Was it a good decision to cast Toni Braxton in Beauty and The Beast?

[Gleeker]

Posted: 1/4/14 at 11:10am

I was listening to some audio clips of her performance as Belle and I think she sounds horrible. Why Belle? I have no problem with a Black woman playing Belle, but Toni just seemed horribly miscast. Did anyone here see her Live? What did you think?

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 1/4/14 at 11:11am

I mean, her voice is really low. You either like it or you don't.

I liked her "A Change in Me" but I don't know if I'd want to hear her do the whole show.

Still, injecting some diversity into the show was a good thing, and she looked really beautiful in the costumes.

[Phillytheatreguy10]

Posted: 1/4/14 at 11:13am

Perhaps the one good thing to happen from her performance is the addition of the song "A Change in Me" which I believe was added for her. I too have no problem with a black Belle if her vocals are right for the part, but it would appear they bring Toni in to sell tickets because when she was in Aida they lowered the keys for her. I'm sure she will be great in After Midnight, which is more suitable for her abilities.

[Gleeker]

Posted: 1/4/14 at 11:14am

I am all for Diversity and I like the "Change in me" song but if they wanted an African American to play belle, why couldn't they just have gotten someone who can actually sing the score in the right key? Belle doesn't sound good in the Low register

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/4/14 at 11:33am

they change keys for perfomers ALL THE TIME. Heck, they even change keys withing a run for the same performer...when they are sick, or growing up (the Billy Elliot Boys).

[Gleeker]

Posted: 1/4/14 at 11:38am

I am well aware that keys are changed during a Broadway Run ( I was up for a part in Matilda so I know) But why change the keys so drastically? Obviously Toni couldn't sing the role as High as the other belles so why even cast her? The truth is, she only got the role because she is famous and if you had a chorus girl going on as Belle and she asked to change the keys as drastically as Toni wanted as toni did, then that girl would have gotten her ass laughed at.

Updated On: 1/4/14 at 11:38 AM

[darquegk]

Posted: 1/4/14 at 12:15pm

That's sort of the point. You make concessions for stars, you don't make them just for jobbers.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 1/4/14 at 12:22pm

Putting aside the fact that she was awful in the role (she was also terrible in Aida)...

I hated how they slutted her up. They changed all the iconic (Tony Award winning, to boot) costumes to give Belle more "sass." Sleeves were shortened, neck lines were lowered, etc. I'm not sure whose idea it was- Braxton's or the producers, but it was a terrible idea. Same thing for her line readings- was she directed to play Belle "sassy" or was that her decision? Either way...both were terrible ideas.

The one positive, as was already mentioned- we got A Change in Me out of it.

[Gleeker]

Posted: 1/4/14 at 12:27pm

Gross! I hated her new Belle Dress. She tried to play it sassy? ugh what a gross turn for such a magical production. That poor audience

[candydog2]

Posted: 1/4/14 at 1:12pm

I didn't think the costumes looked too bad, and the lower key songs aren't terrible, but from the audio clips I'm not keen on her breathy, sultry speaking voice.

[Kev]

Posted: 1/4/14 at 2:03pm

She tried to play it sassy?

Braxton's Belle gave the Beast "the hand" at one point. Her casting as Belle didn't work for me.

That said, I adored her Aida.

[broadway86]

Posted: 1/4/14 at 3:10pm

Braxton's Belle gave the Beast "the hand" at one point. Her casting as Belle didn't work for me.

This, in a nutshell.

[sephyr]

Posted: 1/4/14 at 3:23pm

But isn't it nice to have a different take on the role? I mean I could see if she were playing Cinderella sassy but Belle has an edge to her naturally, at least what I've seen from the movie and gleamed from the songs (The song Belle especially says sass to me), so I don't think injecting a bit of sass is too farfetched for the charater.

[Gleeker]

Posted: 1/4/14 at 5:12pm

What is "The Hand" ?

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/4/14 at 5:49pm

Do you think that Ethel Merman or Martha Raye sang in the same keys that Carol Channing did in HELLO, DOLLY? All of the costumes were altered for each star as well. Nobody complained about it then, so why are people soing so now?

I ask you!

[Visceral_Fella]

Posted: 1/4/14 at 6:37pm

Gleeker, "the hand" as in "talk to the hand". Think wrist roll, then palm out toward the other. Usually performed with an optional neck snap and stiffening or eye roll.



Updated On: 1/4/14 at 06:37 PM

[trentsketch]

Posted: 1/4/14 at 6:56pm

I'm surprised they changed the keys. Toni could have just sung the whole part down the octave and saved them some trouble.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 1/4/14 at 7:17pm

Deborah really seemed to bring everything needed to the role.
Deborah Gibson - Home

[FANtomFollies]

Posted: 1/4/14 at 7:41pm

any images that show the changes in the belle costumes?

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 1/4/14 at 8:46pm

No. I also agree with Adamgreer on most counts. I was fortunate to see the original production with Terry Mann, Susan Egan and then again with Chuck Wagner and Andrea McArdle. Both Belles were perfectly suited for the role, imo, not to mention the amazing male leads too. It was far more than Braxton's voice being "different".
It was her whole persona as a more 'worldly' Belle. To me the Belle character was purposely created to be spunky, free spirited and longing for adventure but had a sweetness and innocence about her. Braxton was the opposite of all these qualities. I also wasn't a fan of her AIDA as much as the OBC.

They should not have changed the character as drastically as they did, imo, and should have sought an actress that was better suited to a Disney-style princess.

Updated On: 1/4/14 at 08:46 PM

[justincharacter]

Posted: 1/4/14 at 8:55pm

Original:

http://www.freewebs.com/broadwaygurl/SusanEganandBurkeMoses.bmp

Toni Braxton:


FYI, the finale dressed wasn't altered as much as the "Belle" costume









Updated On: 1/4/14 at 08:55 PM

[Gleeker]

Posted: 1/4/14 at 9:08pm

"Do you think that Ethel Merman or Martha Raye sang in the same keys that Carol Channing did in HELLO, DOLLY? All of the costumes were altered for each star as well. Nobody complained about it then, so why are people soing so now?"

Are you comparing Toni Braxton to The Merm? LOL give me a break. Carol and Merman made it work, that's the difference.

[theaterkidsteacher]

Posted: 1/4/14 at 9:40pm

ugh- I saw this. It was my daughter (who was 4 1/2) 's first broadway show and we sat 4th row center. It was close enough to see the disdain on the faces of the other actors. They changed the keys but that didn't make the songs sound any better- the music (except for the added song) was just a bad fit for her voice (and her acting was terrible.) No, to answer your question, not a good decision.

[JohnyBroadway]

Posted: 1/4/14 at 10:11pm

A change in me really didn't become quite the song until Ashley Brown joined the cast. They really spiffed it up for her.

[candydog2]

Posted: 1/5/14 at 4:05am

There's a clip on youtube of a one of Braxton's TV appearances during the run. She's in full Belle costume and sings "A Change in Me". It's very difficult to watch actually. Looooots of vocal ornamentation accompanied by hand gestures - basically Belle in a smoky jazz club givin' it soul.