Maria Friedman in Woman in White

[JoizeyActor]

Posted: 11/4/05 at 4:44pm

I saw Maria Friedman in Woman in White on Wednesday evening before she left for her surgery, and I have to say that I was not impressed. I did not know much about her other than her Joseph video which is all I've ever seen her in. My friend kept playing "All For Laura" and I just wasn't really interested.

But my friend really wanted to see her so I tagged along with him since he had a ticket and I just got a ticket in the back of the mezzanine. At first I didn't realize that she was Marian. I figured that Maria was older and that she was playing a mother or something. In fact, I remember thinking to myself at one point: I hope that brunette isn't Maria, because she sounds like she is sick and I think Laura it outshining her.

But eventually I realized that Maria WAS Marian, and I was slightly disappointed. Although she was a fine actress and I realized that her voice just naturally sounded as if she was slightly sick, I still didn't understand what the hype was about. I wanted her to amaze me but she just didn't. Her "All For Laura" was fine, but I was just kind of bored.

Overall I thought the show was just "okay". I've heard references to Little Woman in association with this show and I realize that I agree. Like Little Women, I had a good time but I just didn't think it was anything to go home and rave about.

After seeing Patti LuPone in Sweeney Todd, I will be disappointed if both were nominated and Maria won it over Patti. I just thought Patti LuPone was incredible in Sweeney while Maria just did a good job...

I don't want to turn this into a bashing thread or anything because I respect Maria for what she has done in The Woman In White, but I just wanted to express my disappointment because I was expecting so much more.

Granted, this was the night before her surgery, so she could have very well been off.

[442namffug]

Posted: 11/4/05 at 4:47pm

Yeah...I think that if you found out you had cancer and then had to go and perform a 2 hour and 30 minute show, you'd be a bit shaken up.

I respect your opinion, but I've heard many more positive things about this show (and Maria) than negative.
Updated On: 11/4/05 at 04:47 PM

[JoizeyActor]

Posted: 11/4/05 at 4:49pm

I'm assuming they are probably going to push back the opening night so Maria can recover in time.

[442namffug]

Posted: 11/4/05 at 4:54pm

Nope. They aren't.

It's going on as scheduled since she'll be back before they even end previews. She'll be back late next week or the beginning of the week after I am sure.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 11/4/05 at 5:02pm

Maria will be back with the show by late next week, probably Thursday or Friday evening. The show will open as scheduled.

I know there are many Lisa Brescia fans on this board. She will be playing the role for the rest of the week, and the reviews of her performance have been exceedingly positive so far. Go this week if you can if you want to see her.

[442namffug]

Posted: 11/4/05 at 5:05pm

Great news. It's nice that Lisa is getting nice reviews, but I'm very much looking forward to seeing Maria. Can't wait.

MEF...where are these reviews? I'd be interested to read them.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 11/4/05 at 5:11pm

There are several threads about her on ATC.

[DAME]

Posted: 11/4/05 at 5:14pm

I had the same impression of Maria when I saw her do the role last December in London.

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 11/4/05 at 8:23pm

I didn't see Maria in London, saw Ruthie but several of my London friends did see Maria and their feeling was the same as yours, joizey. I didn't particularly enjoy the show when I saw it and neither did any of them but that seems to be an unpopular opinion when the topic of WIW comes up.

[442namffug]

Posted: 11/4/05 at 8:59pm

Yes I am acutally surprised to see this much negativity on the boards regarding the show at all. 99.9% of the time that it has been brought up, there have been very positive comments regarding the show's context and it's performers.

Oh well...to each his own.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 11/4/05 at 9:30pm

I saw Maria in London and thought she was phenomenal, as always. I can't wait to see her again.

[AnotherDay46]

Posted: 11/4/05 at 10:08pm

I have tickets for Wednesday the 9th, do you expect that Lisa will be on? I would love to see her in the part. I loved Maria but I would like to see Lisa's take on it as well.

[enjolrasissex]

Posted: 11/4/05 at 10:17pm

I saw Maria in London and in NYC and she was amazing both times. I can't wait until I see her again. But I am glad that Lisa is getting such good reviews.

[Christopher Gough]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 5:07am

I have seen the London production a number of times; 9 I think(!)

Both Maria Friedman and Ruthie Henshall have done a great job with it but Maria fits the part better than Ruthie. In the Wilkie Collins novel, Marian is a strong but physically unattractive woman with a facial hair problem. I'm not saying Miss Friedman is unattractive, far from it, but she comes across as a stronger tougher woman than Ruthie Henshall who is more elfin, waif-like and very pretty. The character in the book is a Victorian Miss Marple - the first woman detective ("we shall solve this mystery"). Maria Friedman's voice has a lower gutsy tone - its not a 'fine soprano' instrument - to me it fits what Marian is supposed to be all about.

I'd love to see Miss Brescia do it - how does she sound? Forceful and tough? Sweet and elfin?

[AngusN]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 5:48am

JoizeyActor, I must say I agree with you. I was not impressed with Maria when I saw her in London. Again, I admit she has a nice voice and can act, however, I just don't warm to her. I've also seen her in Passion, as Fosca, and she was truly awful! On the 'Hey Mr. Producer' video she sings the Martin Guerre song and Joanna Riding was so much better. It is such a shame that Maria is regarded as England's greatest musical theatre actress at the koment, because Joanna and Ruthie are so much more talented and dicerse.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 11/5/05 at 7:42am

Updated On: 11/5/05 at 07:42 AM