Wedding Singer 8/2 Matinee: Tina & Cara Perform
Wedding Singer 8/2 Matinee: Tina & Cara Perform
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
Wedding Singer 8/2 Matinee: Tina & Cara Perform#0
Posted: 8/2/06 at 6:20pm
Out: Laura Benanti and Amy Spanger
On: Tina Maddigan and Cara Cooper
It was a return trip to the show, hoping to catch Tina as Julia. As luck would have it, she was on. Something totally odd is happening at the Hirschfeld Theatre: the 2 leads have chemistry!
Stephen Lynch - great, as usual. He's at the top of his game and having the time of his life. It's a very tough part to do (he's on stage for 95% of the show), but he pulls it off very well for a Broadway newbie.
Tina Maddigan - "the Girl with Golden Hair," as you all call her, IS the part. She skates rings around Laura Benanti in every aspect. Her singing voice reminds me of Stephanie D'Abruzzo and her looks remind me of Christine Taylor (Ben Stiller). Her blonde hair looks a lot better than Laura's odd wig....but they still haven't changed the wedding dress. There is undeniable chemistry between her and Stephen and it shows. They're having a great time playing off each other, like they've been doing it for years.
Cara Cooper - she's no Amy Spanger, but she's great in her own right. She's developed her own take on the part, making it like a bad Madonna impersonator with a thick Jersey accent. The accent is a lot more pronounced than Amy's, as I can remember. It's a great way to do the part.
Kevin Cahoon's George gets better and better. Matthew Saldivar has finally realized how to loosen up (he was very stiff when I saw it the last time). Richard Blake has a lot of fun and it shows. Rita Gardner and Felicia Finley got the dead crowd going with their respective scenes.
The ensemble was uniformly great. They're having a blast!
The audience, as I just said, seemed DOA. There were groups of students from Pace University, I believe, who looked like they were in outer space. A few rows behind me, there was a group from some Mentally Challenged group home. They had a ball, making the most noise I've ever heard. The actors loved it!
The actors were very appreciative of the fairly large crowd at the sweltering stage door. Tina, whom I had met a few months ago (somehow), remembered me right away and greeted me with a big hug and kiss. I didn't expect that.
All-in-all, I had a blast, yet again. It's too bad nobody else knew what to make of it.
Updated On: 8/2/06 at 06:20 PM
re: Wedding Singer 8/2 Matinee#1
Posted: 8/2/06 at 6:26pmI loved their chemistry. They were so natural and Tina WAS Julia. I'd never want to see Benanti, she bores me on the CD.
To Kill A Mockingbird
re: Wedding Singer 8/2 Matinee#2
Posted: 8/2/06 at 6:28pm
I told you so...
Another Tina Maddigan fan born every show!
"I broke the boundaries. It wasn't cool to be in plays- especially if you were in sports & I was in both." - Ashton Kutcher
re: Wedding Singer 8/2 Matinee#3
Posted: 8/2/06 at 6:34pmWhy does Laura Benanti miss so many shows?
re: Wedding Singer 8/2 Matinee#4
Posted: 8/2/06 at 6:36pm
Thank heaven for little standbys
for little standbys get bigger every day!
Damn, I'm good...
"I broke the boundaries. It wasn't cool to be in plays- especially if you were in sports & I was in both." - Ashton Kutcher
re: Wedding Singer 8/2 Matinee#5
Posted: 8/2/06 at 6:52pm
While I disagree with you about the Laura vs. Tina thing (Laura will always be my Julia), I'm glad you enjoyed the show!
Becoz_i_knew_you21 : Laura has been missing so many shows lately because of some health issues completely beyond her control. Believe me when I say she is NOT happy about being out so often.
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride.
I love you because I know no other way than this.
I believe in fate
But it's up to us to follow through
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
re: Wedding Singer 8/2 Matinee#6
Posted: 8/2/06 at 6:54pmI didn't think she would be (happy about being out), nor did I say anything about that at all.
re: Wedding Singer 8/2 Matinee#7
Posted: 8/2/06 at 6:56pm
I didn't mean for it to seem like I was accusing you of anything. I was just responding to the person above who asked why Laura had been out so often lately. Editing my post so it's more clear. :)
I love you straightforwardly, without complexities or pride.
I love you because I know no other way than this.
I believe in fate
But it's up to us to follow through
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
re: Wedding Singer 8/2 Matinee#8
Posted: 8/2/06 at 7:00pm
Oh, okay. Yes, Laura is out sick. Amy, also absent a lot, has been sick but is now on vacation.
FYI....both Laura and Tina are contracted through March, if anyone wanted to know.
re: Wedding Singer 8/2 Matinee#9
Posted: 8/2/06 at 7:09pmI loved Laura in TWS. Both actresses are great.
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
re: Wedding Singer 8/2 Matinee#10
Posted: 8/2/06 at 7:30pmIn certain respects. Tina seemed, as I said, to be more natural.
re: Wedding Singer 8/2 Matinee#11
Posted: 8/2/06 at 7:30pmHey where were you? I was there too! Great show.
The choice may have been mistaken, The choosing was not... "Every day has the potential to be the greatest day of your life." - Lin-Manuel Miranda
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
re: Wedding Singer 8/2 Matinee#12
Posted: 8/2/06 at 8:39pmI was in the front row, all the way on the aisle. Updated On: 8/2/06 at 08:39 PM
re: Wedding Singer 8/2 Matinee#13
Posted: 8/2/06 at 8:40pmOh, you were on the other side from me I think. I was in A1.
The choice may have been mistaken, The choosing was not... "Every day has the potential to be the greatest day of your life." - Lin-Manuel Miranda
re: Wedding Singer 8/2 Matinee#14
Posted: 8/2/06 at 8:41pmHey Kathy, that's not the pic i took of you and Tina, is it?
re: Wedding Singer 8/2 Matinee#15
Posted: 8/2/06 at 9:24pmNo, that one's from today.
The choice may have been mistaken, The choosing was not... "Every day has the potential to be the greatest day of your life." - Lin-Manuel Miranda
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
Stand-by Joined: 2/11/06
re: Wedding Singer 8/2 Matinee#18
Posted: 8/2/06 at 9:51pmcara is still on tonight.
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/20/04
re: Wedding Singer 8/2 Matinee#19
Posted: 8/2/06 at 9:52pmCara is on until either the 6th or the 8th.
re: Wedding Singer 8/2 Matinee#20
Posted: 8/2/06 at 9:54pmAmy will be back on the 8th.
The choice may have been mistaken, The choosing was not... "Every day has the potential to be the greatest day of your life." - Lin-Manuel Miranda
re: Wedding Singer 8/2 Matinee#21
Posted: 8/2/06 at 10:12pmI saw Cara on Friday, and she's fantastic! Anyone going this week will not be disappointed. Her delivery on some lines is funnier than Amy's, and she's a great dancer.
re: Wedding Singer 8/2 Matinee#22
Posted: 8/2/06 at 11:36pmSorry to threadjack, but that is wrong with Tina's dress?
re: Wedding Singer 8/2 Matinee#23
Posted: 8/2/06 at 11:36pmSorry to threadjack, but that is wrong with Tina's dress?
re: Wedding Singer 8/2 Matinee#24
Posted: 8/2/06 at 11:43pmWhile I agree that Tina was great in the part, I was a bit disappointed with her singing. However, I have nothing to compare her to.
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