Melanie Brown in Rent.....? — Page 2

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#26

re: Melanie Brown in Rent.....?

Posted: 7/31/04 at 2:45pm

Thank you!!

"I've always secretly longed for an actress to get to the top of the cherry picker and projectile vomit all over the guards below."- Wonderwaiter in the "Defy Gravity?" thread. ~~~~~~~~My dream? Sutton Foster as Cassie in A Chorus Line

#27

re: Melanie Brown in Rent.....?

Posted: 7/31/04 at 2:55pm

I'm sure preconceived ideas about how awful Mel B would be helped in forming these opinions.

Well I can only speak for myself, but I went in wanting to love her performance. I was excited to see a new "Mimi" - and unfortunately she was quite disappointing. I don't care about her accent - it's not that big of a deal in the whole scheme of things and I didn't find it distracting in the least. What I found distracting was that she was obviously losing her voice. Not in the *wow she's a little hoarse* kind of way but in the *I didn't think her voice would hold up till the end of the show*. This was a Friday, and I heard she called out the rest of the weekend which told me I was right.

Her acting was ok - a little overacted in parts (like someone mentioned the cowering in terror when Roger comes near, etc) but she apparently just can't handle an 8 show week vocally which is a shame. There were moments in the show where I could tell she has a decent voice -- but to quote Robyn, she needs to go. NOW.

#28

re: Melanie Brown in Rent.....?

Posted: 7/31/04 at 5:24pm

I actually might get to see her in Sept. so I'll post then. But I loved her as Scary Spice but I thought she was horrible in SpiceWorld. I might have mixed emotions after seeing her in this show

#29

re: Melanie Brown in Rent.....?

Posted: 7/31/04 at 5:28pm

i think i'm going to catch this show after she leaves. i'm sorry to hear that some disliked her performance.

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

#30

re: Melanie Brown in Rent.....?

Posted: 7/31/04 at 5:32pm

I have to agree with 2day4u, Out Tonight was one of her 'stronger' moments. Her dancing was pretty good and so was her voice... it just started to go all horribly wrong with Another Day and continued from there.

On a more positive note, she looks great on stage, yes, far too old but she looks good. And from what I have heard and seen, she is very gracious and sweet at the stagedoor, taking absolutely forever to sign stuff and pose for photos.

But overall, I personally think that the show is in a bad shape at the moment anyway, so I doubt Scary Spice alone ruins the show. When I saw it last month (and I LOVE Rent) quite a few of her colleagues supported her in ruining the show for me!

QM

'He really wasn't good as Fieyro. Is it just me or does he sort of come across as a pimp? Just...the hand motions I've seen him do and the attitude..not that Taye is a pimp.' - SallyBrown on Taye Diggs as Fiyero

#31

re: Melanie Brown in Rent.....?

Posted: 7/31/04 at 6:20pm

But overall, I personally think that the show is in a bad shape at the moment anyway

Here's where we'll have to disagree. I think the cast is incredibly strong at the moment. I've seen the show many, many times since '97 and if I had to pick some of my all-time favorite performers to throw into the show? They are already there right now. I will say that in seeing Jai as 'Angel' recently, it reminded me of just how much Andy wasn't putting into the role anymore (and I'm glad someone else is stepping in), but other than that I thought they had an extremely tight cast when I saw the show a few weeks ago.

**I should note that Karmine was on as 'Mimi' and she's one of my favorite RENT performers ever. So that was a nice understudy surprise.

#32

re: Melanie Brown in Rent.....?

Posted: 7/31/04 at 11:22pm

My only gripe with the current Rent cast (I didn't see Scary though) isn't necessarily the skill or technical ability --- just the fact that they seem to be so low on energy and disinterested in putting on a good professional performance. Maybe it's because I saw the show during a matinee, but even then, the cast should realize that while a high number of attendees are Rentheads, the majority of the audience are fresh faces who've never seen the show before.

I did, however, think Karmine was fabulous as Mimi, but am I the only one who thinks Maggie Benjamin is overrated?

"It's not always about you!!!" (But if you think I'm referring to you anyway, then I probably am.)

"Good luck returning my ass!" - Wilhemina Slater

"This is my breakfast, lunch and f***ing dinner right here. I'm not even f***in' joking." - Colin Farrell

Updated On: 7/31/04 at 11:22 PM

#33

re: Melanie Brown in Rent.....?

Posted: 7/31/04 at 11:25pm

No Typeatiff, you're not alone in your thoughts about Maggie Benjamin. :)

And it wasn't because you were a matinee. The current cast is bored, and it shows. The show isn't even a ghost of what it once was.

#34

re: Melanie Brown in Rent.....?

Posted: 7/31/04 at 11:26pm

Maggie was great when I saw her, and that was before I read the hybe on message boards.

The cast does need to leave. Many of them are recycled Benny Tour people, and they have been with it way too long.

#35

re: Melanie Brown in Rent.....?

Posted: 7/31/04 at 11:30pm

Speaking of the tour, is the current tour non-eq?

#36

re: Melanie Brown in Rent.....?

Posted: 7/31/04 at 11:32pm

Yes.

#37

re: Melanie Brown in Rent.....?

Posted: 7/31/04 at 11:57pm

I heard from an obsessive spice girl fan that she was "omg so freakin awesome" but I doubt it. I heard others say she is terrible.

"[My son]'s really into my music, but one day we were listening to Billy [Joel] in the car and he said, 'Daddy, I think Billy's songs are a little better than yours." (Michael Cavanaugh)

#38

re: Melanie Brown in Rent.....?

Posted: 8/1/04 at 12:03am

Most of the people on the tour are SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much BETTER than some of the current Broadway cast!The Seasons of Love soloest made me cry because she was SO AMAZING!!!!!

#39

re: Melanie Brown in Rent.....?

Posted: 8/1/04 at 12:07am

Amen. The tour group is new, they are energetic and enthusiatic. The broadway people have been there for years and have settled into a routine.

#40

re: Melanie Brown in Rent.....?

Posted: 8/1/04 at 12:16am

how long is she scheduled to be in rent? im going the first week or so in september (cheap tickets from school, otherwise i wouldnt bother) and id rather see a real performer

#41

re: Melanie Brown in Rent.....?

Posted: 8/1/04 at 12:18am

Get matinee tickets, she doesn't do those.

I'm not sure how long Mel B's going to be there, but she may be gone by September.

#42

re: Melanie Brown in Rent.....?

Posted: 8/1/04 at 11:12am

I believe her contract expires september 30!
In regards to Karmine Alers, has anyone else caught her performing as Maureen? She blew me away in that role!!! I was pleasantly surprised that evening, so it made up for Scary!

#43

re: Melanie Brown in Rent.....?

Posted: 8/1/04 at 12:56pm

I'll have to agree with Becky. I saw the show on the 14th, and thought the cast was extremely strong (with the exception of Mel B). I mean, compared to the days of Joey Fatone/Trey Ellet and Manley Pope? Come on.

The tour was also great when I saw it, but who knows if the new cast will be as good.

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