Anyone see or hear Barbara Cook in Carrie?

[Jayar]

Posted: 9/19/05 at 8:07pm

I was wondering if any of you saw Barbara Cook when she starred in the Stratford run of Carrie. Unfortunately I decided to wait assuming it would transfer to the West End after Broadway!!

Having heard the Broadway and Stratford casts I was surprised how many changes were made by time the show reached Broadway.

I love Betty Buckley's Mrs. White and was curious how Barbara Cook tackled the role. "Open Your Heart" sung by Cook is beautiful as is "Evening Prayers". "Eve Was Weak" while good can't quite match Betty Buckeys awesome take in that number. The surprise for me was "I Remember How the Boys Could Dance", the orchestrations and tempo was far better in Stratford, the song change tempo several times which was much more exciting. At the end of the number as Mrs. White is pinned in the chair by Carrie, Mrs. White screams "Spawn of the devil, Satan’s child, witch, witch. The last witch is scream/sung by Cook and is fabulous, making this one of the high points in the show.

Did anyone out there see her, if so what did you think?

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 9/19/05 at 8:11pm

Cook could not match Buckley...vocally or acting wise.

Betty flung herself into the role of Margaret White and, had the show been better, probably could have been nominated for her role.

I don't care for Cook, I prefer Maureen McGovern after Betty.

[Jayar]

Posted: 9/19/05 at 8:16pm

I have to agree with you that nobody could fling themselves more into the role of Margaret White than Betty Buckley, but I was suprised just how good Cook was in the role, I expected her to just sound pretty.