I have heard some REALLY bad Fantine's in the past (including the Australian chick on the Complete Cast Recording)
This role is different for Daphne, and to be honest I would have NO desire to see this production if she wasn't in it. I was a little miffed when I found out she was playing Fantine, because now I have to save up a crapload of money and fly to NYC to see it.
I love her and everything she does, and even if she sounds bad, she's still a joy to watch on stage. She was amazing in Rent, and I think she'll be amazing in this.
"Do you know what pledge time is, Andrew"? said the PBS Executive.
"Yes", Lloyd Webber replied. "My 50th birthday special must be one program that gets done a lot."
"No", mused the man from PBS heedlessy. "Not so much. Our Stephen Sondheim Carnegie Hall concert. That's a big one."
Spoons, forks and knives seemed suddenly to suspend their motion in horror, all around the table.