate understudy.

As was previously said, she's got the talent but not the presence or charisma.

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/3/07 at 11:54am

I agree it's not about how many tricks you can do (on any stage in any show).

Zero Mostel couldn't sing a friggin' NOTE, but he could stop a show cold. That's "stage presence" and "star quality."

...also known as "It."

You either got it, or you ain't.

You can't learn it in school. It's not about training, ability or experience. You can't "pay your dues" for years and acquire it.

It's either there or it isn't.

[justafan2]

Posted: 8/3/07 at 12:14pm

best12bars---I agree with you. Star quality is a presence---look at Harvey Fierstein----hideous voice but what a performance as Edna in Hairspray! Mara has a lovely voice---her dancing is very good (altho' the kicks are not as high as Sutton's), but there's something intangible missing (IMO). Sutton's voice has a gentle yet powerful tone----
There's an edge to Mara's----I can't really describe it properly. I'm glad Sutton's performance has been captured on CD.

[Action2]

Posted: 8/3/07 at 12:20pm

and...we are watching footage of rehearsals and (if they are live, but I doubt it), first weeks of performances. I imagine she will gain confidence and begin to 'show off' more as she get's more comfortable.

BY THE WAY...I hate how replacements are always compared NEGATIVELY to originals. Look, Sutton (who I LOVED as Janet), left on her own accord. She wasn't dismissed and the role wasn't stolen by Mara. Why slam her for being, oh, different?

Have a great run.

[cubanpab]

Posted: 8/3/07 at 1:43pm

i dont think anyones slamming mara action2... i just think everyone is agreeing that from what we've seen she has all the goods (although i really do not enjoy the tone of her voice), but she lacks that "it" factor sutton has...

i remember seeing janet sing "please... no more attention" with such sarcasm in her facial expressions that her expression alone had me laughing out loud. she just nailed every aspect of it from her singing, to her dancing, to her comedic timing.

Mara looks like what somethingwicked said... the ultimate understudy... a great replacement if the lead is out sick, but just wont wow you the same way no matter how high she kicks.

and honestly... i'm basing most of this on her voice... it just doesnt please my ears. I thought Janine sounded better from what i saw...

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 8/3/07 at 1:52pm

I don't think anyone should really criticize her until they've seen her live. That said, I'm going on Wednesday so I won't say anything until then.

[Tkt2Ride]

Posted: 8/3/07 at 4:20pm

She deserves a chance. I agree youtube is not my source for entertainment. It is a very tough act to follow. Let's see what she comes up with. I agree though, tricks don't make the song any better. She could have been nervous in front of a camera.

Not all parts fit all Actors either, that is the Directors/Producers call though. Really experienced Performers avoid those kind of mistakes but it is difficult to see yourself on the outside I would think? Depends on finances and your goals in life whether you care about this or not?

[Joshua488]

Posted: 8/3/07 at 8:07pm

I like the new tricks. I think she will do well in the role.

I also noticed that the key of the song has been lowered.

EDIT: That was a partial lie. The key change in the song (at the line "I don't wanna change keys no more") is still in the original key. But I believe the rest of the song has been lowered. Updated On: 8/3/07 at 08:07 PM

[JSousa]

Posted: 8/3/07 at 10:05pm

Ill wait till I see her to make any real judgment. She looks great, but I am not sure you can tell if she has "it" until you see number as a whole.