The Color Purple starring Fantasia - 8/24/07

[jayindapub]

Posted: 8/25/07 at 2:34am

Yes, you are so right Tobias! She really left me speechless because she was that amazing. She really made the character herself and I forgot I was watching "Fantasia". I was bawling like a big baby during her "I'm Here". I've actually been watching the Tony performance on repeat since I saw the show on Wednesday. Please everyone get yourself a ticket to see this woman, you will not be disappointed!

[musicman_17082]

Posted: 8/25/07 at 3:42am

Amen! Amen! Amen! Ditto! Ditto! Ditto!

Amazing is an understatement!

I saw her back in May in the show and was blown away. [And I went in with a lot of doubts...] WOW. I honestly wish I had a recording of her doing the show... I just watch the Tony clip frequently!

I showed my friend the Tony clip and she BAWLED like a baby... THREE TIMES IN A ROW!!! I'm not the crying type AT ALL but I'll admit I got about as close as you can get to tears watching Fantasia live. Just incredible.

When is she leaving?

It will be a sad day in New York. :'-(

GO SEE HER WHILE YOU CAN!!!

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 8/25/07 at 4:17am

She just didn't blow me away the way LaChanze did.

[dream on]

Posted: 8/25/07 at 8:26am

Foster - when did you see Fantasia in the role? I saw her on opening night (4/11/07) and then in May -(luckily the night Oprah and Jane Fonda were there) and the transformation was unbelievable.

Maybe you should try again with an open mind and try to forget that she is from American Idol or a "stunt cast". Also just try to feel the part and remember that Fantasia will not "copy" anyone elses singing - because I know how beautiful LaChanze's voice is.

I would love for you to try again and come back and see if you have changed your opinion.

Thanks for the great review Tobiasragg - most people who have seen Fantasia in the role feel the same way that you do.

[alfgiotir]

Posted: 8/25/07 at 10:38am

Musicman, she is leaving in January of 2008. She extended her run.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 8/25/07 at 10:56am

dream on:

I saw Fantasia in the role during press week. The fact that she was associated with American Idol doesn't mean a thing to me. I don't watch TV and I've never seen an episode of American Idol. She was just a nobody to me before I saw her in THE COLOR PURPLE.

If I had the money, I would revisit. This was my sixth time seeing THE COLOR PURPLE. I saw it three times with LaChanze, twice with Jeannette Bayardelle, and one time with Fantasia.

I adore the show. I just found her acting to be middle of the road, and the only song that was completely in her range was "I'm Here." She just didn't wow me. But by no means did I think she was terrible. I'm thrilled that her presence is bringing new people in to see this show. It's a fantastic show, and it deserves to have full audiences, and I'm well-aware that without Fantasia the show would have likely closed by now.

[Virgo]

Posted: 8/25/07 at 5:28pm

I love all the reviews and it sounds like she has improved tremendously since her first week. I've read reviews from people who saw her the first week out (the reviews were good) however, when they went back they came back with raves. I forget the guys name but he posts here and he has experienced her growth.

If you live in NY and have seen the play when she first started go back and see it again. Get in the rush line for only $25.00. Anyone should be able to afford that.

Yeah, wannabefoster had never heard of Fantasia and doesn't watch tv yet he admitted to seeing her sing "I'm here" on idol, oprah, etc. and six other times on TV (his words), plus he's sick of hearing her sing it, yet he tuned into watch her on tv which he claims not to watch. Sounds like he watches a bunch of tv, or perhaps he only watches Fantasia on tv. Whatever the case he's stretching the truth a little when he say's he "doesn't watch tv".

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 8/25/07 at 5:39pm

Honey, chill! I saw the clips of Fantasia singing "I'm Here" on YouTube. I don't even have cable in my apartment.

For heaven's sake, you haven't even seen the show and you continue to defend her performance! Shut up until you see it. We get it. You saw her on American Idol and you're obsessed with her from that. You read the reviews too. You can read. Congratulations. But I speak of MY opinion from my own personal experience seeing the show. You have not seen it, yet the fact that you continue to defend it so vehemently makes the fAnGuRL in you so embarassingly transparent, it's laughable. See the freaking show, and then we'll talk.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 5:22am

"Legally Celie"

[jimnysf]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 6:03am

For heaven's sake, you haven't even seen the show and you continue to defend her performance!

Amen to that! Virgo keeps talking about the "reviews" but has not seen the show, yet keeps on telling everyone how wonderful Fantasia is in it. It reminds me of the line in "Gypsy" where Rose says, "She reads book reviews like they were books"!

[Virgo]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 2:00pm

Oh shut up jimmy and foster. I responded to the REVIEW here after reading it. It isn't your review so shut up. Foster's just jealous because many people are giving Fantasia raves in this role (like Tobias) and he apparently hated her in the role. Well whatever foster, this isn't your review, as you can see, only one person responded to the lousy so called review you posted in May (I didn't even respond to it, so much for my "defending" her performance).

And jimmy, honey you haven't seen the show either, yet you continue to slam fantasia at every opportunity. At least I'm not slamming a person I've never seen. I see no problem with my reading and appreciating reviews of folks who've actually seen it. If I were slamming a performance I have never seen (like jimmy does) then you would have a point.

Plus, this is a RAVE review, so why would I be defending her performance? The review speaks for itself.

