NINE Revival - How was Eartha Kitt?

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 12:16pm

I didn't get to see NINE after Banderas and most of the original cast left.

One of the things that intrigued me most was Eartha Kitt's replacement of Chita Rivera. Did anyone see her? What was your opinion of her performance?

[Glebb]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 12:18pm

Didn't see Kitt but loved NINE so much I just had to say it.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 2:21pm

Ahh Glebby, our love of Nine.
Wasn't it beautiful?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 3:41pm

She was just okay, along with all the replacements in the revival (except for Rebecca Luker who was in every way superior than Laura Benanti as Claudia). Liliane LaFleur was conceived originally for dancer Lilliane Montivecci -- Chita couldn't sing the role as originally written, but the dancing aspect of the role was left intact. Kitt did the Rivera vocal arrangements but couldn't dance, so the big dance break in "Follies Bergere" was removed, so the character lost a lot of what makes her memorable.

[Glebb]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 8:49pm

I'm thrilled to have seen the original cast once and the original revival cast twice. I loved both equally and yowza Antonio! I'm thinking I loved the revival even more. Those sets! Those ladies! That man!

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 8:51pm

Didn't they turn Follies Bergeres into an all-female orgy? That's certainly what I heard....

Still, that tango between Chita and the blindfolded Antonio was spectacular. Updated On: 3/12/07 at 08:51 PM

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 8:51pm

never saw the show but... uh... I LOVE NINE!

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 9:06pm

(except for Rebecca Luker who was in every way superior than Laura Benanti as Claudia).

Benanti's "Unusual Way" was just breathtaking. One of the most moving performances I've seen on stage. Granted I didn't see Luker in the role, but I have seen her in other shows. I love her, truly.

But Benanti was just ridiculously amazing as Claudia.

Updated On: 3/12/07 at 09:06 PM

[jewishboy]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 9:21pm

I agree FOAnatic, but I didn't see Luker in the role either. MB how was Luker better? Thanks

[morosco]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 9:26pm

I love me some Chita but I think she was horribly miscast in this production. The accent.....puh-leeze!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 10:09pm

Benanti sounded great but she, in my opinion, was miscast. She has terrible legs and ankles. I wouldn't buy for one minute that she was a 1960s movie star. The costume was much more flattering on Luker's long frame: she looked an Italian Grace Kelly. She was also closer in age to Banderas and Stuart Masterson which made the connection between the three woman deeper and more urgent. Luker also sang the role better and was more comfortable with the dialect. There really was no contest between the two, in my opinion.
Updated On: 3/12/07 at 10:09 PM

[Phantom2]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 10:13pm

Thoroughly enjoyed both Chita Rivera and Eartha Kitt. They're Broadway legends, they can't suck.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 10:16pm

Oh, I would completely take her for a 1960s Italian movie star.

She has a strikingly beautiful face, reminiscent of Claudia Cardinale, the original Claudia in Fellini's "8 1/2." She has a nice frame and can wear a sleek dress very nicely.

I have seen Luker attempt an Italian accent, and I didn't buy it for a second. IMO, it came very naturally to Benanti.

But, hey, that's just me.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 10:17pm

1960s movie stars didn't have tin can ankles. And if they did, they weren't costumed the way Benanti was. It was a great costume but totally unflattering on her.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 10:21pm

Really don't get much hotter than that.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 10:27pm

Well, I do agree with MB on the legs, but I think it was her face and the accent that was so great about Benanti. Even though I love her normal voice she always sounds better when speaking/singing in an accent.
FOAnatic- I don't know if you can find the picture, but there is this one that you can actually see the twinkle in Benanti's eyes.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 10:29pm

I love her facial expression in this one.

[Phantom2]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 10:32pm

You wanna talk about legs? Two words...Deidre Goodwin!

[Glebb]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 10:34pm

I LOVE NINE!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 10:42pm

Benanti was also in flats which is the worst thing in the world for women with bad legs!

Here is Rebecca Luker's legs in NINE - she has great gams!

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 10:44pm

Nothing wrong with Benanti's gams in the pic above.

[Phantom2]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 10:48pm

Chita Rivera has great legs.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 10:55pm

Benanti's legs in that picture are crossed - you can barely see them.

[Phantom2]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 10:59pm

Austin Miller's got great legs. Ha!

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 3/12/07 at 11:02pm

Rebecca Luker is drop dead gorgeous.