What was the reception like to "Cinderella" with Whitney Houston/Brandi?
What was the reception like to "Cinderella" with Whitney Houston/Brandi?
JayKurnitz
Chorus Member Joined: 7/4/11
#1What was the reception like to "Cinderella" with Whitney Houston/Brandi?
Posted: 6/9/13 at 1:49pm
I was really young with this movie came out, and while I enjoyed it (and still do), I don't remember hearing too much about it or what people felt about it. I'd love to hear your thoughts and feelings about it.
Edit: apologies for using the word "it" way too many times.
"Impossible"
Updated On: 6/9/13 at 01:49 PM
#2What was the reception like to
Posted: 6/9/13 at 1:51pmI believe it's generally well liked. I personally could never get into it. Brandy just does not have the voice or talent for the role.
Owen22
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/24/11
#3What was the reception like to
Posted: 6/9/13 at 2:08pm
I recently overheard an African American young woman complaining about the Broadway revival of "Cinderella". She grew up on the Brandi version, which was so multi-cultural I think minorities outnumbered the white actors. She complained how white the production was. And I realized what a step backwards this revival is (is there another main ethnicity represented besides Ann Harada?).
I needed a good reason not to see this revival (I felt I should see it less than really wanting to) and this frank young woman gave me one. And let me apologize for the industry, girlfriend. You are absolutely right and Broadway should be somewhat ashamed.
#4What was the reception like to
Posted: 6/9/13 at 2:14pmThe actor playing Lord Pinkleton is African. And what a voice!
JayKurnitz
Chorus Member Joined: 7/4/11
#5What was the reception like to
Posted: 6/9/13 at 2:18pmI don't mean to thread-jack my own thread, but why exactly was this show considered a revival when it hasn't been on Broadway ever? Is it because the music has been around for awhile? If that it is in fact the case, under that argument every jukebox musical could be considered a revival, right? Or am I missing something obvious?
#6What was the reception like to
Posted: 6/9/13 at 2:34pmThis has been discussed many times. The Tony committee ruled Cinderella a "classic" and therefore made it eligible for Best Revival as per Tony rules regarding classics. Assassins, Little Shop of Horrors, and this season's Orphans (among many others) were considered revivals in their Broadway debuts.
JayKurnitz
Chorus Member Joined: 7/4/11
#7What was the reception like to
Posted: 6/9/13 at 2:45pm
HeyMrMusic -
An Emmy award does not make a TV movie good by default. There are plenty of really horrible actors and and things on TV that have also won Emmy Awards.
Edit: It won an Emmy for art direction - hardly an accomplishment for the movie as a whole.
Updated On: 6/9/13 at 02:45 PM
#8What was the reception like to
Posted: 6/9/13 at 2:46pm
I know, I was just stating the fact. :)
I don't remember how it was received back in the day. I know I watched it over and over!
#9What was the reception like to
Posted: 6/9/13 at 2:59pm
The original 1957 broadcast of Cinderella, staring Julie Andrews, remains the most watched TV program in history.
To this day.
Over 107 million people saw the telecast (ahead of any Super Bowl game as well as the season finale of M*A*S*H, the most-watched TV series episode of all-time at 105.9 million). Cinderella aired on CBS live and in color (for the four people who had color sets in 1957). Sadly, only the B&W kinescope of it is available today (still in decent shape and on DVD now).
As for the Brandy/Whitney version, it got good reviews and great ratings (60 million people tuned in). By today's standards on television it was definitely considered a big success.
So yes, "R&H Cinderella" is a well established work on screen and stage (many touring companies) outside of Broadway.
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
TheatreDiva90016
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/04
#10What was the reception like to
Posted: 6/9/13 at 3:11pm
The reception was stunning and the hors d'oeuvres were amazing!
#11What was the reception like to
Posted: 6/9/13 at 4:08pm
See? That's how it was.
"Was the prince charming? They say that he's charming."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
#12What was the reception like to
Posted: 6/9/13 at 11:37pm
I was in high school in 1997 when this came out. I remember highly enjoying it and that is was considered 'must see TV' even by the non-theater kids at my high school.
#13What was the reception like to
Posted: 6/9/13 at 11:41pmCynda-Ella
#14What was the reception like to
Posted: 6/10/13 at 12:35amIt's my all-time favorite movie musical ever. Grew up on it as a kid. Love it to pieces!!!
Zingingtobway
Stand-by Joined: 2/4/10
#15What was the reception like to
Posted: 6/10/13 at 2:18am
The actor playing Lord Pinkleton is African. And what a voice!
Yes he is but he also gets very little Press time and in a recent promo I saw you heard him singing but never saw his image..
loliveve
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/24/12
#16What was the reception like to
Posted: 6/10/13 at 10:19am
Just throwing my two cents in here... and to let you know as a disclaimer, I'm mixed. So, maybe I see things differently. I saw the Whitney Houston/Brandy version when I was growing up, and loved it for Whitney Houston. But once I saw the original with Julie Andrews, that very easily became my favorite, and it is the one I watch again and again on DVD.
I don't care about the race of the performers on Broadway. I care if they can sing, dance, and act. Until reading this board, I did not once contemplate the races of the performers in Cinderella, although I first saw it months ago. It truly is "a lovely night" of theatre to hear Santino and Laura sing the score!
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