Company Previews Thread- Page 13

[SouthernCakes]

Sorry to break it to you, Kad. But it is all a matter of opinion. I tried to overlook it, but couldn’t help but wonder how insane the show would be with a better vocalist. I liked her casting on paper but even I asked if she had the voice for the role.

Sure, she’s done musicals, but they were Once and The Band’s Visit, so not your standard Broadway show tunes. And we’ve become accustomed to power house vocals and a great actor.

[bwayphreak234]

I am rather shocked at all these comments about Katrina Lenk. I thought she was absolutely splendid in the role. I think she brings a lot to the table with her performance which I found to be extremely distinguished and unique. Her vocals did not bother me at all, and her acting was superb.

[BenElliott]

I think I'll be buying an absurdly expensive ticket to this for this weekend. Is the show in really great shape or should I hold off and wait a little longer for the cast to get a few more performances under their belts? I'm worried to buy tickets post opening as cast attendance seems to be optional on Broadway these days.

[SouthernCakes]

It’s worth it!

[BenElliott]

Thanks. I bit the bullet and bought a premium ticket for Friday before the plague shuts all the shows down (God forbid).

[BroadwayFan12]

bwayphreak234 said: "I am rather shocked at all these comments about Katrina Lenk. I thought she was absolutely splendid in the role. I think she brings a lot to the table with her performance which I found to be extremely distinguished and unique. Her vocals did not bother me at all, and her acting was superb."

I agree 100%.

[Luvinbroadway]

Saw this in London and loved it. Saw it last night and loved it x 10. I have never seen a Company that milked every laugh and pathos from the book. The one scene I disliked in London was Another Hundred People. It is now breathtaking.

Patti needs to pick out her dress for the Tony. Jennifer Simard is priceless as is the rest of the cast. Besides some lighting issues the show and cast are on fire.

Loved Katrina’s take on Bobbie.

Question: Are Katrina’s sneakers a choice or due to an injury. In London Rosalie wore red high heels. I can see both perspectives. Woman in motion vs. injury. 

[BalconyClub]

At Tuesday's extended intermission, there was a lot of hammering going on backstage.

Great production. Especially liked the orchestra, kitchen set, and LuPone.

Loved Lenk's book scenes, but her songs were just OK.

[blaxx]

Bigserver1 said: "RippedMan said: "I think it's tough in 2020 to have a lead in a big broadway musical who doesn't have the vocals for the part. In the 70s you could get away with it. But not now. There's too much talent out there. Give me Mueller as Bobbie."

Jessie Mueller as Bobbie would have been amazing."

 

Not for this version. In this Company, Bobbie's friends are the loud, flashy, over the top belters. Lenk's approach works so well because she is so charmingly reserved and eager to discover; an observer who is, empathetically, vastly different from the rest of them. If she was to get a drilling power belt for her solos, the effect would be lost.

[Akitarent]

Takeaways from the March 10th Wed show:

Katrina was great, understated and loved her acting choices. Her singing...I wasn't sure what her character's choices were at times.  I think lowering down some of the keys or ...I can't put my finger on it, it needs something.


Her "Being Alive" left a lot to be desired.  She may have had a lot of emotion and subtle, but being in orchestra P, that wasn't conveyed.

 

Also, the sound balance at times was uneven but nothing major 

[DramaTeach]

This production is a prime example of how not every role fits every actor. I was mesmerized by Katrina Lenk in The Band’s Visit. The opposite was true here. She felt too old for the part and her voice was just not good enough. Even when she tried to amp up the emotion and focus less on the singing, I didn’t feel it. Some people have said you hear her middle eastern accent in the role. For the most part I didn’t hear it, but there it came out in two songs. It feels like the offered her the part because of her Tony win but they didn’t hear her sing it until the first rehearsal and then probably though, “Well...we’ll make it work.”

Lupone was cool and hammy, but I do wish her “Ladies Who Lunch” had more of a bite to it. It was a bit too pretty for me. And the setting felt weird. In 2020 this could be such a funny commentary on the yoga-attending, Starbucks-holding stay-at-homes. I know they already hit on this with Simard’s character, but the club type feel didn’t work for me, so I lost the humor in it.

The rest of the ensemble was a delight. My favorite was Doyle as Jamie. His neurosis was spot-on. Elder, Fitzgerald, and Conte were also highlights.

The show feels (and maybe is) at bit too long, but it’s a very fun night out. I just wish more of the emotion was there. 

 

[ljay889]

Luvinbroadway said: "

Question: Are Katrina’s sneakers a choice or due to an injury. In London Rosalie wore red high heels. I can see both perspectives. Woman in motion vs. injury."


