Nick Jonas & Michael Urie in HOW TO SUCCEED... Thoughts? — Page 6

At the end of the day I really don't think the producers care whether he's good or not. He was hired to sell tickets. I don't really think his being good or bad in the role is an issue for them unless the box office tanks during his run.

How I wish I'm seeing the show tonight....

Starkids gang AND the cast of Glee are there tonight. It's going to be a mad house inside.

I saw the show today. Yes, I wanted to see Darren. So sue me, he's cute on Glee and I was curious. I wouldn't consider myself a fangirl by any means. Good lord was I surrounded by them, though. The handful of people giving standing ovations after Grand Old Ivy and Brotherhood of Man was a bit much, as were the 50+ people in the orchestra who rushed out before curtain call (sucks for you, b*tches, the stage door crowd was 10 people deep already).

Is he great? Eh. His voice is better than that YouTube clip would lead you to believe, but it's definitely a pop voice in a traditional Broadway score. He's much better than Daniel Radcliffe, and I was impressed by Daniel Radcliffe. Wrong genre or not, Darren voice is better, and his dancing looked much more effortless. (Rather, as effortless as Ashford's schizophrenic choreography can look.)

Yes, I'm sure many experienced Broadway performers could do a better job, but that's not what this production is about. A traditionally cast revival with a Broadway pedigree star wouldn't sell out shows in the dead of Janurary while other shows are dropping like flies. And honestly, I don't think either Daniel or Darren were so bad for stunt cast Hollywood celebrities. There have been far worse efforts with much less successful outcomes. (See also: Chicago, Cabaret, Rent, etc.)

I try to consider it in the big picture- every successful show, and new fanbase introduced to theatre, keeps Broadway going for that much longer. If I want art, I'll look to another show, but this is fun and cute and it is what it is.

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Updated On: 1/8/12 at 08:46 PM

Since the day they announced the reading with Daniel, I was not happy about this revival - Specifically, I wasn't happy that Daniel Radcliffe would be playing this role that was totally wrong for him. After seeing Daniel I realized, while still not the best fit for the role, he did a damn good job with this mediocre production. My problem was the fact that Finch is so much YOUNGER than everyone else in this production. It can be flexible and it can work, but you kinda take away something from the show when you cast someone who looks 18, instead of a man-child in their mid-20s to early 30s.

So, imagine my delight when Darren Criss was announced. Everyone kept saying "No! He can sing this! I know it! Have you seen A Very Potter Musical??" Watch the very begging of that show on YouTube. The first song, he's SO pitchy. Then his videos of Disney covers, LOVE THEM....his voice still isn't right for Finch. But I was hoping he could prove me wrong - at least acting -wise... He failed at both singing and acting. This dude is talented, but he's talented for a completely different field. The performance I saw wasn't any better than any I've ever seen given by local high schoolers in my town.

This whole production was always about money. I mean, all shows are, but this just does not compare with the revival in 90s. Not by a long shot, and no one has ever been able to even come close to Robert Morse in the role. Talk about a charmer. He's everything Finch should be. I just don't understand why his character is a teen heartthrob all of a sudden...

Oh, and watch/listen to this mess. From the matinee today. I'm sorry to be so cynical about it (as I make it a point never to be too cynical on this board) but this has always been one of my favorite shows and definitely one of the greatest musical comedies ever written. The material just deserved so much better. I guess I'd give him an A for effort...? Can't wait to see what the perfectly cast, Nick Jonas, will bring to the role........




Are your ears bleeding? My ears are bleeding...

Updated On: 1/7/12 at 11:16 PM

So i just the show last night and my opinion..

I LOVED IT. There I said it. I LOVED IT.

I had the best time and it was so enjoyable. How to Succeed is a true gem of musical theater. Now my thoughts on the actors..

Darren Criss or whatever is his name isn't bad at all. I was nervous after reading some of the comments posted here that I had wasted my money but I went anyway because I had to. That ticket was not cheap. But my gosh, he was a delight and so tiny. His voice is thin and unsuitable for Broadway but can we be for real here? It is not going to impede any success for the actor or any actor on Broadway in my humble opinion if you have everything else going for you. He was charming, funny and so enthusiastic. I also loved his dancing, he made it seem so easy. The crowd really loved him. Many of them were young and a bit too fangirly but it was cute and I was surprised he had such a large following.

Beau Bridges was ok. I don't know if its his age or something but I didn't really connect with him. Bud was great and I really liked Rosemary or the actress playing her. I forget her name. She was lovely and i liked her voice.

My best performance was of course Brotherhood of Men. The dancing in that performance really highlighted the point i made about him making it seem so easy.

In closing, I will say this to potential viewers. Go see it yourself and judge. I personally had a swell time and I would go again if I could afford it. Everyone is a critic. I am not saying the people who hated it didn't have a right to but don't let such comments spoil it for you. I almost skipped this show because of some of the comments I read here and I am glad I didn't. Shows especially musicals are for entertainment. I think some of us are taking this way too seriously.

P.S Is it true Zadan and Meron may develop a future production for him? That's flattering.

Jojo, let me say this plainly and clearly: you nauseate me.

Now put on your veil and go back into the convent.

