Who saw Harvey on "Live" this morning!

[BJC899]

Posted: 2/4/05 at 10:25am

Sorry if there's a thread about this already..

BUT Harvey was on Live with Regis and Kelly this morning promoting Fiddler. He talked about the show for a little bit, and also mentioned La Cage aux Folles and how from his dressing room he can see the boys dressing room at the Marquis

He performed "If I was a rich man" and the crowd went wild when he did his little dance. Anyway Harvey is great and I'm happy he's out promoting Broadway (Craige Bierko (sp?) was on Last Call w/ Carson last night also)

Any thoughts?

[luvWICKED416]

Posted: 2/4/05 at 10:29am

Yes, I was impressed.. he's a great performer. And the crowd loved him. Overall, a very good performance. And Little Women were on The Early Show today... it wasn't anyhting special, but they perform well together as a cast.
And Craig is awesome.. he's really funny. I loved loved loved Modern Orthadox.

[WISHIHADATONY]

Posted: 2/4/05 at 11:02am

sorry, luvwicked and BJC899, but I think your prior feelings about Harvey shaded what you saw on LIVE WITH REGIS AND KELLY.

That studio audience did not love the performance. They have given much warmer and appreciative reactions, their reaction to Harvey's performance was polite, at best.

The only time they broke into applause during his performance of an abbreviated version of IF I WERE A RICH MAN was when he broke into the ZERO MOSTEL/JEROME ROBBINS TEVYE SHAKE AND ROLL, from the original production.

DID YOU NOTICE THAT after the number Regis went over to Harvey and said "very good." Not exactly raves or enthusiasm from Regis from that performance of Harvey's on his show.

I suspect the prior two posters may have their thoughts shaded because they loved Harvey's performance in HAIRSPRAY? It can't be for the awful book he wrote for La Cage Aux Folles or for the small sampling of his Fiddler performance done on LIVE WITH REGIS AND KELLY.

Simply put, he was embarassing to watch. It is with great disappointment that we endure this masterpiece of musical theater being "sung" by a voice like Harvey's. Talk about stunt casting.

And I must say, much worse than that, he comes across as a very feminine gay man in "Tevye Drag." Can't an acting coach help him tone down the gayness so that he can play Tevye as a heterosexual with five daughters?

His performance of the abbreviated IF I WERE A RICH MAN was like it was being done as a gag at a gay bar on drag night. Aside from the voice being preposterously awful for this part, his Tevye in the scene he did simply came off gayer than Roger and Carmen in THE PRODUCERS. It was very uncomfortable to watch.

I do not think Harvey's appearance on LIVE will sell any tickets to the show. I suggest they keep his performance from Fiddler, from the television viewing public; they will simply do better at the box office.

The creators of Fiddler loved Harvey's audition I have read? Jerome Robbins must be rolling in his grave. But then, when one is close to a show it is very easy to lose perspective. I cannot believe that people are paying money to see this performance in Fiddler, with the exception of those who fell in love with Harvey in HAIRSPRAY.

How sad that a musical masterpiece has been turned into a stunt casted embarassment. Sorry, it is simply so. There are tons of famous gay actors, but through training and talent they learn how to butch up their act or hide the gayness.

Harvey's feyness does not work in this part and it was very awkward to watch.

Updated On: 2/4/05 at 11:02 AM

[JBSinger]

Posted: 2/4/05 at 11:06am

Saw Harvey by chance. i was OK with the lowering of the song and the vocal delivery in general. The dance was cute and spot on. However, his gestures did not seem very grounded to me. It was very "strike a pose" (a little Edna creeping in). Glad he was on TV promoting Bway as well and glad he's well received in the show. Just thought it was a little mannered.

[WISHIHADATONY]

Posted: 2/4/05 at 11:09am

JBSinger, I am pleased you agree with me, but in a much kinder, gentler fashion:)

[BJC899]

Posted: 2/4/05 at 11:33am

Yay time for me to defend myself...

"Anyway Harvey is great and I'm happy he's out promoting Broadway" I am happy about all this promotion for Broadway. Harvey has a great attitude. I do, however have NO appreciation for him as Tevye. at ALL. I'm Jewish, my grandparents/parents have seen Topol and Zero Mostel perform this part and I am ashamed that this production is still on Broadway.

I want it clear how I feel about Harvey playing one of the greatest male parts in musical theatre.

