I want to see JHud as an over the hill Dorothy in The Wiz! I bet she wins her third Tony!
The only Ivy I want to see is Ivy McBride!
"Carson has combined his passion for helping children with his love for one of Cincinnati's favorite past times - cornhole - to create a unique and exciting event perfect for a corporate outing, entertaining clients or family fun."
"???? So you're saying you'd rather see a musical about Marilyn with a mediocre voice actress who sounds like the real Marilyn for the sake of "accuracy" rather than one with a really good voice?
You mean like the real singing voice of Gypsy Rose Lee or in fact, her mother? Or the accuracy of Pearl Mesta's singing voice as portrayed by Ethel Merman in Call Me Madam? Gee, if you can't suspend belief enough to accept a good singer in a musical doing the role of someone who wasn't a very good singer -- I kind of feel sorry for you trying to enjoy musicals. It must be difficult."
Patash, I didn't mean to suggest that the actress playing Marilyn should be a mediocre singer or shouldn't sing the score very well?
And I'd like to modify what I said which I believe may have quite justifiably inspired your comments. Hilty has at many times in Smash done exactly what she needs to do. She has successfully suggested Monroe in her numbers. Last night, she didn't. In fact she was completely unpersuasive as Monroe, so much so that it inspired my overzealous - and unfair - comment that she sounds jarringly unMonroe-ish; that's not generally true. Last night, however, it was flagrantly true.
The role of Marilyn Monroe in a musical should be cast with a great singer who can artfully suggest Monroe's distinctive vocalization in song. But last night in her "Let Me Be Your Star" rehearsal Hilty's vocals were antithetical to Marilyn.
While Hilty did some of her most impressive singing on Smash last night, truly showed off her power; the fact is that the way she used her voice in that instance would be totally unpersuasive in a performance as Monroe. At other times in Smash, she has sang very well but not done anything like what she did last night: sang in a way that was jarringly wrong for the very recognizable performer she was portraying.
Certainly, an actress playing Monroe should convince us that she is Monroe while speaking and moving. It would be quite odd to see an actress doing just that and then suddenly launching into song and sounding the way Hilty did last night.
I doubt very much that most people know Gypsy Rose Lee as a singer. Much less Rose Hovick or Pearl Mesta. But the fact is that Marilyn Monroe's singing is very famous as well as very distinctive. And although I wouldn't say she was a great singer, I wouldn't classify her musical performing as mediocre, much less so bad that the singer playing her would have to go out of her way to not sing well. Quite the opposite.
Monroe sold musical numbers very well in her films and there is no reason that in a musical about Monroe a great singer couldn't impress as a great singer while at the same time satisfactorily evoking Monroe.
"Hit List. I love that baby face Kyle (Andy Mientus)."
Then I'm afraid you'd have to lurk backstage and see if you can catch glimpses of him when he's not being Jimmy's dresser, making out with the lighting designer, or running around looking concerned.
Oh, doodlenyc, Gretchen Wyler, yes! She was amazing (Birdie, Silk Stockings, Damn Yankees) and is sorely missed. Maybe Gretchen could give some life to this tired, lifeless, endlessly repetitive show.
"Hit List. I love that baby face Kyle (Andy Mientus)."
Then I'm afraid you'd have to lurk backstage and see if you can catch glimpses of him when he's not being Jimmy's dresser, making out with the lighting designer, or running around looking concerned.
Eric, it'd be better than watching the actual show!
henrikegerman, thanks for you very well put response. When I read it yesterday I had not yet seen the most recent episode but watched it last night. OK. I see what you mean. There is not even a "hint" of Marilyn in that song she sings --Let Me Be Your Star. But, and perhaps I'm wrong, I don't see why there should be. I listened to the song and I even read the lyrics. I'm not sure how the song is used within the context of Bombshell, but despite the "me" in the title of the song, I honestly don't think it's supposed to be Marilyn singing it. It seems to be about Marilyn but not sung by her. Perhaps it is the opening number -- or is this the number at the end of Bombshell after Marilyn dies and the actress sings about her?
In other songs when Ivy IS PLAYING Marilyn, I think she captures the essence of Marilyn. But I really don't think she is even supposed to BE Marilyn in that song. Am I wrong?
""Does Karen sign at the stage door? If not, then no Hit List, please""
thats pretty funny. you know Ivy will sign, she so wants to be loved, and Hilty is one of the friendliest actresses on the planet!
FINDINGNAMO, SNAFU, THEATERDIVE, JORDANCATALONO, LIZASHEADBAND, PALJOEY: You all claim to "IGNORE ME" I wish you would and stop constantly commenting on my posts. Thanks ......................................................................................................................................
The MOST POPULAR and DANGEROUS Poster on BWW! Banned by the PTA, PTC and the MEANGIRLS of BWW.....................................................................................................................
...Ukraine Girls really knock me out, they leave the west behind..........................
To answer the question above, "Let Me Be Your Star" is supposed to be sung by Norma Jeane, before her transition to Marilyn. That's why neither Hilty nor McPhee have sounded "Marilyn"-esque when they've sung it.
This is the relevant excerpt from the Bombshell synopsis:
Before she was Marilyn Monroe, she was Norma Jeane. At the top of the show, her first marriage has just ended due to her all consuming drive to be a movie star ("LET ME BE YOUR STAR"--Norma Jeane).