Raven-Symone out today- Page 4

[egghumor]

Posted: 4/7/12 at 11:21am

I concur with best12bars as his comments echo those I made earlier in the thread. Being billed above the title carries enormous pressures and responsibilities -- to producers, audiences, and fellow actors. Some people are simply not equipped for the job, because it not only requires tremendous talent, but grounded technique and daily discipline.



Updated On: 4/7/12 at 11:21 AM

[Visceral_Fella]

Posted: 4/7/12 at 11:29am

At least they're getting to see Rashidra instead of the other understudy, now that would just be cruel. That would be one of the only times I'd demand a refund.

Rashidra and Kimberly used to split the role. I wonder if they made Rashidra first cover because Kimberly is just a no, or if they're prepping Rashidra for the tour.

[egnarotsew]

Posted: 4/7/12 at 11:31am

Shangela as Deloris would be sick'ning.

[best12bars]

Posted: 4/7/12 at 11:33am

A lot of sacrifices need to be made when you carry a show as the star or headliner. I know many of you have read Patti LuPone's book or various print interviews with her. During most of her runs, she sleeps as much as possible (all day usually) and doesn't talk to anyone unless she absolutely has to. That's a lot of months without a normal dinner conversation or a sporting event or a relaxing party. I know she puts in public appearances and chats on talk shoes and interviews. That's "required speaking." But other than that, she's silent.

Not everybody has to go to that extreme, and not everybody gets to play Evita on Broadway either. Different roles require different sacrifices. Raven may have spent years on sitcoms (which also requires stamina), but she basically has to be well or "appear well" only while the camera roles, which is usually one day per week, with two shows (one is a taped dress rehearsal, used for backup). She has to be "on" for those moments, otherwise she can sniffle and cough and sit down if she needs to. You can't do that on Broadway. There's no "time out," once the curtain goes up. There isn't one "show day" per week, either. While the schedule can be exhausting, it isn't' the same thing.

[SondheimFan5]

Posted: 4/7/12 at 12:37pm

I heard they were bringing in Christopher Seiber to replace her.

[Marlothom]

Posted: 4/7/12 at 12:46pm

This is disappointing - while I really enjoyed her opening night, I could tell she was pushing it and wondered if she would be able to sustain. As I mentioned, she (and the show) lost steam in Act 2 with the title song being a bit of a miss. I hope she is taking time to re-think her pacing and is back better than ever.

It's a shame this thread about her absence is longer than the one about her performance.

[DaveyG]

Posted: 4/7/12 at 1:33pm

Just walked by the theatre and Raven is out again for today's matinee. This is not a good sign.

Does anyone know how many performances she's actually done?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/7/12 at 1:34pm

Not enough folks got to see her actually perform!

I would doubt she has enough experience with live performing to personally work on her pacing.

And of course, there is always the chance that she's just sick as a dog, and her voice has nothing to do with it.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 4/7/12 at 7:10pm

Rashidra's on again this evening.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/7/12 at 7:20pm

Ten dollars says she'll never go back on.

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/7/12 at 7:32pm

^ Really? It's not like she was a disaster.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/7/12 at 7:34pm

I didn't say she was. But this isn't good for all her fans. I mean, she's a huge role model.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/7/12 at 7:41pm

Kristen Lee Kelly is Love, Janis!

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/7/12 at 7:45pm

Don't tell Orfeh.

[SondheimFan5]

Posted: 4/7/12 at 8:38pm

She may be good...she may be amazing... but without experience she may not have the stamina to do 8 shows a week and she is realizing that now (after 2-3 weeks of rehearsing and then a week or so of performances). Theatre is the most honorable of performance mediums for a reason - it's tough! (Though I'm preachin to the choir here).

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 4/7/12 at 8:45pm

I am not sure I agree that theatre is the most honorable of performance mediums.

[Jane2]

Posted: 4/7/12 at 9:01pm

What medium would you say IS, Namo?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/7/12 at 9:12pm

Only Pamela Anderson knows.

[Kalimba]

Posted: 4/7/12 at 9:17pm

I'm kind of with Jordan on this one. It wouldn't surprise me if she pulls a "Jeffrey Tambor" and doesn't return because it was a lot more than she thought it would be.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/7/12 at 9:24pm

Or is she looking for a doctor to say it's medical so she can pull a Jeremy Piven?

(I'm not saying that I think that is what is ACTUALLY going on, just being silly.)

[adamgreer]

Posted: 4/7/12 at 9:35pm

Maybe she ate one of 'Tasia's tuna sandwiches.

[DaveyG]

Posted: 4/7/12 at 9:42pm

It's a huge role. Kind of unrealistic for someone with no training/experience in musical theatre to be able to have the stamina to get through an extended run without some sort of issue. You just don't expect it to happen in the second week. Wonder what's going on behind the scenes...Producers must not be very happy.

[chrisampm2]

Posted: 4/7/12 at 9:43pm

Out of four pages of this thread it seems one person has expressed any concern for her health. Most posts have speculated she's choosing not to perform, rather than being too ill to do so. Yes, a week is a long time to be out but these kinds of posts were here from day one. Tambor left La Cage mostly because he wasn't connecting with the material. From almost all reports Raven-Symone was doing very well.

It's possible there are other reasons than health. This could be similar to what happened w Ms Randolph at Ghost, who despite calls here for her to be replaced, seems to have ridden out her sickness to perform with more regularity and positive feedback.
And last I checked, Mr Young hasn't been replaced (at least not yet) at Superstar despite a lot of folk here wishing or expecting that to be the case.

The vacuum created by a performer's absence leaves lots of room for questions, sure, but there seems to be an immediate jump to thinking the worst about a performer's character and talent that betrays a distinct lack of empathy.


Updated On: 4/7/12 at 09:43 PM

[Patti LuPone FANatic]

Posted: 4/7/12 at 9:46pm

Kalimba, before I saw your post...I was thinking of Jeffrey Tambor. Good gosh...I hope that's not the case with the newest Deloris. from RC in Austin, Texas

[Kalimba]

Posted: 4/7/12 at 9:51pm

Chrisampm2, you're absolutely right. I was very pleased that Raven was being very well received and was actually looking forward to seeing her at one point. My speculation is just that.