patti cohenour reviewed in piazza.- Page 3

[Dannyarts]

Posted: 5/4/06 at 2:31pm

Munk,
perhaps the P.C. police are on holiday today.

But mis-spelt? Do you mean misspelled?
Updated On: 5/4/06 at 02:31 PM

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 5/4/06 at 2:45pm

I can't wait to watch this on PBS.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/4/06 at 3:02pm

Munk and Muscle are gonna wrestle on PBS?
My money's on Muscle.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 5/4/06 at 3:42pm

Curtain? Not typing in stanza-like prose today, are you? What made you decide to be coherent?

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 5/7/06 at 8:18pm

She was great in Big River!

[kgee30]

Posted: 5/28/06 at 9:36pm

Hate to come late to the discussion, but I saw Patti in the role last week (after seeing Victoria twice—last October and earlier this month). I had no intention of seeing it a third time until I realized Patti sings my favorite song on the "Big River" recording (which I've loved for years without paying attention to the casting), and then I had to sneak in another visit.

It's a great testament to both Clark and Cohenour that they each succeeded, and that both affected me in completely different ways and in different scenes, which is unusual because I tend to form very strong biases based on who I see (or hear) first. (Juvenile, I know, but there it is.)

With Clark, it came in the scene where Margaret is talking on the phone to her husband—the expression on her face just did me in, and all she was doing was listening and staring out into the audience. It was haunting. (And now I see it's the image they used for her great big billboard shot down in the parking garage. So apparently I'm not alone in this.)

With Cohenour, it came a few scenes later, after she's found Clara in the piazza at midnight and leads her back to their hotel and sings her that lullabye, rocking her to sleep. Totally killed me.

So what I would say: Clark's acting hit me a little harder, but I prefer Cohenour's voice (and ultimately liked her a bit better in the role). Of course it's all a matter of degrees: Clark's portrayal is fierce and brittle, a force of nature—almost a slap in the face; Cohenour is softer, sweeter, thoroughly affecting, yet somehow less vibrant. But Clark's singing voice has that sharper, almost metallic edge to it (more brass than violin, one might say), whereas Cohenour's is warmer, less strident, frankly prettier. I liked the music more when I heard her singing it. But ultimately both were compelling, both were a marvel, and—for me—both were a treasure.

And now I'm so very sad to see it ending... Please someone continue to give both of these marvelous actresses the opportunity to strut their stuff.

Updated On: 5/29/06 at 09:36 PM

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 5/28/06 at 9:48pm

kgee- You are the opposite of me! I liked Victoria's voice a little better, but Patti's acting won me over.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 5/28/06 at 9:52pm

I thought Patti had a much better grip on the part, which I know will not be a popular opinion on this board.

*ducks to avoid flying OBC's*

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 5/28/06 at 9:57pm

*gives Princeton a shield*

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 5/28/06 at 10:00pm

kgee, from one writer to another, your word choice and descriptions are simply beautiful. great review!

Posted: 5/28/06 at 11:20pm

WickedRentEder - What have you got against Mike Piazza? He's a nice man and a great ball player. I know this is off topic but Wicked called Mike a schmuck!

[Fabrizio2]

Posted: 5/28/06 at 11:28pm

I haven't seen Patti.

[broadway_show_fan]

Posted: 5/29/06 at 2:01am

kgee - BEAUTIFUL. It has been quite a while since I last saw Patti in the Margaret role (August 20th!) but I WILL (!!!) see her again in that role before the show closes. I agree with so much of what you said, even the comment about tending to like those you see first in roles. I don't think it's juvenile; I think it's just that it's a testament that humans are creatures of habit and we try to cling to what we know. (And doesn't that shine through in Piazza somewhat?)

I do just LOVE Patti's voice. It's angelic. If you do love her as much as I do, I will shamelessly suggest her cd To an Isle in the Water because it truly showcases her gorgeous voice.

I love Patti so much just because she's a great person - but from what I remember from her performance way back last July (as compared to seeing Victoria in the role in early April) I like Patti's singing AND speaking voices/accent better. I think she came off as more soft and compassionate. (Please don't hurt me!!) I can't wait to see her again!

[kgee30]

Posted: 5/29/06 at 8:52am

Oh, I completely agree -- I'm now fairly obsessed with her voice (which is totally unique -- and I'm not usually bowled over by Broadway sopranos, so that's saying something), and have already ordered the CD through her site. Can't wait!

[Horton]

Posted: 5/29/06 at 9:19am

I just think that Victoria is amazing, I saw Patti Cohenour, and she just didnt cut it for me, it was like her head was not in the game. Victoria Clark is a goddess, I mean her acting was right on and her singing well how can you compete with that. With all respect I cant believe that so many of you enjoyed Patti Cohenour more than Victoria Clark!

[kgee30]

Posted: 5/29/06 at 9:50am

I thought Victoria was amazing, too—I'm glad they're both getting a chance to shine in this show, and that I had the opportunity to see both interpretations. The character is marvelous—how often do they make mature, complicated women the focal point for musicals anymore? That alone is reason to celebrate. But if you asked me who I would rather hear sing the score, I would choose Patti—personal preference, no?
Updated On: 5/29/06 at 09:50 AM

[bwayboi4life42]

Posted: 5/29/06 at 10:07am

"the question is why a girl fresh out of college with just a high school production of "anything goes" in her bio got this starring role on broadway???!!! clarke was just ok. it made me miss kelli o'hara, a lot!"

Actually, it was a professional production of Anything Goes in Houston, Texas.

http://tuts.com/season04/anythinggoes.php

Katie danced in the ensemble. It was a really good show. I knew Katie at the time, as well as many of the other dancers and the show's director.

Sorry, a little off-topic, but that was bothering me.

[broadway_show_fan]

Posted: 5/29/06 at 2:30pm

kgee - personal preference, si. And a damn good one because it's mine as well!

SO glad you got the cd. It's absolutely exquisite! It's the most gorgeous and calming work I've heard in a long time (that isn't the overly-played "Fur Elise" or something similar). Very unique and just so well done.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 5/29/06 at 3:39pm

Patti's CD is a stunning work.

Patti is a stunning human being. She is one of the kindest women I've ever met and I'm lucky to say that I got to know her very well while she was in New York and will miss her dearly when she returns to Seattle.

Patti is an incredible acting teacher, as well.

And now on to Patti in PIAZZA.

Everyone knows that Victoria Clark is one of my idols. That everytime I see her at the stagedoor, I usually panic and wind up sobbing. Yes, if you've heard her mention the crying fan, that's me. BUT, when I saw Patti in the role, I was so moved. She was completely different. Softer. Kinder. Sweeter. Less abrasive. And then in the second act, the hardness came out. And I found myself so tortured by the love that she had for her daughter and the overwhelming sense of self-hatred for turning away to answer the phone in those few seconds when "momentous things happen".

The performances are strikingly different, each strikingly beautiful. But Cohenour's is remarkably beautiful and haunting, as is Clark's. These ladies are two forces not to be reckoned with.