Patina MIller Out of Pippin Tonight Stephanie Pope in- Page 8

[getatme]

Posted: 5/5/13 at 9:54pm

To be more accurate, Patina left toward the end of act one with Stephanie closing out the act and finishing up the rest of the show.

Like supersam said, Patina left fairly early in act one. She stayed in the show until the Leading Player's first exit and when LP re-enters in "Glory," it was Stephanie still in her red and blue soldier costume.

Overall, I enjoyed Stephanie. I think her acting throughout was pretty spot on, I really loved her little ad-lib at the end of the first act. Her dancing was pretty good, there were little bits of the Manson Trio that need tightening and the "On the Right Track" dance break seemed like sort of a mess, but for someone who's never had a rehearsal for the role, I was impressed. Her singing was usually good, but when she went to hit most of the really big notes, she ended up being just a bit flat. I'm sure once she's had rehearsal (which I hope this whole situation has scared them into giving her sooner rather than later), she'll be great.

[supersam1026]

Posted: 5/5/13 at 10:58pm

So with Miller being sick or out at many of the performances during the crucial Tony voting time, is there now more of a chance for an upset? I have been thinking since nominations that Laura Osnes is the dark horse, but now it seems that she may be having a legitimate chance.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 5/5/13 at 11:04pm

Steve Kazee (Once) was out a week during Tony time -- he still pulled out the win, so I'm not really sure -- I suppose it depends on just how long she is out.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 5/5/13 at 11:06pm

I'd say right now it's almost even between Miller & Osnes. If Miller misses more performances this coming week, Osnes could be the new frontrunner. I would almost guarantee that Miller is aware of this.

Right now, the order would be:
1. Miller
2. Osnes
3. LeKae
4. Block
5. Carmello

Let's not forget that Steve Kazee missed over a week of shows due to the death of his mother and he still won the Tony.

Updated On: 5/5/13 at 11:06 PM

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 5/5/13 at 11:08pm

I can see voters who didn't see Patina voting for her anyway because they saw her previously in Sister Act and because of the role. Remember when people were complaining that they'd vote for the Matildas to honor the role and not necessarily the performance(s)? I can see the same thing happening here with the voters voting for her because it's already a Tony-winning role.

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 5/5/13 at 11:15pm

I think thats a pretty ridiculous statement. If they gave the TONY to people for previous roles they played we'd have some ludicrous winners out there.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 5/5/13 at 11:22pm

I don't think it's a ridiculous statement. If a Tony voter happened to catch a performance of Pippin without Patina, it's not ludicrous for someone to think, "Well, she's really talented because I saw her previously in Sister Act. The Leading Player is an incredible role, I like how the character plays out in this production, and I bet Patina knocks it out of the park." Who knows how the voters come to their decisions?

There have been many Tony, Oscar, Emmy, and Grammy winners who have won awards for the "wrong" performance or song or film or show, but the industry wanted to award them because they are well-respected and were "supposed to win" for something else. It's the nature of awards shows.

Updated On: 5/5/13 at 11:22 PM

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 5/5/13 at 11:23pm

So you think if a performer is good in one role they're good in every single thing they do?

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 5/5/13 at 11:24pm

No, that's not what I think and not what I said.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/5/13 at 11:24pm

I think Block and even Carmello have a better chance than LeKae.
And everyone loves Osnes.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 5/5/13 at 11:27pm

^ Preach!!

They at least deserve a better shot than LaKae. That performance was just...bad. How it is Tony nominated is beyond me. Crawford, Louderman, and Dilly all deserved a nomination before she did. I'm sure she's talented, but I thought her performance was a borderline cheap drag queen Diana Ross impersonation.

Anyway, I digress... Updated On: 5/5/13 at 11:27 PM

[chrisampm2]

Posted: 5/5/13 at 11:59pm

I'll be surprised if Miller wins, even if she returns in good shape at the start of the week. It's not as if she got raves. There's lots of affection for Osnes, who was well reviewed, and her show.

[bdn223]

Posted: 5/6/13 at 12:02am

The difference between Miller's absence and Kazee's was that his mother had just died, while Patna's is for allergies.

