Who cast Laura B.. In TWS?- Page 2

[rah]

Posted: 4/5/06 at 1:43pm

Roninjoey, good suggestions ... they might help. BUT, the basic WS "problem" has been identified, discussed, and even potentially solved: put Tina in for one preview and check the chemistry!

Then we'll ALL know.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/5/06 at 1:45pm

Anyone have a pic of Tina? I don't have my playbill on me. I was surprised to see the amount of ensemble members i knew haha. There's a lot of "theater famous" ensemble members.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/5/06 at 1:50pm

Tina Maddigan:

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/5/06 at 2:56pm

She's cute. I'd like to see what she does with the role, but looking at her, I think Laura & Amy have more of a contrast - looks wise.

[LeaGirl]

Posted: 4/5/06 at 2:58pm

If they'd give Laura a brown wig or let her wear her own hair in a little ponytail she'd be a better contrast - she makes an odd blonde, and the other two ladies are already blonde.

Actually, she'd be so cute with a little ponytail, fake or her own, whatever.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 4/5/06 at 3:00pm

I think Benanti looks old in every picture I've seen of the show. It looks like a teacher seducing a student...kind of icky.
Still, seeing it tonite.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/5/06 at 3:10pm

Naw, she doesn't come across old on stage. They seem to all be the same age.

I was watching the rehearsal video on Broadway.com and they changed a lot. The whole opening is different. I kind of like the start of him taking a shower and then going to the wedding. That's kinda cool.

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 4/5/06 at 3:13pm

I know it's hard for you guys to imagine, but some of us genuinely enjoyed Laura's performance.

You're right, actually. It would be clever to have Amy and Laura sing it together. Not Felicia though. I don't even know how they'd work that.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/5/06 at 3:20pm

Why not felicia? she's contemplating getting back with Robbie? Maybe they could have like a "rock out" part in the middle and have felicia come out and do her "rock thing" that she does so well. But then again, her entrance in Act 2 is sorta surprising.

[LeaGirl]

Posted: 4/5/06 at 3:22pm

I think Felicia would take the sincerity out of that song - I agree with the poster who says it should be Amy and Laura - they're both "confused" about their love situation - it would make a good song, their voices would be interesting together, AND it would expand their relationship a bit more. Felicia's character, god love her, is just for laughs. Anyhow I think bringing her out one more time would be overkill - she's perfect the way she is.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/5/06 at 3:24pm

agreed, Lea. Now that I think about it. It wouldn't be funny if they kept doing it. Good point.

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 4/5/06 at 3:24pm

I think it's the sort of character that has to stay one note. Then it gets excessive. For the sake of comedy.

[John Darling]

Posted: 4/5/06 at 3:34pm

So wait. What exactly does she sing in the show? Only "If I Told You"? She has no solos?

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 4/5/06 at 3:41pm

"Right on Time" is a solo. She has a ton of duets, too.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 4/5/06 at 4:17pm

I've not seen the show, but am a huge fan of Benanti.
It sounds like she is playing a thankless leading role.
Perhaps when her part went over as lukewarm in Seattle, the roles for Spanger and Finley were beefed up and poor Laura was left to create what brilliance she could with the drivel she was given.

Poor thing..
Mary Poppins would be outstanding, but i'm also hoping she'll get to play Nellie in South Pacific or Eliza if London's My Fair Lady ever makes it here.

[Kalimba]

Posted: 4/5/06 at 4:41pm

There is something about Laura B. that has always left me cold.

Posted: 4/5/06 at 7:14pm

i think she would be an amazing Mary Poppins.

[blah2]

Posted: 4/5/06 at 9:31pm

My two cents...I love Laura B...seen her a few times, most recently in The Secret Garden benefit before seeing her in TWS. I have to agree, I think she's unfortunately miscast in this show. The show is underwhelming and is not a vehicle for someone of her calibur. Could someone else do a better job with the role? Who knows? Personally, I'd take an amazing actress who can sing moderately well in this role. (NOT to say that Laura is an amazing singer who can act moderately well...but her strength, clearly, is in her voice). In summation: any slight is not to her...but rather to the vehicle she is trying to drive the best she can. This show should have taken less time with trying to get as many 80's song titles, authentic costume and set pieces, cheesy references and trite dialogue as they possibly could in under two hours and focused more on actual conventions of musical theatre: music, lyrics and book. I will say...I like the dancing a lot...well, except for the more obvious moments that looked like RENT, How to Succeed in Business, Mama Mia and most Bob Fosse musicals. All in all, this show does nothing new and adds little to the genre of musical theatre. Again...this is only worth two cents.
Updated On: 4/5/06 at 09:31 PM

[rah]

Posted: 4/5/06 at 11:09pm

RentBoy86, check out:

www.tinamaddigan.com

Better pictures and more info !

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 12:26am

Benati would be a great Mary Poppins
Think Ceilia Keenean Bolger in TWS
though I wouldn't want her in this poor show
Updated On: 4/6/06 at 12:26 AM

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 12:26am

Will do - thanks!

I can see that no one is going to win the fight.

For anyone whose seen it latley, have they changed anything? Or are they just tightening things?

Posted: 4/6/06 at 12:35pm

I agree no one is going to win this battle till we get to see Maddigan go on.
Also check out theweddingsingerthemusical.com

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 4/6/06 at 3:50pm

I saw it last night and they need to do more than tighten it. The book, music and lyrics are the biggest culprits here. Benanti seems miscast, but she and the rest of the cast are doing their best with just about nothing. Finley does the best job of rising above the material, but her material is the best.

I've not seen Benanti in anything yet where she has impressed me much. I disliked her alot as Claudia, and in this she is only okay. I missed her as Cinderella (understudy) and that seems suited to her.

Maddigan seems just right for the role, however.