I asked this a while ago in this thread. The consensus seemed to be they’re for comfort because she never leaves the stage and the sneakers are hip and very New York. 
if you noticed, she wears neutral colored heels for the wedding scene through the end of act one, which make sense. 

[SouthernCakes]

I do wonder what the audition process was...

[BenElliott]

Katrina was selected by Sondheim himself apparently.

[joevitus]

blaxx said: "Bigserver1 said: "RippedMan said: "I think it's tough in 2020 to have a lead in a big broadway musical who doesn't have the vocals for the part. In the 70s you could get away with it. But not now. There's too much talent out there. Give me Mueller as Bobbie."

Jessie Mueller as Bobbie would have been amazing."



Not for this version. In this Company, Bobbie's friends are the loud, flashy, over the top belters. Lenk's approach works so well because she is so charmingly reserved and eager to discover; an observer who is, empathetically, vastly differentfrom the rest of them. If she was to get a drilling power belt for her solos, the effect would be lost."

This is, hands down, the best post of the subject I've read. Don't live in New York, so can't go and see if you're right, but the concept of the casting makes perfect sense as you describe it. 

[ljay889]

BenElliott said: "Katrina was selected by Sondheim himself apparently."

Yes, this has come from multiple sources. He was apparently enamored with her during the JRB/Sondheim concert. Sondheim has never been about big generic belters. No matter how many times certain people in this thread state that the score needs a belter, it's simply not true. They had every opportunity to cast someone like Jessie Mueller, and it's quite evident they purposely didn't want to go that route. As I've said previously in this thread, Sondheim famously scolded Patti for belting during a Sunday in the Park audition. It's not his thing, never was, never will be. 

[BroadwayFan12]

I wonder if the people who didn't care for Katrina's performance were sitting further back. I was in orch row D and could see all of her facial expressions and body language. I loved everything about her performance, but if it doesn't come across to everyone in the theatre, I can see how that would be a problem.

[kennedy_rose]

dabrams said: "Hey everybody. I have a specific question regarding Lenk's singing for anyone who has seen the show. When I saw her perform on the NYE Sondheim concertit sounded like she was still doing her Dina accent. Was I completely imagining this? Because I haven't seen this particular point discussed anywhere, but it struck me to the point where I had to confirm online that she is in fact American (and I consider myself a fan).I am wondering if the "accent" (or vowel choices or whatever) are still present in this production. Just curious, I've still got tickets for April and I can't wait to see the show!"

Here's the skinny on the accent, which was also quite prevalent during her NYE performance...she thinks of herself in the vein of Edith Piaf...her style, voice, etc. Lenk is influenced by the Cabaret genre in general. Anyway, she can't shake it off, it's part of her schtick now. I find it terribly distracting and quite amateurish.

[qolbinau]

Can they record a cast album in the down time?

[copathetiic]

qolbinau said: "Can they record a cast album in the down time?"

They posted a new Instagram video with a recorded audio of Bobby Conte Thornton singing “Another Hundred People”. Makes me feel they already recorded one. May be wrong through. 

[ljay889]

It sounded like he sung that on a voice memo.
There definitely wasn’t a recording yet. It would be publicized and all over the cast’s IG stories.

[WestEndGal]

Bigserver1 said: "RippedMan said: "I think it's tough in 2020 to have a lead in a big broadway musical who doesn't have the vocals for the part. In the 70s you could get away with it. But not now. There's too much talent out there. Give me Mueller as Bobbie."

Jessie Mueller as Bobbie would have been amazing."

Love Jessie but I don’t really see her as a Bobbie. 

[Zion24]

BroadwayFan12 said: "I wonder if the people who didn't care for Katrina's performance were sitting further back. I was in orch row D and could see all of her facial expressions and body language. I loved everything about herperformance, but if it doesn't come across to everyone in the theatre, I can see how that would be a problem."

im just crushed ill likely never get to see for myself. her voice was magic in Bands Visit so hard for me to understand how she isnt hitting Being Alive out the park. 

[SouthernCakes]

I was in the front mezz and really enjoyed her Bobby, just not the singing. Even in the opening number it felt out of her arena.

Kennedy, I agree with you and that’s why I wish they’d take the time to find a key where her voice actually lives and she can give us her cabaret style which I think would totally work. Think: how would Lenk perform these songs at a 54 Below cabaret.

[SouthernCakes]

I was in the front mezz and really enjoyed her Bobby, just not the singing. Even in the opening number it felt out of her arena.

Kennedy, I agree with you and that’s why I wish they’d take the time to find a key where her voice actually lives and she can give us her cabaret style which I think would totally work. Think: how would Lenk perform these songs at a 54 Below cabaret.