Riedel: Chenoweth Picks PROMISES, PROMISES Over MINSKY'S — Page 3

LOL, MB.

As for that recent clip of Jill, yeah, she sounds pretty much the same, and her voice would NEVER go over today with a Broadway audience. She'd be booed of the stage or raked over the coals in reviews. Or both. That's a "give me my money back" voice.

Not that I agree with this "American Idol" philosophy at all, but she's not really a good singer honestly, even if she's right for the part.

Her voice actually grew on me after repeated listenings of the OBCR, and after I saw photos of her in the original production. I saw the vulnerability in her eyes and expressions. And I understood the appeal.

But on a first impression? Ouch!

EDIT: And for what it's worth, Orbach is PAINFULLY flat, like a full step off, on some of the held notes on the recordings.

Different priorities back then. We want vocal gymnasts now. Not actors.

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Updated On: 10/14/09 at 12:08 PM

Here are some performance clips of Kerry O'Malley and Martin Short in the 1997 ENCORES! Concert staging of PROMISES PROMISES.
Kerry O'Malley and Martin Short in PROMISES, PROMISES

Christine Baranski was GREAT as Marge MacDougall!

I love O'Hara's voice! It's unique, memorable and so full of emotion and character. I really like Chenoweth, but I just think she and Hayes are both really wrong for these particular characters, especially opposite each other. I love the idea of Lohan, but it does seem to be a rather hopeless endeavor. But if they go with Chenoweth, I think TR Knight opposite her would provide a bit more balance.

Can Kelly Clarkson act yet?

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Maybe because in addition to her crappy vocals, Gina isn't charming or right for the character?

Haven't seen it. Won't see it. Don't know.

WOW, is Gina really that bad of a singer???



The audiences today also love stars. Although I use that word loosely with Gershon. They can be a little more forgiving, if it's someone they know from TV or movies.

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Updated On: 10/14/09 at 01:02 PM

And blaxx, Chenoweth's role isn't in Turkey Lurkey Time.

I know , love. What would crush me is if Ashford has a new choreography for it.

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Of course he is going to do new choreography for it. In all honesty, why wouldn't he?

oh screw chenoweth...just give me 2 hours worth of turkey lurkey time.

But it's so good! And I can almost guarantee he can't do better than the original. He could always leave it as a tribute.

I'm completely desperate.

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Well, then he'd better do his own thing, and not a bizarre half-Bennett, half-not thing. That would be worse, I think.

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I don't know ... Jerry Mitchell did a "watered down" version of the Bennett choreography for the kids doing Turkey Lurkey in "Camp." I thought that worked really well. It was way more Bennett than Mitchell, but still not the same as the original.

I'm hoping for some similar nod. Probably won't happen though.

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It'd be interesting to see what Ashford does with it as PROMISES is a very stylized show...even the scene changes and minor characters were choreographed.

There's been so many rumors about Johansson coming to Broadway, is she even interested in doing stage work? I know she was rumored for SOUTH PACIFIC and now PROMISES, PROMISES, and I want to say she was rumored for another project at some point, perhaps SPEED-THE-PLOW?
Either way, I don't know that she would have been great for the part, but at least age-wise she would have fit the show a lot better than Chenoweth. I'm also afraid about the Chenoweth-Hayes pairing, I worry that Ashford might not be able to keep them from turning back to their personas.

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