Baz Luhrmann's La Boheme on DVD...

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/7/05 at 10:30pm

does anyone have this? I own the Broadway cast recording and I really like it a lot. I think the music is just fantastic, and the singers are amazing, but I know the DVD is not the same cast nor a film of the Broadway production, but rather the original Australian staging. That said, how do the singers compare to those on the Broadway CD and what are the sets, costumes and staging like? Is it the same as it was done on Broadway?

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 4/7/05 at 10:33pm

I've heard from several people that it is not as good as the Broadway production. It pre-dates the NYC version by 12 years, and apparently, Luhrmann really tightened it up in that span.

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 4/7/05 at 10:39pm

Oh man! When I saw this thread, I nearly shat myself. I thought there was going to be an actual DVD of the Broadway production.

I saw Jesús Garcia as Rodolfo and I would give anything to see that again.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 4/7/05 at 10:40pm

I saw all three casts. Jesus was the best Rudolfo and Wei Huang was the best Mimi.

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 4/7/05 at 10:44pm

Not only is he a fantastic tenor, but he was oh so easy on the eyes...

[phantom_tenor]

Posted: 4/7/05 at 10:46pm

The DVD of the original's pretty good. Cheryl Barker is really fantastic as Mimi, and David Hobson is a charming Rudolfo. The guy who plays Marcello's really cool too.

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 4/7/05 at 10:53pm

Be still my heart...

[suzycat]

Posted: 4/7/05 at 11:08pm

I loved the ad campaign for that show!

[ca_muzikgurl]

Posted: 4/8/05 at 12:47am

The video from Sydney is a great representation of the show.
The sets and costumes are basically the same as the San Francisco,Broadway and LA productions.

Jésus was amaaaazing. I was lucky enough to see him paired with Wei for a performance in San Francisco when Lisa was ill and he completely won me over. His sobs at the end were so heartwrenching.
I was sitting front row, stage left and didn't know until after the show that my companion couldn't see the translation!
We were standing outside the theatre before the show and I looked up the street and saw Peter Lockyer walking towards us.
He's the first Marius that I saw on Broadway, so I have a soft spot for him. I sort of did a double take when I saw him because I had completely forgotten that he was in the ensemble of Boheme. I thought "What's he doing here!!??" lol

By the time the show got to LA, it just seemed kind of tired.
I saw Janinah Burnett as Mimi and she was not likable at all. She had stage presence of a wet match and came off as if she thought she belonged on the Met stage rather than small beans Los Angeles.
Ben Davis as Marcello was definitely the highlight. I almost needed a fan when he put The Moves on Musetta.

Did anyone see Lockyer go on as Rodolfo?

[Kelly]

Posted: 4/8/05 at 1:23am

Yup, I did. After so many years of seeing Peter as Marius it was such a lovely surprise to hear him sing SO well as Rodolfo. I thought he was stunning. La Boheme was a gorgeous show. Too bad it couldn't stick around longer.

I have the Australian DVD and think it's quite a good representation. Certainly better than nothing!

[eslgr8]

Posted: 4/8/05 at 2:33am

The Australian DVD is very similar to the New York/L.A. production, but they found much "hotter" performers for the U.S. cast, which is what they were looking for, singers who had star quality and sex-appeal. That is less the case with the Australian production, with the exception of the very handsome David Hobson.

[Phantom2]

Posted: 4/9/05 at 12:11am

David Miller has one of the most amazing voices I have ever heard. Truly magnificant performer!

[eslgr8]

Posted: 4/9/05 at 2:32am

I went back a 2nd time to see Boheme especially to have the chance to see the most physically gorgeous tenor in the world--and also as good a singer as you could wish for the part of Rodolfo. Currently a member of Il Divo. Mr. David Miller, of the adorable smile! Updated On: 4/9/05 at 02:32 AM

[Phantom2]

Posted: 4/9/05 at 2:36am

That picture does not do him justice. He has a glorious voice!