Ute Lemper in CHICAGO- Page 2

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 9:04am

She was fantastic. Sexy, sly, a great belter---everything you would want in a Velma.

Posted: 12/31/05 at 10:10am

Ute was amazing- an iincredible perfomer and those kicks- amazing. I thought she was better than Bebe. My god she is skinny though!!!

[adamgreer]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 10:13am

"This will sound really stupid, but I always here people talking about the problimes that Bebe Neuwirth had with the Weisslers, and why people said they had a blow out. I really have no clue what happend and always kind of pretend I do when people bring it up . Can you please tell me! "

Did Bebe have a blowout with the Weisslers? I was under the impression she didn't, considering she went back to that a few times after she left.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 10:50am

"...better than Bebe...."

Them's fightin' words!

But seriously, folks....never heard of a Bebe/Weissler blowout (doesn't mean it didn't happen).

Aaand we're o/t....so I'll just agree with all the positive things that have been said here about Ute....except the better than Bebe bit....

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 11:11am

Voicewise, I think I preferred Ute Lemper on the London Cast Recording.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 11:14am

I was at the performance where Ute walked out. The curtain came down after "Roxie" and right before "I Can't Do It Alone," and there was an announcement that there would be a short break while they prepared Nancy Hess to go on. I was pretty bummed, as I had made a return trip to Chicago just to see Ute. I liked the little bit of her that I did see... especially her rubbery limbs during her dancing. Still, at least in the revival version, I think Bebe is pretty unrivaled. Her performance is bone dry, feral, and she threw herself into the choreography with complete abandon and precision.

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/31/05 at 12:24pm

Bebe did HAVE a blowout with the Weisslers. When she returned as Velma (her final return,) she wanted the same pay Bernie was getting in ANNIE GET YOUR GUN - but the Weissler wouldn't give it to her. So she promised never to do a Weissler show again.

The details for Ute's blow out isn't as clear. I think that performance she left - she got sick or injured herself (or even a family emergency) The Weisslers weren't happy - so to get back at her they replaced her with Bebe - and threw Ute in Las Vegas to finish her run. Ute wasn't happy. Replacing her with Bebe was a slap in her face - because Ute didn't even finish her Bway run.

Posted: 12/31/05 at 8:15pm

While Ute has a very unique style and voice that can be quite intriguing, I think she overplayed the role of Velma and was too melodramatic. I prefer Bebe's interpretation of the role with her dry wit and sardonic expressions.

Interestingly enough, I also saw Ute's cabaret act at Joe's Pub, where she told an amusing anecdote regarding her Chicago tour across various cities in Europe (Paris, London, somewhere in Germany), and it was brilliantly funny. She sang certain parts of "All That Jazz" to show how she modified her interpretation depending on the cultural differences, and the audience ate it up! Perhaps cabaret is a better venue for her.

[clarky]

Posted: 1/1/06 at 7:13am

Did anyone see the Dutch Velam? I think Pia Douwes is her name. How was she? Near the level of Ute?

[AngusN]

Posted: 1/1/06 at 7:17am

I got to see her in the London production when it first opened, I thought she was terrible; her dancing was excellent but her singing left a lot to be desired. Ruthie was the star of the show, I didn't realise she could dance that well.
Updated On: 1/2/06 at 07:17 AM

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 1/1/06 at 10:45am

Pia's dancing was only average I thought, but her singing was WOW !!!!
And yeah, Ruthie is actually originally a dancer, she came out of Laine Theatre School which most graduates excel in dancing in her days! She was (hopefully still is) a triple threat!

[mrkringas]

Posted: 1/1/06 at 12:19pm

Before playing Roxie in the OLC, Ruthie had won an Olivier for playing Amalia in "She Loves Me", nominated for Polly in "Crazy for You" and done stints as leads in Saigon, Mis, Oliver and Cats....

So I think its fair to say Ruthie was famimliar with leading roles by that stage in her career.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 1/1/06 at 6:48pm

I guess Chicago was something else because it was such a hit on Broadway, it was Fosse, and all that jazz. I think Ruthie is a magnificent dancer, I love her on the Hey,Mr.Producer! DVD when she plays Tessie on You Gotta Get A Gimmick, she does some nice classical moves combined with sluttiness, perfection!
I wonder why she didn't play Roxie on Broadway, I don't like it when they make Velma and Roxie interchangeable in choosing an actress to play one role or the other, well, I'm OCD so I'm picky that way.

[Horton]

Posted: 1/1/06 at 7:25pm

How do you pronounce the name Ute Lemper?
and http://broadway.yahoo.com/shows/show.php?s=chic

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 1/1/06 at 9:50pm

Thanks for the vid, Horton.

Regarding Ute's departure from theatre that day, I don't know what her reason for leaving was, but right after "Roxy" an ASM passing her dressing room saw her in her street clothes. All she said was "I can't do this anymore" and left.

In its current incarnation, my favorite Velma was, of course, Bebe, with Mamie Duncan-Gibbs and Diedre Goodwin hard on her heels.

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 1/2/06 at 2:36am

Ruthie is indeed a VERY good dancer. I saw her do Me n My Baby in the Royal Variety Show on TV and was TOTALLY blown away and her when I saw her 'All That Jazz reprise' at the end and her moves, so flexible and elegant. I recently got a cassete of her in the OLC of Chicago and she sounded VERY VERY comedic, esp the Jury Scene... I REALY hope there's time machine.....