Now been gone you two losers y'all just want to take the shine off of Fantasia's great reviews. If you want people to respect your opinion, then respect the opinions of people who love her. You had your opportunity to review the show foster, no one wants to hear you mouth and complaints in someone else's review. We know you hate her in the role, so what.

and Foster, since you disliked her performance so much why not start your own thread to see if others who've seen it agree with you? Instead of ruining threads of people who like her performance? You appear to be trying to shove your opinions down others throats in an attempt to "change" their mind. Updated On: 8/26/07 at 02:00 PM

[jimnysf]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 2:14pm

She reads book reviews like they was books!

[jimnysf]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 2:48pm

And she is MIA again today!

http://www.talkinbroadway.com/allthatchat/d.php?id=1453115

Updated On: 8/26/07 at 02:48 PM

[musicalsFan]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 3:57pm

Jimbo,

Where were you when LaChanze missed all her performances?

Where was your OBSESSION then?
Updated On: 8/26/07 at 03:57 PM

[jimnysf]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 4:19pm

Fantasia was out again today! Seems she doesn't have the stuff for 8 shows a week. What would a real star like Ethel Merman say if she were still alive? OY!

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 5:58pm

IIt isn't your review so shut up. Foster's just jealous because many people are giving Fantasia raves in this role (like Tobias) and he apparently hated her in the role.

Boy oh boy, do you know how to blow things out of proportion. Please quote me from somewhere in which I displayed that I "apparently hated her in the role." I have never said anything close to that. My comments have been low key and constructively critical. I have never said a word displaying hatred toward her performance. I am not a hateful person, and I'm certainly not going to thrust hatred towards ones performance in a show of all silly things.

But this isn't about her performance, is it. It's not about the performance, it's about the performer, which is your problem here. I am commenting on Fantasia's performance in THE COLOR PURPLE, while you fight back by defending Fantasia the person. I don't know much about Fantasia the person, but I saw her performance. I can separate performer from performance, and you just keep going on saying how great Fantasia the person is, so nobody dare constructively criticise her performance in THE COLOR PURPLE, which is the actual topic here.

Now been gone you two losers y'all just want to take the shine off of Fantasia's great reviews.

Nobody is trying to take "the shine" off of anybody's review. My review is just as valid as anybody else's on this board, and as I said earlier, my comments have been nothing but level headed.

If you want people to respect your opinion, then respect the opinions of people who love her.

So essentially you're saying, if I want people to respect my opinion, don't have one. And again, this isn't about "people who love her." It's about her freaking performance in THE COLOR PURPLE, which you have not seen. It's about the performance, not a personal attack on the performer.

You had your opportunity to review the show foster, no one wants to hear you mouth and complaints in someone else's review. We know you hate her in the role, so what.

What the heck are you talking about? Again, please show me quotes from any thread which display anything but constructive criticism toward her performance. I have not once displayed hatred.

You need to go take a nap. Your defenses have become so ridiculously over the top, you don't even know what you're reading anymore. All you know is that you love this person you sat on your couch for months and watched on TV, and you will defend her until hell freezes over, even if the topic is not HER, but her performance in a show that you have not seen! Stop making it personal.

Updated On: 8/26/07 at 05:58 PM

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 8/26/07 at 7:31pm

jimny, you know Ethel Merman missed performances too. She wasn't immune to getting sick.

[peaceone]

Posted: 8/27/07 at 7:22am

And she is MIA again today!

http://www.talkinbroadway.com/allthatchat/d.php?id=1453115

This first post was made before the show started at at 1:34,makes me wonder.

[philcrosby]

Posted: 8/27/07 at 12:41pm

Just to clear the Merm's good name, outside of scheduled vacations, she never missed performances. Her understudies knew they would never go on ... hence the great story Stritch tells of being Merm's understudy in CALL ME MADAM.

[dream on]

Posted: 8/27/07 at 7:55pm

I believe Fantasia performed Sunday - as scheduled. Lets end the "Fantasia" watch. Its annoying. She is a professional - being paid to perform when she is healthy - she hasnt been fired - in fact - she was just re-signed until January.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 8/27/07 at 8:21pm

she was just re-signed until January.

She extended at the beginning of July. It's almost September now. I wouldn't say "just."

[dream on]

Posted: 8/27/07 at 8:43pm

whatever you say Foster - you are the expert here.

Oh - did you see the Oprah interview with Fantasia in her latest magazine? Also, there is a taped interview that wasnt part of the print one that is wonderful.

Trust me - Oprah is not going to be firing Fantasia anytime soon.
Updated On: 8/27/07 at 08:43 PM

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 8/27/07 at 8:50pm

I never said she was going to be fired at all. They will let Fantasia stay in THE COLOR PURPLE as long as she wants. She's the only remaining reason they're still making a weekly profit. I'm sure they will offer her the world to continue to stay with the show.

[dream on]

Posted: 8/27/07 at 8:54pm

Oh Ok Foster - I misunderstood you.

Im quite sure her missed performances are excused or due to a major illness. Fantasia is a work horse. She performed a few years ago after getting a root canal that same day. So- if she misses a show she has to be unable to walk or talk.

I know you may be cynical - but she loves what she does and she loves to touch people with her singing/acting. Its her favorite place to be. She worked for almost 3 years straight and only missed one or two shows in all that time- and her schedule was pretty rigorous. But she says Broadway is the hardest thing she has ever done - and she has so much respect for everyone on Broadway. Also- she said if she can do Broadway she can do anything.


Updated On: 8/27/07 at 08:54 PM

[jimnysf]

Posted: 8/27/07 at 9:00pm

LOL! She has missed a lot of work days in the amount of time she has been in the show so she must not be able to walk and talk an awfully lot. She signed a contract for 8 shows a week and she should be working 8 shows a week! If she can't handle it, then she should go on a restricted schedule and allow her fans to be able to count on seeing her when they get to the theatre.