#1
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.
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.
Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson
Just kidding
