NBC's ANNIE LIVE! (2021) - News & Discussion Thread- Page 21

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 12/2/21 at 7:51pm

I can’t believe I’m going to stay up until 4am here in London to watch this. 

[bwayobsessed]

Posted: 12/2/21 at 8:22pm

Celina is incredibly talented. I think some of the others including Taraji are a bit much. At least they’re having fun tho.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 12/2/21 at 8:23pm

Off to a great start!!!

Damn Celina and those kids sound amazing! Taraji is deliciously evil. The new orchestrations are just brilliant so far. 

I know we’re coming up on the 45th anniversary of this show, but it feels like a brand new musical tonight. And that’s a great thing.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 12/2/21 at 8:30pm

Are they lip-syncing the group numbers?

[MikeInTheDistrict]

Posted: 12/2/21 at 8:32pm

Nice to see “We’d Like to Thank You” on the screen for the first time. Taraji is the best part of this so far. She hits the right vaudevillian note that Dorothy Loudoun brought to the role. 

[bwayobsessed]

Posted: 12/2/21 at 8:34pm

Idk I feel like Taraji isn’t really making choices that work well on camera….

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 12/2/21 at 8:36pm

bwayobsessed said: "Idk I feel like Taraji isn’t really making choices that work well on camera…."

I’m sure these live musicals in general are balancing acts between acting for the stage and the screen because it’s staged for both. 

[fosterfan2]

Posted: 12/2/21 at 8:38pm

The line that Hoover is quoted as saying"...I take no responsibility..." hit a little too close to home. Reminded me of...you know. This production is more timely than I thought it would be. 

Celina has an amazing voice. I think she's got a bright future ahead.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 12/2/21 at 8:43pm

Taraji is cracking me TF up.

[Scarlet Leigh]

Posted: 12/2/21 at 8:46pm

Taraji is chewing up the scenery like it is a leather boot and I am HERE FOR IT! 

[MikeInTheDistrict]

Posted: 12/2/21 at 8:48pm

Hannigan needs to be over-the-top. Her lines aren’t that funny unless they’re delivered in a cartoonish way. I’ve seen so many actresses sink in this role because they keep things too restrained. Taraji is hitting all the right notes for me. 

[fosterfan2]

Posted: 12/2/21 at 8:51pm

Jordan Catalano said: "Taraji is cracking me TF up."

Same here! And what a voice.

 

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 12/2/21 at 8:55pm

Absolutely nerding out over McKenzie Kurtz as Annette and Eliseo Roman as Drake!

Scherzinger sounds lovely and looks beautiful.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 12/2/21 at 8:55pm

Taraji was pushing a bit in the opening -- nerves? -- but has settled into the genuinely comic performance we knew she'd give. Her roof-raising reprise of "Little Girls" made me wish she was doing this on Broadway. 

I wish the sets didn't look so 1959 television special-ish. It's not an evocative or especially attractive bit of world building. 1930s America is rich visual fodder; this looks like a dinner theater.

The kids, including the wonderful star, are terrific. 

[Tag]

Posted: 12/2/21 at 9:02pm

Ah Mr. Baldpate.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 12/2/21 at 9:04pm

“I’m glad to see Broadway get back on its feet in spite of the hard times.”

You speak for all of us, Mr. Connick. And the audience certainly agreed.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 12/2/21 at 9:11pm

McKenzie Kurtz as the Star to Be!!!

[Auggie27]

Posted: 12/2/21 at 9:16pm

The shaved head is a basic requirement for the role. The little fleshy bubble bulging at the back of the neck is not a good look. It's a conehead presentation that doesn't help the actor-singer's cause. He seems distracted. 

Trying to get past the unimpressive physical production -- this ice show concept is the best NBC could manage? -- which just doesn't create much verisimilitude or magic. The thirties NYC is ripe for exploration, even with minimalism. This looks like -- well, an old TV special. 

 

Updated On: 12/2/21 at 09:16 PM

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 12/2/21 at 9:16pm

Jordan Levinson said: "“I’m glad to see Broadway get back on its feet in spite of the hard times.”

You speak for all of us, Mr. Connick. And the audience certainly agreed."

Call me a loser…but this made me tear up a little. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 12/2/21 at 9:23pm

Here we go, Tituss and Megan Hilty.

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 12/2/21 at 9:30pm

I didn’t really like the addition of “Sign,” but what a smashing “Easy Street” to ease the pain.

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 12/2/21 at 9:30pm

I just adore Megan Hilty. I wish we had more of her on Broadway.

This really is pretty good. I just wish it was directed and designed by another team. 

[bwayobsessed]

Posted: 12/2/21 at 9:31pm

I always enjoyed Sign. Easy Street is always my favorite number in the show.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 12/2/21 at 9:42pm

Easy Street was amazing!!

[EDSOSLO858]

Posted: 12/2/21 at 9:45pm

Beautiful “Maybe” reprise. It looked like Celina was really crying and not just acting.