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

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/30/05 at 12:48pm

Thank you. But there is a CHICAGO forum out there with people who have seen the show 60+ times. And have seen TONS and TONS of Roxies.

And most will agree Melanie was one of the worst. CJR couldn't stand her in the role, and she has seen tons and tons of other Roxies.
And I would trust their opinion over Brantley's.

It's not just people on this board who saw the show once.

They had to dumb down the moves so much for her.

Updated On: 8/30/05 at 12:48 PM

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 8/30/05 at 12:51pm

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

[Gothampc]

Posted: 8/30/05 at 1:06pm

Marshall's choreography was just adequate. There was much more that could be done with it.

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/30/05 at 1:06pm

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

[NBC]

Posted: 8/30/05 at 1:09pm

"Heartbreaking" is a good description...

Rosario did hit some clunkers, but I've certainly heard worse singing on Broadway. Now, Renee Elise Goldsberry...she needs to be in the Dreamgirls movie. As does Norm Lewis...

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 8/30/05 at 4:23pm

Mandy Gonzales would be FIERCE as Julia.

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 8/30/05 at 4:36pm

Brantley certainly does have something to say...he is reacting against Broadway's technical superiority complex. I.E. The highest belting, the longest notes, the most riffs, etc etc etc.

Brantly believes there are a never-ending line of people who can belt high, do a thousand turns, kick their legs behind their ears, and sing above high C. And, he is right.

What there are NOT a lot of are people who can't be replaced. People who OWN a role with their own uniqueness, and not their ability to be technically good.

In fact, a star's quality is not their ability to be technically good, or even artistically good, but their ability to be human.

And on that note, I believe Brantley is right -- we need less technical superiority, and more humanity.