Carly Rae Jepsen and Fran Drescher Extended in Cinderella

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 2/11/14 at 11:12pm

I just saw this tonight...and I enjoyed every second of this amazing production. Everything was perfect, I was transported into a world of magic and fairy tales thanks to this great new version of this book by Douglas Carter Bean.

The sets were terrific, the show didn't have a dull moment, the orchestra was first rate and so were the stars of the show.

Pop princess Carly Rae Jepsen blew me away. She has a great pop voice and her voice is good enough for Broadway. But what impressed me about her, was her acting. Who knew she was so great!? Then I read she did many musicals in her high school and that made complete sense, because she was a natural.

Queen of comedy Fran Drescher was hilariously funny, she didn't have to sing much, which is a good thing, but she had a few one-liners that are delivered in a way she only knows how to.

Victoria Clark was fantastic and I think she was perfectly cast (for a change).

Joe Carroll was excellent as the Prince. He is top notch.

Peter Bartlett was great delivering his one-liners too, Todd Buonopane was first rate as usual, Stephanie Gibson couldn't have been better, Phumzile Sojola is great and Ann Harada was a scene stealer.

I highly recommend everyone to re-visit the show if you have already seen it and if you didn't, go see this. It was a lovely evening at the theatre.

I don't "stage door" often, but I was so touched by this performance, that I decided to wait in the freezing cold. Fran came out and was a class act, she thanked everyone for coming and got in her car, then the lovely Carly Rae came out and took pictures with as many fans as she could and I was able to tell her I loved the show and that many of her fans really appreciate that she cancelled an appearance at a show for boy scouts after finding out that they didn't let gays join. She couldn't have been nicer, a true Broadway star.

Updated On: 3/13/14 at 11:12 PM

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 2/11/14 at 11:21pm

"Then I read she did many musicals in her high school and that made complete sense, because she was a natural"

She also studied at the Canadian College for the Performing Arts here, where I live, in Victoria. While I can't say I've been super impressed with the productions I've seen of theirs, they do make everyone focus on all three "threats."

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 2/12/14 at 10:05am

You never stage door?!

[HorseTears]

Posted: 2/12/14 at 10:10am

"I don't really care too much if there are any other threads about this, but I wanted to create my own."


Yes. How could we possibly expect legendary theatre critic muscle23ftl to sully his exclusive review by posting it in one of the two existing threads discussing the new cast of Cinderella? That would be like asking Ben Brantley to post his review in the Pennysaver. It simply isn't done.







Updated On: 2/12/14 at 10:10 AM

[darreyl102]

Posted: 2/12/14 at 12:40pm

"Queen of comedy Fran Drescher was hilariously funny, she didn't have to sing at all,"
So are you saying they cut out all of Madame's singing?

Updated On: 2/12/14 at 12:40 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 2/12/14 at 2:09pm

I was there and Fran most definitely sang in "A Lovely Night."

[Stevie72]

Posted: 2/12/14 at 5:20pm

How did Fran sound in the musical.

[darreyl102]

Posted: 2/13/14 at 4:06pm

Just posted A Lovely Night from their first show:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csOTM1mBwNI

[Patash]

Posted: 2/13/14 at 6:43pm

I'm a little amused by all the publicity as if Jepsen and Drescher are the two stars. Who's Victoria Clark? Chopped liver?

[ljay889]

Posted: 2/13/14 at 6:57pm

Victoria Clark is the best part of the entire production, but Madame is certainly a larger role than Marie. Though Marie has the advantage of those beautiful songs.



Updated On: 2/13/14 at 06:57 PM

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 2/13/14 at 7:12pm

Wow, they sound excellent! :)

[Patash]

Posted: 2/14/14 at 3:40pm

I guess I just had the impression that Victoria Clark had "second billing" female wise before, but maybe I just wanted to think that because she IS Victoria Clark.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 2/14/14 at 4:31pm

I would venture to say that Victoria Clark is not receiving huge amounts of attention in the new wave of press surrounding the show is because she is not new to the production. Anybody who would have seen the show just for her performance has more than likely done so by now. By heavily marketing the new stars the producers are hoping to gain audience members who might be fans of the two new women and might have been avoiding and/or unaware of the show before they came aboard. If a new star with a pre-established fan base was brought in to play Marie/Fairy Godmother then you would certainly see more marketing focusing on that actor/character as well.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 2/14/14 at 10:53pm

Exactly!

Anyone else wants to share opinions of the pop princess or the queen of comedy in this show?

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 2/21/14 at 1:18am

I loved the show so much I went to see it again...and the theater was completely sold out on a Tuesday night...so if you're interested to see the new stars of Cinderella, you better get tickets in advance. Once again, I staged door, which I rarely do anymore, and the stars couldn't have been sweeter. Fran made a speech thanking everyone for coming and got in her car, Carly took pictures with some fans and signed autographs, but as the crowds are getting larger, she can't stay and sing for everyone. Joe Carroll didn't come out for some reason, I also didn't spot Victoria Clark coming out either.

Updated On: 2/23/14 at 01:18 AM

[ethan231h]

Posted: 2/21/14 at 7:06am

I saw the show on wednesday night and the theatre was close to being sold out! Carly Rea Jepsen and Fran Drescher were FABULOUS!

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 2/21/14 at 7:22am

If a press agent were to try to equally bill Victoria Clark with Fran Drescher and Carly Rae Jepsen in the same ad, they should be fired because they CLEARLY do not know how to perform their job.
1. As stated, Drescher and Jepsen are new to the production, that equals FRESH press.
2. The target demographic that you are marketing Jepsen and Drescher to wouldn't know Victoria Clark from a homeless woman on the street. That is no insult to Clark. It is demographic. One demographic thinks Clark walks on water, a different demographic think Jepsen or Drescher walk on water. Enough said.
3. Jepsen and Drescher are an "event." "12 weeks only, come now." That is not the case for Clark.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 2/23/14 at 12:59am

Does anyone know if this new cast will get a recording?

[blaxx]

Posted: 2/23/14 at 1:00am

You should start a new thread about it.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 2/23/14 at 1:40am

Does anyone know if this new cast will get a recording?

Considering how glorious the OBCR was, I do not think they should do a new recording. Plus, Madame barely sings in the show.

[darreyl102]

Posted: 2/23/14 at 7:21am

Have you seen the show with the original cast?

[Littleshopofcarrie]

Posted: 2/23/14 at 8:16am

If anything at all, maybe there will be a new EP like Nick Jonas had in H2$?

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 2/23/14 at 9:05am

FYI, there's an interview with Fran Drescher coming up on CBS Sunday Morning in which she'll talk about her experience on Broadway.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 2/23/14 at 9:10am

I don't really care too much if there are any other threads about this, but I wanted to create my own.

...And I didn't really care too much to finish reading the rest of your post after that...

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 2/23/14 at 9:30am

^ This.