Millie last performance

[ifagirlisntpretty]

Posted: 6/20/04 at 6:01pm

So just got back...

There was very little emotion in the audience, but it was fine. I have never warmed to Susan in the role, though she gets better as the performance goes on... I suppose.

I liked Kevin Early and Jessica Grove and the enseble was in fine shape. And I have to say Harriet Harris is a welcome return guest. I haven't thought anyone else nailed that role and she still does!

Was anyone else there?

[jonartdesigns]

Posted: 6/20/04 at 8:56pm

i saw it wednesday and had a similarview- although i did have a very good understudy for millie. Also i find that lesley uggams's ego exceeds her talents a bit- i was told she refuses to come out after matinees

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 6/21/04 at 12:47pm

BRAVO JESSICA! Hurry back to Broadway girl! You are already issed!

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 6/21/04 at 1:32pm

I'm so mad it's gone! Is it true that La Cage is going into the Marquis now and All Shook Up is going into the Palace after Aida leaves?? I heard they swapped theaters.

[Sheri]

Posted: 6/22/04 at 3:07am

I was there, in fact, I just got home from NYC - it was such a great show. I was so hapy to see Harriet Harris back in the cast and SO nice to see all the swings with the ensemble in the last scene - made me teary.

[Wicked_Elphie]

Posted: 6/22/04 at 4:52pm

I was there for the final performance and I am soo unbelievably sad! Not only because it is my favorite show and now it's closed but because of how quietly and uneventfully it died. It was my 5th time seeing it and my first time seeing it with Susan Egan...I restrained myself I promise!

First of all I was very impressed with of course Harriet Harris and also Jessica Grove and Kevin Early. I had actually never seen any of them in it before. Harriet was phenomenal and while I have always been very amused by the character, she brought so much more to the character than the others. She had her own little quirky things that made it her own while the others seemed to do it exactly the same. There were a few lines that were different and I have to say I just cracked up when she sings "imagine moi midair" and she does this really funny pose that I haven't seen from the others. Her mannerisms are truly incredible and are what won her the Tony. Jessica Grove was very good as well, and really cute. And although she didn't bring anything very new to the role it was still impressive and I really enjoyed her performance. Also, I don't think anyone could replace Kudish but Kevin Early was probably the funniest Graydon since him. I loved some of the comical things he did. He added new things, and brought some of the other lines to a new level. He's really cute as well and just kind of reminds me of like a puppy with lots of energy lol! I just wanted to hug him or something.


Ok so Susan Egan...I would like to say first that I don't hate her lol! (LuvtheEmcee-don't take that as too much) I did enjoy some of her performance. I know I have been very bitter about her in the past because I just looovee Sutton but I really did go in trying to enjoy myself and get past her. I also worked very hard to not even look angry at her since I was in the front row and she could see me if I did lol! What I found myself enjoying most was when she delivered lines in a totally new way, it didn't happen a lot but I enjoyed it when it did! I really didn't like when she would try to mimic some of Sutton's own personal style when she delivered lines. It was just never worked. She also seemed like she was having a few problems with comedic timing and things like that. She seemed at times though she was delivering her lines too forced and it was acted too much I think. Also I don't know if that's just what her speaking voice is like but at times I swear she was channeling Sally Bowles lol! I could totally hear the Cabaret-ness in some of her lines and it was really weird. She has a good singing voice, with the exception of her really nasaly sounding moments. There was also parts where the dancing wasn't as impressive either but she could handle it. I really do think with more time in the role than she would have been more comfortable and she would have improved. She will never be Sutton and could never come close to filling her shoes in that role but I don't think anyone really could.

Christian was of course adorable. I always enjoy his performance. Oh another thing though, him and Susan had no chemistry! I know it's hard to compare this with him performing with his actual girlfriend but there are plenty of actors who pull it off. Sutton and Gavin had plenty of chemistry and they weren't together. It was really sad because it's one of my favorite things about the show. Because of personal preference I blame Susan Egan for this.

I was very upset when I made my way out of the Marquis on Monday because I was devastated of course but expecting so much more. This was a show that just two years ago took home 6 Tony Awards and now at the end of the run no one even said anything at the beginning or end of the performance. There were no flowers or tears...well not from on stage, I can't say the same for myself! They made a bigger deal about Sutton's last performance(yes i was there too). And while that was important this was the ending to the show. I also thought there would be other former cast members in attendance at the show. I saw a lot of people on the creative team and the producer as well but I think more people should have come out to support it. And another thing...I swear I'm almost done...but I don't think the performance was even sold out. I could see many open seats in the mezzanine and it just broke my heart.


I will end this by thanking you and both pitying you as well if you actually took the time to read all this! I would also like to say that I love Millie and while it does not have the obvious depth of some other shows, it has been a truly enjoyable experience and a wonderful run! I Millie!

