my school just did Once Upon A Mattress this year and I used both the original and revival cast recordings in my preparation-- I was (and, in my heart, always will be) Princess Winnifred. and, well, my point is...
Fred is an extremely demanding part. i spent months training my voice to belt and do her songs justice. although the meat of the part is in the dialogue and the physical comedy, it certainly requires a powerful voice with considerable training to carry it well.
SJP was beyond disappointing. Her "belt" was merely a yell. She took comical bits (like "Swamps of Home") and tried to make them sound pretty--not only was she unsuccessful comically, but her voice just ain't that pretty. "Happily Ever After" begins all right, but then she ends with a scat that must have the entire 1930s and 1940s rolling in their graves. i don't know HOW it made it to the recording. her "Mattress" was essentially that GAP commercial, just longer and with more costume changes.
I love Sex and the City, but I could die happy never having to hear SJP sing again. ever.
"It's not for sissies, contrary to popular belief." - Tommy Tune, on musical theatre.
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