Rath Finally Sees The Monk as Mama.
Rath Finally Sees The Monk as Mama.
#0Rath Finally Sees The Monk as Mama.
Posted: 10/27/05 at 11:43pm
Just got back from CHICAGO (and bumped into Tim Rice backstage!).
Still a brilliant show - it's no secret that Kander and Ebb are geniuses in my book, and since this is the only staging I've seen, I do love it. I first saw this production in '97 or '98 and this was my second visit.
I was impressed with Brooke Shields - she works her tail off and though she's not a technically proficient dancer, she sure as hell has all the other physicalities down and that's a huge part of Roxie. And her voice is actually quite pleasant.
Having seen Ziemba and Neuwirth, my standard for the dancing of this show is obviously very high, and Luba and Brooke just don't cut it there. Luba has a nice voice, and is an adequate dancer.
Debra Monk did not disappoint as Mama - she looks fabulous in her red wig, is funny and earthy and she was fantastic with the BC/EFA curtain speech. It seemed completely improv-ed (and I'm very skeptical of that sort of thing, so if I thought it was, it must have been quite well done!...) but she told me they had written it. Debra asking Brooke if she had a loincloth from the Blue Lagoon that they could auction was pretty priceless. Debra doesn't get much of a chance to show off her voice, Mama isn't exactly a range-y role vocally, but at least during Class she gets to show off some head voice, and it was quite lovely.
Clark Benjamin is a good actor, but vocally, not quite so impressive. The voice is deep, yes, but not technically strong.
The ensemble is sheer perfection.
#1re: Rath Finally Sees The Monk as Mama.
Posted: 10/28/05 at 10:03ama little bump for the daytime crowd.
bunchamuncha
Leading Actor Joined: 3/7/05
#2re: Rath Finally Sees The Monk as Mama.
Posted: 10/28/05 at 11:20am
Any idea if they're going to record a new cast recording with Brooke? I thought that was a standard in her contract..
I'd love to see Debra Monk do this, but I can't, so thx for the review Rath!
#3re: Rath Finally Sees The Monk as Mama.
Posted: 10/28/05 at 11:21ambuncha, Monk proves once again that you don't have to be a size 6 to be sexy!
#4re: Rath Finally Sees The Monk as Mama.
Posted: 10/28/05 at 11:35amLet's also not forget how sexy she was in STEEL PIER too. I've said it once and I'll say it again, she was the only good thing about that show in my book!
#5re: Rath Finally Sees The Monk as Mama.
Posted: 10/28/05 at 11:36amI disagree. Not that she wasn't sexy, but there were some other great performances in STEEL PIER.
#6re: Rath Finally Sees The Monk as Mama.
Posted: 10/28/05 at 11:38amI doubt they'll record it. They didn't record her in Cabaret.
#7re: Rath Finally Sees The Monk as Mama.
Posted: 10/28/05 at 12:28pmRath -- when I read the title of the thread I thought you were referring to our BWW poster Munkustrap...I was puzzled and now feel like a goof ball!
#8re: Rath Finally Sees The Monk as Mama.
Posted: 10/28/05 at 12:37pmRath -- Deb is ALWAYS a joy to see. I really should go back while she's in, even though I've seen Chicago 3 times. Did you get a chance to see her in "Oil City Symphony" back in the late 80's? If not, it was SUCH a treat to see her playing the drums in a prom gown with 1 pump and 1 sneaker to play the bass drum. The fact that she was co-author of that musical truly shows you what a Quintuple threat this woman is.
#9re: Rath Finally Sees The Monk as Mama.
Posted: 10/28/05 at 1:33pm
I believe I moved to NYC after OIL CITY SYMPHONY. But I have seen enough of her to realize she can do pretty much anything!
She's definitely worth another trip to CHICAGO, Hanna.
DAME
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/15/04
#10re: Rath Finally Sees The Monk as Mama.
Posted: 10/28/05 at 1:38pmHow is it that you have come to know her?
#11re: Rath Finally Sees The Monk as Mama.
Posted: 10/28/05 at 1:46pmWe have a mutual friend, Dame, so I was able to meet her last night for the first time.
#12re: Rath Finally Sees The Monk as Mama.
Posted: 10/28/05 at 2:03pmBecause of my involvement with the "Oil City" crew, I've spoken to her several times and been to a party that she was attending. I even spoke to her on the phone when I was doing "Radio Gals" in NC and she's SUCH an angel. After she got her Tony for "Redwood Curtain," I saw her on the subway and I congratulated her.
#13re: Rath Finally Sees The Monk as Mama.
Posted: 10/28/05 at 2:11pm
She is very nice. I left her a note yesterday afternoon when I picked up my ticket saying that I was coming and that I was so and so's friend, and left my phone #, not knowing if anything would come of it, and at 5:30 she phoned and asked me to come backstage after the performance.
DAME
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/15/04
#14re: Rath Finally Sees The Monk as Mama.
Posted: 10/28/05 at 2:14pm
I am going to drop her a note next time I am in town and say I am a friend of yours. 
Just kidding
#15re: Rath Finally Sees The Monk as Mama.
Posted: 10/28/05 at 2:14pmLOL.
DAME
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/15/04
#16re: Rath Finally Sees The Monk as Mama.
Posted: 10/28/05 at 2:19pmI do think she is terrific and I do know her NYC VO agent very well. However.. se probaly wont be in the show anymore when I finnaly get into town and I don't know about seeing Chicago again for the 14th ( yes 14th) time.
#17re: Rath Finally Sees The Monk as Mama.
Posted: 10/28/05 at 2:22pmShe's in through December.
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#18re: Rath Finally Sees The Monk as Mama.
Posted: 10/28/05 at 2:43pmwhat are they selling for the BCEFA drive, and how much is everything?
#19re: Rath Finally Sees The Monk as Mama.
Posted: 10/28/05 at 2:47pm
Last night Debra auctioned off the earrings Brooke was wearing ("Brooke Shields's DNA!" was how she sold them) and a backstage tour with a picture with Brooke, the package went for $500.
Otherwise, they're selling the Carols for a Cure CD and signed window-cards.
Yankeefan007
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
#20re: Rath Finally Sees The Monk as Mama.
Posted: 10/28/05 at 2:50pmhow much are the cds and window cards?
#21re: Rath Finally Sees The Monk as Mama.
Posted: 10/28/05 at 2:51pmThey didn't announce that.
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