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Well, after watching that clip, as well as its linked clips of him in concert, I have a few observations.

1. While Danel Radcliffe played the part as a master manipulator, with everything ALWAYS going as planned, Criss (for better or worse) is playing the role a little more innocently- like a schmuck dancing on eggshells to save his ass from every move. Radcliffe and Robert Morse before him seemed to be always three steps ahead of the game, while Criss, with shades of Broderick, seems to be making it up as he goes. Right or wrong interpretation? Depends on the production, although the physical intricacy of this production's staging and choreography lends itself better to a more confident and self-assured Finch than a slippery improvisor.

2. As has been pointed out repeatedly, Criss, in his Broadway capacity, is more a dancer who sings than a singer who dances.

3. I'm not defending his vocal performance as flawless, or even as an equal to Radcliffe before him, but from the clips I saw, the claims that Criss can't sing, or even that he must be completely faking his vocal performances on Glee, seem fairly unfounded. Criss sounds pretty damn good in concert, and is passable but certainly not ideal in the show, not tone-deaf and perpetually offensive as some have said. Criss has a good modern pop voice, but with that come the deficiencies that are inherent in that style- the voice is somewhat light, decidedly breathy, and entirely based on consonants and glottals, not on vowels and elongated tones. Criss pulls off the singing in the role, and if you like that kind of voice, or Criss himself, you might even enjoy it. But if you want to hold the definition of a Broadway voice to be the traditional brassy, legit-influenced "Broadway voice" you get from an Aaron Tveit or even a Hugh Jackman, you won't find it here.

4. Judging by his reception now by the audience, his sales figures and the fact that his star shows no sign of sudden burnout, we'll be seeing him again, but hopefully in material that emphasizes his pop voice, dancing and goofy charm, not material where he is simply chosen because he happens to be the right age for the character.

And crucify me now for saying it, but if they're reviving Pippin, he wouldn't be such a bad title role. It's certainly a better fit for him than Finch, anyway.

The one big note in that song is the only thing I can see him having any trouble with. The rest of the show is considerably easier.

There was at least one comment, in one of the four or five posts right now about Criss, that states that after hearing his weak live performance in H2$, it made them think that his performance on Glee must be almost entirely autotuned, not just touched up like some of the other stars.

No reason they can't do both- Neil Patrick Harris, though too old for the conception of Finch's age and business experience in this production, would be a fantastic Finch in a different production. Hell, even his castmate Josh Radnor would be more than capable.

There was at least one comment, in one of the four or five posts right now about Criss, that states that after hearing his weak live performance in H2$, it made them think that his performance on Glee must be almost entirely autotuned, not just touched up like some of the other stars.

Thanks! I hadn't seen it. It is certain that he's been autotuned, like every other actors from Glee. As much as I don't find his voice remarkable in How To Succeed, I do like it in some of his live concert performances. It's a little too much to say that he can't sing. He's definetely not a broadway singer, but there is a certain quality to his voice.

I just think that he's more a performer than an actor. The opposite with Daniel Radcliffe was what made it really work for me, because I could forget the not so strong voice, because I believed in the character and the singing was part of the act. With Darren, I don't believe in the character at all and when he starts singing, it's even worse. It's like : okay now I have to sing this song and then I'll get back to the acting. It just doesn't seem natural to me. Don't know if I'm making any sense...

"There was at least one comment, in one of the four or five posts right now about Criss, that states that after hearing his weak live performance in H2$, it made them think that his performance on Glee must be almost entirely autotuned, not just touched up like some of the other stars."

I just find this claim really funny, considering Darren is one of the few Glee cast members who literally has FREAK TONS of completely live singing videos all over the internet. Heck, he started off doing Disney covers on youtube, sitting on his bed in his room with nothing but a guitar and his voice!

Of course he's not the most technically incredible singer ever. But anyone who claims he "can't sing".. sorry, but that really is delusional. Whether or not his voice is necessarily appropriate for a role like Finch... that's a matter of opinion and I understand if some people feel like it's not right. But to claim he can't sing in general is completely and totally unfounded.

Don't get me wrong, they absolutely do autotune him to death on Glee. And I think it does a complete disservice to his voice. Because the thing is, his voice IS naturally thinner, and it's really the bright, textured tone of it that makes it enjoyable to listen to for me. So when they layer on the autotune, what it does is take away all the natural tone that does make his voice appealing, and leaves it sounding robotic and thin.

Take his live acoustic version of Teenage Dream versus the Glee version, for instance:

Glee- http://youtu.be/ruXTtJjLVy4
Live- http://youtu.be/me1ZNMxRqpE

Now, it's not necessarily that the live version is technically perfect. But it's that natural tone that makes me love his voice, and not care if a couple things are off here and there. I just plain think his voice is gorgeous. The Glee version? The arrangement is really cool, but his voice sounds so much weaker/more robotic, because none of that texture and soul is in it.


So I can understand if some people don't feel his voice is right for a role like Finch. That's a matter of personal taste. But just because not everyone may feel that he's right for that particular style of singing does NOT mean he can't sing. And that's not just my fan bias talking- it's a fact.

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Updated On: 1/8/12 at 11:56 PM