The Public Sings — Page 3

I would have given up vital body organs to have seen this. Can I PRAY and HOPE a video was made that will be sold????

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-- A young lady I didn't recognize with a very lovely voice sang "I Hate The Bus" from CAROLINE, OR CHANGE

That would be the lovely and VERY talented Brynn Williams! She was in Chitty and In My Life!

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Margo - you rock!
You rock!
YOU ROCK!

thank you so much!

I wish I had seen Ms.Murphy skipping a high C and laughing at herself. She is quite a performer. Great review, Margo. But you must expand more on Cynthia Nixon, it was her first time singing in public so I really wonder how she did it.

I'm a bit confused. Was the tempo thing with Menzel a constant joke or something? That would be rather embarassing if he stopped like out of nowhere.

How did Ms. Menzel do with an Adam Guettel song? I've only heard 'Floyd Collins' and 'Light in the Piazza' and those are 2 very different styles of Adam Guettel. Just curious how she did.

I know Nichols has a good singing voice, but for some reason I can't picture him on a stage performing. Was he good?

I hate to sound like an ass, but I thought the evening was a LOT more hit and miss than Margo. I loved the opening with A Chorus Line and Savion and Co.

I had heard Donna McKechnie do the "Joe Papp" song and hers is WAY better than Betty's, but I have a feeling Betty was a last-minute stand-in for Donna, and Cheyenne and Norm (especially) were wasted singing backup.

I have never seen Idina perform live and I must say I don't get it. I thought her pronunciation was weird and she doesn't seem to have a great deal of stage presence--I thought Zach Braff completely upstaged her and then when Norm and Rosie joined in, I forgot about her (Idina). Which brings me to Billy Porter--I hope it was just last night, but his voice is shot--he just didn't have that big upper range he used to have. I was very disappointed in him. And his song was redundant and pointless.

I love Chuck Cooper and thought he was fine on the Two Gents song, but it just isn't all that interesting--what WAS very fun was in the chorus, there was a male twirler who reminded me of a cross between Jack O'Brien and Kevin Chamberlain--he was hysterical!

And Betty was fine in the "Getting My Act..." song, but nothing special.

I was also disappointed with Daphne Rubin-Vega. Another case where I don't get it. She also seemed to have very strange posture, but it mught have been because I was so high up. Bless Natalie Portman's heart--terrible singer, but she kinda got through it and it's brief if nothing else. The White Boys/Black Boys started off fun. but it didn't seem to go anywhere and Cheyenne isn't as sexy as previously thought. Destan Owens was HOT. Meryl was easily the highlight of the Hair section, both very funny and on pitch--she sounds great! Braff and Portman were actually quite good at Initials, Braff especially so--maybe he's looking for the film of Spamalot? I thought he was most impressive and the biggest surprise of the night. The Hair medley finally ended and Lea DeLaris came out and showed why she's one of the biggest talents in the theatre--just terrific--though I wished she could've busted out a little "I Can Cook, Too," but oh well.

I agree that Donna's Pirate Jenny was top-notch--and I would also like to thank Donna for being the evening's biggest trouper and for having a COSTUME for EVERY character she played--DIVA, DIVA, DIVA!!! I love her! The ending was just great--a genuine moment, as they say.

I also enjoyed all of the "Pirates" numbers--I thought the choreo was pretty good, and Marc was adorable...he looked so YOUNG...Margo, the Policeman's song is "When the Foreman Bears His Steel" and I'm not sure of the last song either, but it was awesome! (I'm running out of adjectives here) George was also very cute as the major-General.

And then there's Elaine--she's the best. End of story. Best ovation, best performance.

The RUnaways number was cute but VERY long and the lead boy dancing in the center was a powerhouse--he was the featured dancer for the whole song--I'm sure we'll be seeing him soon.

Miss Williams did an aces job with "I Hate The Bus"--beautiful--especially after the microphone trip-up that might have taken some of the air out of her performance, but the crowd really cheered her on and she pulled through.

Cynthia Nixon--hm. Nice try, but no real characterization and certainly NO voice at all. But she looked great.

I loved the Edwin Drood duet with Betty and Donna--at first I thought Donna was taking Betty to school, but then Betty bumped it up a notch or two but that final note isn't there anymore. ANd what's with Betty and the constantly moving mike? She looked like she was blowing it.

And Idina again. Yawn.

Lillias did a nice job with her gospel number but it felt a bit static...just didn't give me goosebumps like I wanted. It did annoy me a litle that Lillias kept applauding the orchestra ALL NIGHT. It just seemed like she wanted to step out of the line of other performers and take a little downstage time--could be wrong, just bothered me.

Eartha Kitt was Eartha Kitt, but the music stand REALLY took away from her performance. I didn't understand why she needed it.

My other happy surprise was Adriane Lenox--amazing voice--I can totally see her as Shug Avery, and she brought a completely different energy to Caroline, more world-weary, sexier, earthy...just amazing--Doubt just scratches her surface--can't wait to see her in a musical!

I like Mary Testa, I just didn't like that song and I think it didn't really show her off all that well, of course, it's not an audition I know...

And then there was the big finale, and to be honest, I was just tired of hearing songs from Hair. It was fun to see Mike Nichols sing with Meryl and I also liked the small tribute to Wendy Wasserstein. Great night in the theatre and seeing all the cute West Point boys in their uniforms was a little bonus.

I enjoyed myself too, just not as much as Margo.

Margo!
Did i read that you hang out in bars with jesse Tyler?
Hmmm...

I hate exams. They're the only reason why I couldn't even try to get tickets for last night.... Glad to hear everyone had a good time though!

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Sacrilege or not, he came across as a ineffectual bottom...and i was hoping for a rough top--that's all...

melissa--I don't recall Betty hitting that note at the end of "Wall"...maybe it's just been THAT long since I listened to the cast tape--yes, I have it on cassette!

What was the song from Runaways? Do you recall what it was about or any of the lyrics?

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My friend said he had acid reflux and it's ruined his chords--but he's not exactly a Rhodes scholar, so there you go...

Margo is a TOP?