Updated On: 7/11/04 at 04:52 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/22/04 at 4:55pm

you're making me cry!! But you're learning well! I hear they're calling it the Emcee School of Really Long Posts.....

[Wicked_Elphie]

Posted: 6/22/04 at 5:02pm

I try


oh and Ned Weeks would be proud!

Updated On: 6/22/04 at 05:02 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/22/04 at 5:31pm

I thought so!

[Hank]

Posted: 6/22/04 at 5:46pm

Nice review WE, I was there too, and at Sutton's finale as well, and I agree with you for the most part, but I thought Susan Egan was really funny in the "What do you think of Rudolph Valentino?" scene, but her dancing in "Nuttycracker" and "I Turned The Corner" just didn't look right to me. Maybe it was because of the hight difference.
I also wanted to say that I totally adored Jessica Grove as Miss Dorothy, and I hope to see more from her soon.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 6/22/04 at 6:12pm

If you love Jesica, get the 1998 cast recording of The Wizard of Oz. Jessica played Dorohty and I LOVE her rendition of Over The Rainbow.

[lbd139]

Posted: 6/22/04 at 7:43pm

Hey everyone

Although I couldn't see Millie's final performance on the 20th, I was there on my birthday on June 19th. It was an amazing, all round fabulous show, and I really cannot find logical explanation for why it closed!

First of all, Jessica Grove was great - really talented in the role of Miss Dorothy and very very sweet when we talked to her outside. Actually, now that I think of it, I can't find flaws in any of the performances that night - Leslie Uggams was awesome as always, and same with Harriet Harris.

And to my favorite, and seemingly most controversial, person in the cast - Susan Egan! I think that since most people saw the show with Sutton (which I did not), everyone obviously has the feeling that no one can live up to her great qualities, which is understandable. She is extremely talented on the soundtrack, and seems like a great person too. But I think that Susan deserves a lot of credit for coming into a production where everyone had been gushing over Sutton and her performance, and making it into her own, unique style. Susan is also an amazing talent - buy her CD "So Far.." and you will witness it yourself! I think that she really did an amazing job taking such a defined role and making it into something new. Plus, she is an awesome person - I was so excited to meet her at the stage door, and she was so sweet to me and my friends, as well as everyone else around there!

So that's just my opinion - go Susan! (And Sutton, and everyone else who made Millie into the great show it was/is/will be)

[Hank]

Posted: 6/22/04 at 7:50pm

Thanks guy, but Jessica was really such a joy to watch too! I mean her facial expressions, and her dancing- did you see her flip and cartwheel in "I'm Falling In Love With Someone"?

[suddenlyseymour]

Posted: 6/22/04 at 8:14pm

was anybody else at the stage door afterwards and just wanted to freakin smack that reporter guy in the yellow jacket who was pushing everyone

[Wicked_Elphie]

Posted: 6/22/04 at 11:29pm

lbd-glad you enjoyed oh and happy birthday but...

"I think that Susan deserves a lot of credit for coming into a production where everyone had been gushing over Sutton and her performance, and making it into her own, unique style."

First of all Sutton deserves to be gushed over, she's phenomenal and while Susan is a good performer she really didn't make it into her own style. She tried in some parts but really it was only a few lines. The rest of the time she was doing poor imitations of Sutton or over acting it to death

Oh and Hank thanks and yeah I agree with you about the Rudolf Valentino line! That part was really funny for me also because since I was in the front, for some of it I could only see like her legs sticking up or her grasping to try and get up because of the height of the stage.

[Thoroughly Modern Cara]

Posted: 6/24/04 at 9:18pm

Updated On: 7/13/04 at 09:18 PM

[Broadwaylady]

Posted: 6/24/04 at 10:42pm

Yes, Millie had a great run and Sutton stayed in the show a long time. Much longer than most stars after it being nominated for best musical. I saw it twice with Sutton and the original cast except that Trevor Graydon was played the second time by hunky Chris Seiber. Boy does he fill out a suit.!!!!!!!!!!!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/24/04 at 10:43pm

Christopher Sieber played Graydon? No way! I saw Marc Kudisch and adored him, so I guess I can't complain.

[Wicked_Elphie]

Posted: 6/24/04 at 11:47pm

yeah he was in the role for a little while and I'm so mad that I didn't go while he was in it. I just have to say that BroadwayLady I am verryy jealous...any thoughts on his performance besides the obvious...damn he's hot!

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 6/24/04 at 11:48pm

haha, I'm oh-so surprised at *that* comment, WE. He was probably really good!

[Musetta1957]

Posted: 6/25/04 at 12:14am

"Christopher Sieber played Graydon? No way!"

Yeah. Didn't the order go: Marc Kudsich, Christopher Sieber, Marc, Ben Davis, and then Kevin Earley?

[Wicked_Elphie]

Posted: 6/25/04 at 12:15am

oh i'm sure he was! yum, I really would like to see him while he's in Chicago but I have so many other things on my list that I don't know if I have time to see it again now.