Hey Becky... at last someone who saw the quality in Krysten's performance.
She was absolutely wild and crazy (just like in real life!) and her Out Tonight was mind-blowing, it couldn't have been any sexier. But she also brought across how vulnerable Mimi was, her performce really worked for me.
QM
'He really wasn't good as Fieyro. Is it just me or does he sort of come across as a pimp? Just...the hand motions I've seen him do and the attitude..not that Taye is a pimp.' - SallyBrown on Taye Diggs as Fiyero
I have only seen about 4. I would have to say Daphne, and a close second out of the ones I have seen has to be Dominique Roy. That girl rocks!
I want to write music. I want to sit down right now at my piano and write a song that people will listen to and remember and do the same thing every morning...for the rest of my life. - Jonathan Larson. Tick, Tick...BOOM!
I love the fact that you don't even have to mention the word "Rent" for people to know what show you're talking about when you say "Your favorite Mimi." I have loved all 4 of my Mimis.
Favorite Mimi: Dominique Roy Then Caren Lyn Manuel, Karmine Alers/Krystal Washington
Best Out Tonight I've seen: Dominique Roy Then Karmine, Caren/Krystal Killer vocals: Caren Lyn Manuel with Karmine falling in second
Dom had the most bad*ss Mimi. Wild, reckless, part trashy, part sexy, fun, needy. She was young without shame. She had a bit of attitude and was just really intense. Her anger was more apparent the second time I saw her, but the vulnerability and pain were there. Not only do I love her Mimi, but I love how connected she is to what she's singing. If I shut my eyes, I could listen and tell exactly what she was feeling by the way she was saying it. The first time I saw Dom as Mimi was imprinted on my brain. And this was July 2002-ish.
Her OT was killer. She was on fire. Her bar dance was fierce and crazy, just completely wild and free. The robe came off early. Tons of classic Mimi moves. She did the balance beam/tight rope walk. She crossed herself but then put her hands together in prayer on "Christmas Day." The leg up on "Avenue B." Stuck her head between the bars and reached forward on "well take my hand we're gonna" before pulling back and then launching herself over the bars. D*mn, she can move and get those legs up there. She did things I had never seen before and have never seen again. The second time I saw her Mimi, almost everything was different. She was still great, but she couldn't touch the level of the performance I had seen out of her 2 years prior. Especially in OT which was a not-so-great effort, even if her stage presence was through the roof.
Caren had the sweetest, sexiest Mimi I've ever seen. Really vulnerable but with some zip and fire. Rock star vocals too. Karmine is playful Mimi. Cute and gorgeous with strong vocals. Very human too. I don't feel the emotional complexity, but Karmine is great. Krystal is hard to describe, but she rocks in her own way. Flirty sexy LMC and an emotional AD/WY. Her OT is cool even if I prefer a different feel to it.
Caren had a sexy feel to her OT, but was a little awkward on the bars. She could get her legs up real high though. Awesome vocals. Karmine has a stronger OT than Caren. It's more playful and active physically. Always solid and stong-voiced. Krystal gets her legs up higher than anyone I've seen. She does this cool back bend into a sitting pose thing on her first "ow-oot tonight." I like that a lot. She's a bit stiff at times, but Krystal is cool.
My hands-down favorite Mimi was definitely Karen Olivo. I've seen 7 different Mimis and she brought the most emotion to the stage. She was really able to bring the sass, sex, and "hardness" that makes up Mimi. But more than any other representation I've seen, I could see the vulnerable side of Mimi, once you can strip down the other qualities. I guess I felt like Karen's portrayal was the most multi-layered that I've seen.
"You act like you're cleaner than the Board of Heath, but you're just a fame ho just like me. You know it...and you LOVE it!"
-Paradice to Brooklyn
"But I relish every brillant inspired moment. This is who I'm determined to be- an actor/singer/dancer-no, I take that back, this is who I am. These people are my tribe, my destiny. I know it.
-How I Paid for College; A story of sex, theft, friendship and musical theater.
Karming gets my vote. She was AMAZING. I thank the gods we got her as understudy one night Mel B was out. Karmine's portrayal is fiery, sexy, strong, and comfortable. There was something about her that radiated sincerity and hurt. Forget that her voice is killer. Since I saw her I've been counting down the days till her solo album is released.
Krystal was incredibly good, but I didn't get from her what I got from Karmine's performance.
I've seen a lot of Mimis but I think I'm going to go with Yaz as my favorite. I thought she had that perfect balance of druggie/sweet girl that I like. She was edgy but also a little bit vulnerable.
Karen Olivo was also a great Mimi as was Marcy. Of all the Mimi's she seemed to be the most "youthful."
I thought Mel B. was terrible and I like Krystal a lot better now than I did when I first saw her.
"... Still a little bit of your taste in my mouth.
Still a little bit of you laced with my doubt. Still a little hard to say what's going on..." Damien Rice