Q & A: 11/6/03 - broadway.com Superior Replacements

[TEACHEROFTHEATER]

Posted: 11/6/03 at 3:14pm

http://www.broadway.com/template_1.asp?CI=32038&CT=8

Which replacement or revival performer is superior to the original?


hmmmmmmmmmmm.......

there are not a great many instances where I actually saw an original and a replacement that I can think of.but there are a few I can recall...

I saw Verdon and Reinking as Roxie in Chicago and actually recall them being rather similar. However, there was certainly that aura of "great big star" and a special excitement surrounding that original Chicago cast....but I would not say Reinking was superior....however..

in A Chorus Line....I loved Donna McCechknie as Cassie but for me, Ann Reinking brought A Chorus Line to bewitching new heights when she assumed the role...

I loved both Channing and Pearl Bailey in Hello Dolly! Pearl Bailey was not superior than Channing but was certainly magical in her own fashion.

Patti Karr was not superior to Michelle Lee in Seesaw. Nor was Tony Robert superior to Jerry Orbach who was stupendous in Promises, Promises.

There have been many fine Tevyes but no one I have seen has ever reached the dizzy heights reached by Zero Mostel in Fiddler on the Roof.

I liked Dom DeLuise better in Last of the Red Hot Lovers than James Coco.

I liked Alaina Reed more in the original Chicago than Mary Mccarthy, but I don't know if I would say she was superior...

hmmm this is such a kewl topic:)

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 11/6/03 at 4:48pm

I think Kathy Brier is superior to Marisssa Jaret Winokur. Although I haven't seen Winokur, I've seen a countless amount of clips and have listened to tthe cast recoridng numerous times, and I find that Kathy sings a lot better, and brings something new to the role.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 11/6/03 at 7:08pm

I saw both Gwen Verdon and Liza Minnelli in CHICAGO. Liza was superior to Gwen vocally, but not as a dancer.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 11/6/03 at 7:28pm

What about the Into the Woods original cast and revival? Granted, I've only seen the video of the OBC Into the Woods, but I saw the revival twice on Broadway. I liked Adam Wylie better than the original Jack, only because he seemed younger and more innocent...and the revival Princes and Stepsisters were hilarious. Other than that I'm for the original.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 11/6/03 at 7:29pm

Oh - and I absolutely loved Laura Benanti and Kerry O'Malley. I think I like Laura Benanti more than the original (Kim something...blanking on the name..) but I'm kind of leaning towards Joanna Gleason for the better Baker's Wife.

[dotmarie]

Posted: 11/6/03 at 8:22pm

I loved Laura and Kerry too. They played their roles brilliantly without copying their predecessors (who were also great). I give Kerry a lot of credit as many people seemed to be on her back because she "wasn't Joanna Gleason."

SparkleLStar, I think Kim Crosby is the name you're looking for. :)

[TEACHEROFTHEATER]

Posted: 11/7/03 at 11:04am

I recall many folks thought Reba McIntyre superior to Bernadette in the Annie Get your Gun revival, no?

[robbiej]

Posted: 11/7/03 at 11:08am

Oh Sparkle, my Sparkle!

I cannot agree about Laura Benanti v. Kim Crosby. I felt Laura did shine in the revival because she was more interesting than the rest of that cast. But Ms. Crosby simply WAS Cinderella.

In my opinion, of course.

As for better than the originals...I did not see the original CABARET (I was a mere itch in my daddy's pants), but after hearing the cast album, I would venture to guess that Natasha Richardson was infinitely better.

Hers still remains the best performance I've ever seen.

[BroadwayPhil]

Posted: 11/7/03 at 11:54am

Robert Even over David Hasselhouf (Barf) in the last days of Jekel and Hyde. I got the video, eech !!

[FFARLS]

Posted: 11/7/03 at 12:55pm

I know this is a more recent replacement, but Felicia Finley as Amneris in Aida I think is the best casting decision in a while!! She better do a dream concert if they ever have one!! Also, Liz Callaway as Grizabella, she was an amazing choice!!

[sheekala]

Posted: 11/7/03 at 1:19pm

I second that on Felicia, she's a talent, and she was a wonderful EVITA, while the overall production kind of left me cold, she was very powerful and her notes on "New Argentina", yikes!

[tpdc]

Posted: 11/7/03 at 3:49pm

Great question.

SWEENEY TODD: I saw Lansbury at the final preview and she was breathtaking. I saw Dorothy Loudon a year later. Loudon was even better, in my opinion. Her Lovett was a sad, desperate, lonely woman so she was more sympathetic than Lansbury's original. It's interesting that all the women I've seen in the role since Loudon, including Lansbury in the tour/video, have played Lovett closer to Loudon's approach than what Lansbury did at first.

GRAND HOTEL: I found Brent Barrett much stronger overall in the role than David Carroll. Although, Carroll singing Love Can't Happen is one of the most thrilling showstoppers I've ever seen. I thought Jane Krakowski was fine but liked DeeLee Lively even more.

FOSSE: I liked Valarie Pettiford but Reva Rice brought a playful naughty quality to the numbers that made them more exciting.

KISS OF THE SPIDERWOMAN: Anthony Crivello was fine as Valentin but I thought John Dossett was more credible, exciting and sexy in the role.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 11/7/03 at 4:08pm

Maureen Moore replacing Randi Graff as Fantine in Les Miz. I liked Maureen's performance much, much better.

There is another show I would like to mention, but I'm afraid what it will start. These particular performers were debated over a year ago and things got ugly.

I'll leave it at that.

[WillParker]

Posted: 11/7/03 at 4:10pm

i wasn't here a year ago...do tell!!