What about an all black version of FOLLIES? — Page 3

If "Could I Leave You?" Isn't a belters song...what is it? When thinking rage in musical theatre one thinks belt. It certainly shouldn't be sung in one's head voice. Just because non singers have sung it doesn't mean it's not meant to be belted...I refer you to Dee Hoty, who's prob done my fave version so far (I haven't seen Donna do it). I'm sure Donna belted the crap out of it. It's a belters song. If not belter than what? What voice would you classify it as?

- Of course it should be sung in the chest voice. But the only really belted part is "Sweetheart I have to conFESSS." Donna's version was great; but there's not enough moments in the song to really belt it.

I heard Danner; and it sounded just like Alexis Smith's vesion.

I personally feel like that song really doesn't require strong pipes. The two women that have typically stronger vocals (Hoty and Murphy) who performed Phyllis I think both fall below Smith's version and she didn't have the most powerful voice.

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Someone would sneak Jennifer Holiday in the casting if they did....

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Oh WordedGrace...

I never claimed to be a great speller and I don't know anyone here who really cares enough to edit their posts. Notice how I ignored the grammar in your initial post. Now let's address this "PS" that's sort of hidden after the quote.

"P.S. aside from any context a show is written shouldn't it just be about the performance versus race?"


That's not mine, so I assume it's yours. This makes no sense.
You do realize Minstrel isn't about race right? That IS a style of performance that both white and black performers worked in. Besides I believe it was me who said that the African American perspective shouldn't be a requirement for black actors to be good in certain roles.

The whole point of offensive is that it offends. Who would my post offend? You can quibble about words but if you weren't offended you'd have kept silent (not to mention the fact that you had to edit because you were upset). Personally I could care less but when it comes to the african american race, I think it's important to know which comments come from black people. It gives everyone perspective.

Now this little discussion has seemed very constructive to me. Until you mentioned spelling, no one really got personal. We're all simply responding to what has been said. You can say anything you want. I never said you couldn't respond...wow you're taking this personally...you shouldn't.

I thought Donna Murphy's "Could I Leave You?" was simply fantastic and I much preferred it over Alexis Smith's, I loved how Donna held the "Will I leave youuuuuu" at the end. She did do a belty version but I disagree that Smith, Rigg, or Remick did anything "belty" with it. Vanessa Williams does some belting in KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN and INTO THE WOODS (even if not nearly as successful as Chita Rivera or Bernadette Peters, respectively), but whoever said that this is an actor's song is right (was it C for Company, Kringas?), and Williams would certainly know how to act "Could I Leave You?" not only the actual number but all the events that lead to that number and make it work so well.
Norm Lewis seemed like an obvious choice for Ben but I would rather see Brian Stokes Mitchell do it because he has that certain leading man appeal that is so expected from Benjamin Stone. He and Vanessa Williams would be so believable as a power couple. And you could so see why McDonald would have spent all those years reminiscing about Ben.
I'm not sure who could play Buddy though.
I think Tonya Pinkins would be a great Carlotta though, her book scenes would kill and I think her "I'm Still Here" would be the showstopper I was expecting from Baranski but that was never delivered.

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