"Suddenly, Seymour" riffing

[Joshua488]

"Suddenly, Seymour" riffing#0

Posted: 5/21/06 at 8:20pm

In the Broadway production of Little Shop of Horrors, was Audrey's riffing during the final chorus of "Suddenly, Seymour" Kerry Butler's idea? I saw the production when Jessica-Snow Wilson replaced her and Jessica-Snow sang the song as written and I've never heard an Audrey sing the song other than how it was written. Why did Kerry Butler (or whoever) feel it was necessary? I don't think it's bad; I actually kind of like it, but I'm just wondering why it happened in the first place. It doesn't necessarily make the song any better.
Updated On: 5/21/06 at 08:20 PM

[munkustrap178]

re: 'Suddenly, Seymour' riffing#1

Posted: 5/21/06 at 8:21pm

Um.

As in any show with any song with any performer, it's generally up to them.

It's like, "Why do some Elphabas sing on key, while others just wail off-key?"

"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy." -Charlie Manson

[Joshua488]

re: 'Suddenly, Seymour' riffing#2

Posted: 5/21/06 at 8:23pm

Well, I understand that, but I just don't understand why Kerry Butler thought it should be done and, also, why the musical director allowed it. I didn't know if it was a character choice or if Kerry just wanted to get "soulful."

[munkustrap178]

re: 'Suddenly, Seymour' riffing#3

Posted: 5/21/06 at 8:25pm

Well, you're forgetting. That production was helmed by the extremely incapable Jerry Zaks. It didn't sound bad - in fact, I don't 100% even know what "riffing" you're talking about. Why the musical director allowed it? Well, and I'm just taking a stab in the dark here, I suppose he thought it sounded GOOD. Why else would they have allowed it?

Instead of saying "Who allowed Kerry Butler to riff", why don't we examine why she was cast to begin with.

"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy." -Charlie Manson

[Elphaba]

re: 'Suddenly, Seymour' riffing#4

Posted: 5/21/06 at 8:26pm

some things we just never may learn why.....but

when you take the pebble from my hand, then you may go.......

It is ridiculous to set a detective story in New York City. New York City is itself a detective story... AGATHA CHRISTIE, Life magazine, May 14, 1956

[Joshua488]

re: 'Suddenly, Seymour' riffing#5

Posted: 5/21/06 at 8:27pm

This is true.

NEW QUESTION.

Why was Kerry Butler in Little Shop of Horrors?

[catstagestud]

re: 'Suddenly, Seymour' riffing#6

Posted: 5/21/06 at 8:30pm

Because for some reason (I don't know why, anyone on here know) Alice Ripley was done after the workshop in CA...would've loved to see her do the role. And after Ripley was out they felt Butler'd be the best...was she? Probably not but whatever, what's done is done...bad casting decisions are made on B'way all the time and we get over it with time.

Cheers,

Christopher

www.christopherviolett.com

[munkustrap178]

re: 'Suddenly, Seymour' riffing#7

Posted: 5/21/06 at 8:31pm

I believe the workshop was in Florida.

"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy." -Charlie Manson

[GirlforTartaglia]

re: 'Suddenly, Seymour' riffing#8

Posted: 5/21/06 at 8:36pm

Aww I liked her in it..
I actually really liked that show - maybe it's because I was obsessed with LSOH at the time, but I thought it was uuber cute :)

And the other thing about the Phantom Lady was, Bert, she realized, in the city that never sleeps... What did she realize, Kitten? That all the songs she'd listened to, all the love songs, that they were only songs. What's wrong with that? Nothing, if you don't believe in them. But she did, you see. She believed in enchanted evenings, and she believed that a small cloud passed overhead and cried down on a flower bed, and she even believed there was breakfast to be had... Where? On Pluto. The mysterious, icy wastes of Pluto.

[All_For_Laura]

re: 'Suddenly, Seymour' riffing#9

Posted: 5/21/06 at 8:38pm

I would have given anything to have seen Alice in LSOH! She is amazing!

...What happened next, was stranger still, a woman breathless and afraid, appeared out of the night, completely dressed in white. She had a secret she would tell, of one who had mistreated her. Her face and frightened gaze, my mind cannot erase...But then she ran from view. She looked so much like you...

[munkustrap178]

re: 'Suddenly, Seymour' riffing#10

Posted: 5/21/06 at 8:39pm

I enjoyed the show too. It wasn't bad, just nothing great - and I hated Kerry Butler in it.

"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy." -Charlie Manson

[SallyBrown]

re: 'Suddenly, Seymour' riffing#11

Posted: 5/21/06 at 8:44pm

I actually don't like Kerry Butler at all. I used to LOVE her and I love the whole concept of character voices, but after a while she was just too much. When I picked up Little Shop of Horrors CD I couldn't even listen to her. I think I'm one of the few who really don't have a taste for her, I haven't met anyone to date who shares my views.

"It's a great feeling of power to be naked in front of people. We're happy to watch actual incredible graphic violence and gore, but as soon as somebody's naked it seems like the public goes a bit bananas about the whole thing."

