Vanessa Williams in Kiss of the Spider Woman- Page 2

[Glitter]

Posted: 10/8/09 at 7:53pm

I didn't like Vanessa Williams in this show at all...as mentioned, her dancing was not spectacular, and I think she has the wrong voice type for the material.

Bebe Neuwirth was great and emotionless, which worked well for her Spider Woman moments. Carol Lawrence brought a sort of faded glamour to the part (which is necessary, remember Aurora is a B movie star). I'm in the minority, but I LOVED Maria Conchita Alonso, who brought a good mix of sexiness and trashiness.

Something that gets lost often with the show is the cultural/ethnic identity of the characters. Brent Carver and Anthony Crivello, much as I love them, didn't pass for latino and don't get me started on hunter foster :p Vanessa looked, sounded and moved like a modern american pop star and in my opnion that hurt the show. The new orchestrations didn't help either.

Terrence Mcnally loved her, though, so what do I know? :P

[scooter38432]

Posted: 10/9/09 at 12:39pm

Wow, it seems that I'm in the minority here.

I saw both Chita and Vanessa as Aurora. Chita was FAR and AWAY better than Vanessa in the role. Chita was unforgettable. Vanessa was so bland (as she always seems to be onstage -- and don't even get me started on her dull-as-dishwater Witch in INTO THE WOODS.)

I did like Howard McGillin very much. I even liked Brian Stokes Mitchell (whose only other work I liked was RAGTIME).

My SPIDERWOMAN playlist has all of Chita's numbers and all of Howard's. Vanessa didn't come close to making the cut.

I know, I know...

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/9/09 at 1:07pm

I really prefer the Chita recording. I just don't care for the way Vanessa has to stylistically drop the pitch at the end of every line or phrase. It bugs the crap out of me. I never saw her perform the role, so I can't comment on that, but Chita was good. Unfortunately, Kiss of the Spider Woman is one of those shows I enjoyed more on CD than on stage. I love the score and the book is solid, but I really hated the messy staging. I was bummed it beat out Tommy for Best Musical.

[Glitter]

Posted: 10/10/09 at 6:49pm

I prolly should have made it clearer...I did enjoy some of the other ladies, BUT the definitive Spider Woman is Rivera. I completely disagree with whoever it was said Aurora/Spider Woman should never be played by someone over 45; if anything, the opposite is true.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 10/10/09 at 7:28pm

I hated the show when I saw Chita in the disastrous tryout at Purchase, then liked it a little better when I saw the re-tooled version with Chita on Broadway and loved it when I saw it with Vanessa.

[Glitter]

Posted: 10/10/09 at 7:42pm

chita wasn't in the show at purchase....

I love the show as it is now, but it was AWFUL at purchase. Bad songs, bad casting, bad everything. Garth Drabinsky is the one who pushed the creators into the right direction.

[Pgenre]

Posted: 10/10/09 at 9:25pm

Kevin Grey and Lauren _________ were the Spider Woman in the vastly different version at Purchase.

Chita started in London, then came to Bway.

P

[Glitter]

Posted: 10/11/09 at 7:13am

Lauren Mitchell!