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 2/4/05 at 12:28pm

wishihadatony - with an attitude like that one - you'll probably get your tony sooner than you expect.
Harvey Fierstein is a consumate performer with more heart in his little finger than most people have in their entire bodies. His performances are filled with grace and so much emotion, and he has a lovely way of expressing himself both on and off stage.
I disagree with you 100%. There is nothing Fey about his performance of Tevye - nothing. What he is showing is pure, unbridled passion, love for his family and a connection to all sides of his personality...both masculine and feminine (which we all have, like it or not.)

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 2/4/05 at 12:56pm

I'm sorry, but I loved his performance on the show. he was awesome. obviously he doesn't have the best of vocal abilities, but what he lacks in that department he makes up for in utter charm and delight. I didn't see any Fey at all. what where you watching? that was called comedy. as for the audience they seemed overly enthusiastic and Regis was smiling like a silly fool. most were obviously impressed as was I.

[WISHIHADATONY]

Posted: 2/4/05 at 12:57pm

redhotinnyc, sorry, but none of what you said was apparent in his performance on LIVE this morning. Harvey seems to be a lovely human being. I think this is clouding a few folk's judgement on his performance in Fiddler, although most professional critics were mixed about his performance at best.

I hope you get to see FIDDLER with an appropriate star some day, one who can sing the songs gorgeously, make you laugh in hysterics and break your heart the next moment. Alas, Zero Mostel is no longer with us.

Again, I am going purely on what I saw on LIVE this morning. For this part he needs to control the "feyness" as several critics pointed out. I was thinking that perhaps this was in some reviewers mind, them having a preconceived notion of his performance and their awareness of his sexuality. Regis and Kelly and the studio audience really did not seem to care for his performance. And sorry, but he came across as "so gay that he nearly flew away."

Perhaps redhotinnyc you should see a tape of his brief performance on LIVE this morning. That is what I am basing my comment on. Please recall I HAVE NOT SEEN him in the show and cannot make a truly fair judgement. But I must say, he did the box office no favors with his appearance and performance on LIVE this morning.

Updated On: 2/4/05 at 12:57 PM

[Mahatma Kane Jeeves]

Posted: 2/4/05 at 3:32pm

I'm sorry but in a sense i agree with TONY. Fiddler is above all a musical, and there is no way i could listen to that torturous "singing voice" for over 3 hours; the guy sounds like a yiddish Popeye the sailor.

[meagan9848]

Posted: 2/4/05 at 4:23pm

and on that note, WISHIHADATONY is on my block list. People with such an outlook really piss me off.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 2/4/05 at 4:29pm

I missed it, but I saw him in the show and thought he was phenomenal. Sure, he's not the best singer, but he tries his best, and he acts the hell out of the role. He brought dimensions to the part that Molina couldn't even hint at. Also, it's nice to see that Tevye is Jewish again.

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 2/4/05 at 4:41pm

I disagree that it needs to be performed by someone "who can sing the songs gorgeously," because Tevye is definitely not a singer's role. It is a role best suited for an actor who sings.
Harvey is wonderful in the role.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 2/4/05 at 4:45pm

I couldn't agree more, redhot!

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 2/4/05 at 4:52pm

Thanks!

[RumTumTugger22]

Posted: 2/4/05 at 5:53pm

I see this is a Harvey thread so I'm just gonna throw this out. What is wrong with HArbey's voice exactlty? I still like how it sounds but it just makes me wonder.

Posted: 2/4/05 at 6:05pm

BJC....

Just cause your Jewish does that allow you to make a definitive comment about Harvey?
And your grandparents saw the show? So you are going by what they said. Not your OWN personal feelings. HMMM..

Yes Yes I see how you would be the authority of Fiddler. Forgive me for not bowing down to your glory.

The critics seem to enjoy Harvey. And I say Bravo to him.
Just cause we have seen him in "gay" roles does NOT mean he cannot do any other roles. He is an actor. REMEMBER?

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 2/4/05 at 6:07pm

Harvey doesn't come off gay at all. He and Andrea actually have a very cute, witty chemistry.

[whatyouown223]

Posted: 2/4/05 at 6:24pm

wishihad- From what people are saying, it seems to be his singing is bad, but his acting is superb. I don't think you can criticize his performance by seeing one tv song.