[catstagestud]

re: 'Suddenly, Seymour' riffing#12

Posted: 5/21/06 at 8:45pm

Thanks Munk!

Cheers,

Christopher

www.christopherviolett.com

[Scottie310]

re: 'Suddenly, Seymour' riffing#13

Posted: 5/21/06 at 8:59pm

I personally hate her riffing in that song. It makes her sound really off key and just bad. I don't understand why she got that part or why Alice Ripley was replaced (she would of been amazing)

[Yankeefan007]

re: 'Suddenly, Seymour' riffing#14

Posted: 5/21/06 at 9:05pm

After the Florida tryout, directed by Connie Grappo and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall, the entire cast was scrapped, except for Hunter Foster, who they retained. The show was NOT supposed to come to Broadway and had the marquee painted over in black.

The original cast included Alice Ripley (as Audrey), Billy Porter (as the voice of Audrey II), Reg Rogers (as dentist-sadist Orin), Lee Wilkof (as Mr. Mushnik), Dioni Michelle Collins (as Crystal), Haneefah Wood (as Ronnette) and Moeisha McGill (as Chiffon). Robert Stack was the opening narrator.

[acrocksyo]

re: 'Suddenly, Seymour' riffing#15

Posted: 5/21/06 at 9:08pm

I think that the reason Alice Ripley was replaced was because she didn't have good stage chemistry with Hunter Foster, and she wasn't well received in the FL out of town tryout. Kerry Butler did an amazing job as Audrey. Menken songs fit her range amazingly. But I thought that the woman who played Audrey on tour did a better job than Kerry, and for the life of me I cannot remember her name!

But I think the riffing was an homage to Ellen Green's soulful take on the song, because it's at a point in the show when Audry stops being meek and starts taking charge of her life. And in the original Ellen did the weird deep belt thing, and Kerry's riffing could have just been her soulful side coming out.

Just a thought.

http://theaterfag.blogspot.com/ Reviews and the like

[thejcm]

re: 'Suddenly, Seymour' riffing#16

Posted: 5/21/06 at 9:15pm

Tari Kelly was the woman on tour and she was electric. Absolutely my favorite Audrey after Ellen, but I think that goes for anyone.

"Who says you can't bend over backwards and eat bugs if you want to? I guess the bugs would probably say you can't do that that, but assuming that they are willing and consenting bugs, then there's no problem. Let's wig out eating bugs." -RuPaul

[acrocksyo]

re: 'Suddenly, Seymour' riffing#17

Posted: 5/21/06 at 9:19pm

Thank you thejcm! She was amazing! Her voice during "Somewhere That's Green" was so smooth and amazing!

http://theaterfag.blogspot.com/ Reviews and the like

[suddenlyseymour]

re: 'Suddenly, Seymour' riffing#18

Posted: 5/21/06 at 10:32pm

well I loved Kerry as Audrey and I know she took a lot of criticism for it. Ellen Greene is a legend and there was no way Kerry was gonna live up to Ellen, but I think Kerry was fantastic. I personally love what Kerry does with the song. I've heard nothing but great things about Tari Kelly too and I would've looved to see her on tour. I saw Liz Pearce who reminded me a lot of Ellen, she was very very good =) Her "Suddenly Seymour" kicked ass

[RentBoy86]

re: 'Suddenly, Seymour' riffing#19

Posted: 5/22/06 at 12:03am

Her voice is okay, but its no nasel sometimes. And its sometimes just too loud and nasel and too in your face sounding. If you listen to "Any Day" on the NEO CD, her riffing and belting is just too much. I use to love her. In fact, she sounds great on Bat Boy, but in Hairspray, I didn't think she did enough belting. I felt like the Penny on the tour is way better.

[Act4ever]

re: 'Suddenly, Seymour' riffing#20

Posted: 5/22/06 at 12:16am

From someone who saw the show in Florida I can honestly say that the show was in good shape... but not near Broadway shape. It was obviously apparent in the direction because it was choices that were made that were bad. More specifically Alice Ripley's character choices... however, those could have and should have been changed by the director (the voice she chose to use for Audrey was grating) --- the "Ronette's" were outstanding, Billy Porter was fine, and Reg Rogers was kinda goofy... It was apparent that the show was slipping from the directors hands

[SweeneyPhanatic]

re: 'Suddenly, Seymour' riffing#21

Posted: 5/22/06 at 12:40am

"The original cast included Alice Ripley (as Audrey), Billy Porter (as the voice of Audrey II), Reg Rogers (as dentist-sadist Orin), Lee Wilkof (as Mr. Mushnik), Dioni Michelle Collins (as Crystal), Haneefah Wood (as Ronnette) and Moeisha McGill (as Chiffon). Robert Stack was the opening narrator."

Lee Wilkof? Wasn't he involved with the original Off-B'way production? I know I've seen his name with the show before.

-- SDG

[Act4ever]

re: 'Suddenly, Seymour' riffing#22

Posted: 5/22/06 at 12:52am

Yeah -- he originated the role of Seymore... but he played Musnick in this production... he wasn't all that great either (and he's married to who WAS the director)