Honestly despite what everyone thought going into last week, it became a horse race between Osnes and Miller with Miller having the edge. Now the fact Miller is sick an missing performances she is loosing her edge. Add to that the fact that Cinderella's producers are going all out on their Tony campaign Osnes' star is rising. Cinderella's producers are also selling the right parts of Osnes the fact that she is a Cinderella story going from winning a cheesy reality contest and pans in Grease to South Pacific, and raves in Anything Goes, Bonnie and Clyde, and now Cinderella.

[ucjrdude902]

Posted: 5/6/13 at 12:05am

Seriously the cast of "Cinderella" is EVERYWHERE.

[Phillytheatreguy10]

Posted: 5/6/13 at 12:34am

I hope she's back in by Sunday! I can't wait to see her!

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/6/13 at 12:53am

I think HeyMrMusic is just saying this could and has happened but by that theory Osnes would have edge because she has more past performances voters may have seen and loved, ANYTHING GOES and B&C.
The role does play a factor, LEADING PLAYER is a very "flashy" part where CINDERELLA is more subtle portrait.
ey are both gifted performers but a good close race is always more fun.

[Up In One]

Posted: 5/6/13 at 12:55am

Hey Wickedrocks

"but I thought her performance was a borderline cheap drag queen Diana Ross impersonation. "

I said the same thing about Diana Ross' performances the last twenty years so maybe the actress in Motown is actually doing a brilliant spot on performance.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 5/6/13 at 12:56am

Victoria Clark was out of CINDERELLA for the better part of this week, so just as many Tony voters who went to that show have had to reschedule as have had to reschedule to see Patina Miller in PIPPIN (if not more, since I think Clark missed more performances overall.)

These absences will in no way effect Patina's inevitable win, nor will they give Laura Osnes any sort of edge.

Updated On: 5/6/13 at 12:56 AM

[RippedMan]

Posted: 5/6/13 at 1:15am

Osnes is giving the most bland performance ever. How that could win is beyond me.

[LuminousBeing]

Posted: 5/6/13 at 1:37am

As promised, reporting back.

Stephanie did go on today, as stated. I thought that given her one rehearsal and one and a half actual performances, she did a good job. I did sorely miss Patina, however (having seen her at the ART). Patina's a stronger dancer, a superior singer, and walked the menacing "ugly/beautiful" line in a way that I found was more dramatic and fitting for the tone of the show. She also played up some of the maniacal aspects of the LP's personality, and created much more tension with the Catherine scenes. Stephanie's lines to her were critical; Patina's were downright abusive, which raised the stakes for Catherine's character.

NOTE: I'm just giving an account of Stephanie's performance this evening as I experienced it, and I do understand that she was VERY under-rehearsed, possibly sick herself (she chose to avoid most of the money notes, singing the down octave), and really being a trouper in a tough situation. I'm sure that with more rehearsal, Stephanie could grow into the role well and be wonderful.

The rest of the show was excellent, and did not seem to suffer from the cast change; it was improved even from the great show they put on in Cambridge. Today's show was completely sold out, and I'm sure they're settling in for a nice, long run!

[RUkiddingme]

Posted: 5/6/13 at 1:58am

Tony voters are notified when a nominee is out and rescheduled.
Shame that don't show the same respect to customers paying full prices.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 5/6/13 at 2:02am

When Stephanie went on mid-show, did the swing swing in to cover Stephanie's track? Anyone know?

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 5/6/13 at 2:06am

RUkiddingme, that's live theatre for you. And that's why there are understudies. The show must go on and people have to do their jobs. It may be disappointing, but that's how it is. It makes sense to notify Tony voters and let them reschedule. They're just fulfilling their responsibility to see the nominated performances and aspects.

[broadway guy]

Posted: 5/6/13 at 8:12am

"I'll be surprised if Miller wins, even if she returns in good shape at the start of the week. It's not as if she got raves. There's lots of affection for Osnes, who was well reviewed, and her show. "

But Patina has the much more challenging role. Putting The LP up against Cinderella is pretty laughable. It's like putting Evita up against Belle.....

Patina being out just proves how challenging of a role this is and I think the voters will see that. IMO, Patina still has her tony in the bag.

[PJPan]

Posted: 5/6/13 at 9:10am

Saw Stephanie Pope in the matinee yesterday, and I have to say I thought that she was fantastic (especially after hearing how little rehearsal she had!)

I wish she had been a bit more harsh when she called for everything to be taken down, but overall I think she did some really interesting work.