Vanessa Williams to star in ANYONE CAN WHISTLE at Carnegie Hall — Page 4

Mickey3309 said: "To me it felt like Vanessa Williams didn't make a single acting choice. I thought Elizabeth Stanley & Santino Fontana were excellent. Their whole hotel room scene was wonderful - funny and touching. But wow... VW... I knew it wasn't going to be Donna Murphy, Patti LuPone, orMadeline Kahn but I wish she did SOMETHING with it. Such a waste of a kooky, fabulous role."

You expressed that perfectly.

Rudy2 said: "Does anyone know if Angela was there tonight? Considering her age, she still might not be venturing out."

I believe she lives in Ireland and California. I don't like to read into things too much, but I got kind of sad when we didn't get any kind of statement/quote from her after Sondheim's death. Not because she owes us anything –– she doesn't, and she's 96! –– but because age might finally be creeping up on her. Sigh.

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "Rudy2 said: "Does anyone know if Angela was there tonight? Considering her age, she still might not be venturing out."

I believe she lives in Ireland and California. I don't like to read into things too much, but I got kind of sad when we didn't get any kind of statement/quote from her after Sondheim's death. Not because she owes us anything –– she doesn't, and she's 96! –– but because age might finally be creeping up on her. Sigh."

She did put out a statement through Playbill which is restrained but beautiful.

I saw a picture of her enjoying lunch on her patio posing happily for the camera, with her mask down. She looked great.

Never count Angie out.

She has a Manhattan apartment as well, unless she’s sold it.

I had a lot of fun!

Elizabeth and Santino were AMAZING. Totally blown away by Elizabeth especially because I really only knew her from Jagged and that is obviously a VERY different role. She talked in interviews about being excited that this was her first post-motherhood (and post-COVID) new role and this definitely felt like an "I'VE STILL GOT IT" moment for her.

I was similarly underwhelmed by Vanessa. She just failed to fill the space. Didn't help that I was in an obstructed view seat and she seemed to hang just outside of where I could see in a lot of her scenes. Her suit in act 2 definitely filled the space though. I loved that outfit.

In the end, I was in a $15 seat, so I really didn't mind anything underwhelming about it. I definitely got $15 worth of entertainment value and solid performances (although I totally understand if you paid a lot more and didn't feel like this was worth your money).

Play Esq. said: "ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "I don't really understand all the complaints of it feeling under-rehearsed. Of course it was, and we all knew it would be going in: it's a one-night concert, with Ted Sperling serving as both director and music director. The rise in quality of Encores! has tricked everyone into thinking that that's how a "concert version" should be performed. It felt a little more polished than some other MasterVoices concerts.

I loved Elizabeth Stanley, Santino Fontana, and the supporting cast. Hearing that score live is enough to make me swoon. Musically, it was glorious, save for Vanessa (whose voice hasreallydeteriorated with time). Vanessa's performance was a reminder that it's weird that Mayor Cora has the most material in the show. In hindsight, Vanessa is miscast...she usually plays quiet elegance & seduction; this needs someone who can do brassy musical comedy.

Overall an enjoyable evening at The Cookie Jar!"

I thank the wonderful servers at Bar Centralle that, by there strong pour, are telling me not to respond to this."

I wish I were sitting there next to you right now!

I wish I were sitting there next to you right now!

"

Next time, love 😘 always love mutually bitching about

horrific performance.

It was all about Santino Fontana. He's the reason I went and he didn't disappoint. Yet I always forget (between sightings) what a wonderful performer Elizabeth Stanley is! She wasn't quite as good as Sutton was as Nurse Apple at Encores but she had some fantastic moments! Santino was better than Raul Esparza, only because this type of irony infused yet sincere character is right in Santino's wheelhouse. And as already stated, Vanessa Williams... Well... She ain't no Donna Murphy and certainly is no Madeline Kahn!

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "TotallyEffed said: "Would have loved to have seen Beth Leavel up there tonight."

Beth Leavel, Jennifer Simard, Kristin Chenoweth, Laura Benanti, Jane Krakowski, Renee Elise Goldsberry,Rachel York,Carmen Cusack, Christine Baranski or Ebersole...the list is practically endless!

Though count me among those who thought Williams would have been good casting on paper (I probably said as much in this thread months ago)."

JANE KRAKOWSKI!!!!! OMG!!!!! Now I can't get it out of my head!!! She would have been a revelation in this role! She can just be so strange and kind of off-putting in the most hilarious ways! Perfect for a wacky, zany mayoress!

Incidentally, if anyone would like to see a staged version of Anyone Can Whistle (and will be in London next month) the always-reliable Southwark Playhouse will be presenting it beginning of April through May 7th. The only person in the cast I know is Alex Young who will be playing Cora and she is fantastic.

I’m so sad that I’m going to be missing that production, by just a couple weeks!

Saw the show tonight, and emphasis on saw it, because I was in the first tier box right above the stage and the sound balance was terrible. I could enjoy the orchestra fine, but a good portion of the time, the vocals were either doubled, delayed, or muddled. Thankfully I knew the score but the people around me who didn't know it were confused at intermission and wanting to leave. I do hope they did record it to release it at some point, that way I can actually hear the show I was at.

As for casting, I feel like the cast was strong on paper, but given very little direction. Vanessa on paper was a great idea, and with the right direction, could've given a great sultry unique take, her version of kooky. Instead, it looks like she was told, "Just do Wilhelmina Slater." It was adequate but could've been so much more.

More successful was Elizabeth Stanley, who really ran away with the show. She definitely deserves more chances to show what she can do, because she was great and can really do it all. Santino Fontana was wonderful as always, leaving us wanting more.

It's a bizarre little show, and I was glad to finally able to see the whole thing, and in Carnegie Hall of all places, but overall, it didn't live up to it's potential as much as I hoped.

ErmengardeStopSniveling said: "The rise in quality of Encores! has tricked everyone into thinking that that's how a "concert version" should be performed.:



Maybe, maybe not. I've seen some other really strong concert productions outside of Encores. But in any case, it's worth noting that some material work better on little rehearsal than others, and casts/directors make better use of limited rehearsal time.

Some other stray thoughts/responses:

I understand the praise for Stanley - she sang beautifully and brought a lot of energy and charisma to the stage. But she lacked the comedic sensibilities to make the role soar IMO. Maybe with more rehearsal, as noted above.

I have yet to be impressed with a performance from Douglas Sills - I find him really boring and bland. He must have been great in Scarlet Pimpernel to have garnered such goodwill.

I agree the show came across is pretty sexist.

Fontana was great casting - it reminded me of his performance in Mr. Rosewater, which, it now occurs to me, is a similar sort of role in a similar sort of comedy. But this performance wasn't as good as that performance IMO.