THE QUEEN OF VERSAILLES with Kristin Chenowith & F. Murray Abraham to open at St. James in November — Page 7

Well, I'll be seeing this twice now for sure. I want to see Kristin, and I adore Sherie. It will be fun to compare their performances.

I do worry about the sight lines for this... Michael Arden has proven he either does not understand or care about sight lines with both Parade and MHE, and the St James has notoriously bad sight lines to begin with.

Updated On: 8/22/25 at 12:44 PM

Snake Skin said: "Absolute nonsense. Kristin is the queen"

Of what?

Botox?

I do agree with who ever pointed out that they are 2 very different style vocalists so it will be interesting to hear the score. 

No, she's amazing and hilarious. I just think it's interesting that people seem to have the same or even more enthusiasm for her standby, who has a completely different style but is equally brilliant.

binau said: "Maybe we’re just being snarky but I assume no one is trying to delegitimise Kristin’s status? Come on she has it all, the voice, the charm, the look, she is iconic."

People who were here long before me can probably speak more to it but I've noticed Kristin is not a particularly beloved figure around here lol. The reverence that seems to permeate many people's talk about Idina is very much not there for Cheno. Which makes sense in a way. Idina is much more rooted in the trends of the last 30 years in musical theatre and there's a general disregard these days for the kind of work Cheno does. 

Still, nothing against Sherie I wish she would work more and "Up The Ladder Through The Roof" was in my top five most played songs in 2021, but we have not wanted for screlting blonde sopranos in her absence. Even if she can act circles around basically all of the ones that came after her. Even if Versailles sucks it's always exciting to me to have something vocally different on stage these days. 

binau said: "Maybe we’re just being snarky but I assume no one is trying to delegitimise Kristin’s status? Come on she has it all, the voice, the charm, the look, she is iconic."


She’s extremely talented, but her public persona can be incredibly grating.

Sherie is like the Isabelle Huppert of musical theatre. Perhaps not known by a broader audience but worshipped by those who know and love her. She has a cult following because of the way her voice and humor touch the soul.

A clip of Sherie doing Summer In Ohio just came down my timeline and I’d forgotten just how classical her belt can often be. So I guess my earlier fears are assuaged. 
 

I’ve asked this before but does anyone have inside tea on why Sherie works so little? Just choice? Independently wealthy? I have to imagine the continued adoration of L5Y’s has led to at least some offers.

Funny in a way that Pascal has a more active career than his Aida co-stars (seemingly by choice for both) as I feel like there was less of a mold for him than there was for them. 

She gave lackluster performances in The Little Mermaid and Women on the Verge.  She’s not a great actress and will just be small potatoes compared to Kristin.  Chenoweth is a real actress, Scott ain’t it. 

African Queen2 said: "She gave lackluster performances in The Little Mermaid and Women on the Verge. She’s not a great actress and will just be small potatoes compared to Kristin. Chenoweth is a real actress, Scott ain’t it."

Hmm, I wouldn’t call either of them not “real actresses” but I think if I was concerned about anyone’s acting it’s Cheno. Like I said above, her on Broadway always makes me happy because legit soprano makes me happy. But on the acting side there is always a worry with her that I’m just going to be watching Cheno. Which is fun! And not necessarily a sign of bad acting. Still, Kristin is often performing with a capital P. Even in Scoundrels, Sherie is not winking at the audience. Which can come across more grounded for most people. 

Well we will just have to wait and see, won’t we.  But if Chenoweth is amazing in this show, and Sherrie Rene Scott isn’t, you will all just say “it wasn’t written for her.”  So there’s no winning this argument. 

I wonder if QOV is going to be the new Tammy Faye? Great performers, bad book and score?