TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA (Delacorte) -- Reviews — Page 2

LJay,

With respect to CJ2, a lot of people -- people I respect -- people like Hal Prince and Ann Reinking thought Griffith brought a pulverized devestation to the role that, whatever her short comings as a singer and dancer, made her Roxie heartbreaking.

Brantley and apparently most of the other critics agreed. She made the role work for her.

Updated On: 8/30/05 at 12:51 PM

What's odd about Griffith's Great White Way bow is how often she seems uncertain about what to do with those block-long gams of hers. For much of the long-running tuner's first act, she shuffles awkwardly from one foot to the other like a wallflower at the prom. She certainly doesn't throw herself into the dance routines, which seem to have been toned down for her from those that Bob Fosse originally tailored like a body suit for Gwen Verdon. (These were later reworked by Ann Reinking for herself). If in fact they have been toned down severely for Griffith, this is obviously a risky precedent to set. - TheatreMania

(While they said she had some moments in the show that were good, they were far from raving over her.)

Although Melanie isn't the best of the dozen or so Roxie Harts I've ever seen - actually, she's the worst, but after all, someone had to be - the show is still one of the best musicals on Broadway. Unless you're a diehard Griffith fan, don't fret if you can't get in. - Clive Barnes

Mandy Gonzales would be FIERCE as Julia.