TARZAN understudies- Page 2

[Shakespearean]

Posted: 2/23/07 at 10:10pm

Tarzan has some great understudies. I've seen the show five and a half times now and only once with the whole cast. I say five and a half because my tickets this past Wednesday night were in the last row of the Orchestra so I only saw the bottom half of the show . Josh Kobak does a fine job as Tarzan, and on both occasions that I saw him, I didn't miss Josh, he carried the role just fine. He has a strong voice and physical presence. It's a different Tarzan but he played the role to the hilt. Niki Scalera also performed well as Jane in a previous visit.

On Wednesday, I really missed Shuler, though. Horace V. Rogers is an outstanding Lead Son of Man Vocallist, and his voice is amazing, but he didn't carry the role of Kerchak well. I have asked myself over the last few days if I associate the part too much with Shuler, but the truth is, Horace lacked the physical presence and intensity that Shuler brings to the role. His acting just didn't carry the part, he seemed to do a lot of 'just walking around', and didn't impress me as an ape leader. I couldn't close my eyes and just see the part, and the role needed a real bass, Horace struck me more as a lyric baritone. I wonder why he doesn't u/s Terk.

I have seen Merle and Chester at every performance, and they continued to be simply awesome on Wednesday. Tim Jerome gave a much better performance than the one I mentioned in my last review, but Donnie Keshawarz was still kind of flat (more than the limited role suggests). It was also good to see Andy Pellick back... what I COULD see of him. This was the second time I have seen Dylan as Young Tarzan and he's really grown into the role. He is much more physical and his voice was strong and clear on Wednesday.

The ensemble seemed a little subdued, but it was also their second show of the day. I had forgotten the kids were off from school, and I won't tirade about people who bring TOO young kids to a theatre, but it was great to see the show was sold out. With the TKTS booth next to the long line to get in, there were an awful lot of shows that still had 50% seats available.

[Poppy]

Posted: 2/26/07 at 1:14am

Rob Evan will replace Schuler Hensley. His first performance will be March 28. He's not a bass but has a strong voice.

[Poppy]

Posted: 2/26/07 at 1:15am

Rob Evan will replace Schuler Hensley. His first performance will be March 28. He's not a bass but has a strong voice.

Didn't mean to post twice... Sorry about that. Updated On: 2/26/07 at 01:15 AM

[Mistress_Spouzic]

Posted: 2/26/07 at 1:58am

Really? I loved Horace as Kerchak. I always feel as if Shuler is completely handicapped by his prosthetic head piece that he cant show emotion. I particularly liked Horace in the scenes with young tarzan where he genuinely seemed conflicted, like he cared for tarzan but felt he was doing the right thing for the good of the whole by sending him away. Thats not something I ever feel with Shuler. I usually like Shuler too- but for this role, he doesnt do it for me. I wonder if hes just been doing it too long.

[Shakespearean]

Posted: 2/26/07 at 7:58pm

The prosthetic headpiece doesn't do it for me either. With no offense to the actors, they don't need it . Maybe its the looks of annoyance bordering on utter contempt for the boy from Shuler, but those eyes remind me way too much of my father . He just has an intensity, and he moves more gorilla-like than most of the others. Maybe Horace came across as too warm, in a role that is supposed to demonstrate the conflict of leadership and family? Maybe I'm reading way too much into a Disney musical, but I was raised on these stories and this show is just plain fun for me.

I'll definitely be there to see Rob Evans do the role and I'd like to see what Darrin Baker or Michael Hollick do with the role as well in Shuler's absence. Does anyone know if they are rotating the stanbby/understudies?

[steven22]

Posted: 2/26/07 at 8:31pm

i saw tarzan for the 3rd time saturday night and i saw one understudy. Horave V Rogers. not good at all. he was in for shuler hensley as kerchack. Horace did not seem to have chemistry with Merle and his voices does not seem fit for this role. Shuler does a much better job. Merle was by far the best. Josh was great as tarzan. the 2nd best was Jenn as Jane...great

the two best performers in the show are merle and jane

[steven22]

Posted: 2/25/09 at 9:36pm

bring tarzan back...