Fantasia as Effie, I THINK NOT
Fantasia as Effie, I THINK NOT
#0Fantasia as Effie, I THINK NOT
Posted: 11/1/05 at 2:19am
1. Either it should be Jennifer Hudson
2. or some unknown singer/actor to the 'pop' culture.
Fantasia is an okay singer, and I like her but she is no Effie.
BSoBW2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/8/04
#2re: Fantasia as Effie, I THINK NOT
Posted: 11/1/05 at 2:37am
?...what do you mean?
Who is that person in your avatar?
#3re: Fantasia as Effie, I THINK NOT
Posted: 11/1/05 at 3:28amThe person in her avatar looks like Eartha Kitt. And I agree with you about Fantasia.
#4re: Fantasia as Effie, I THINK NOT
Posted: 11/1/05 at 6:20am
Fantasia as Effie, I THINK NOT
Agreed, a thousand times over! 
touchmeinthemorning
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/3/04
#5re: Fantasia as Effie, I THINK NOT
Posted: 11/1/05 at 10:24amloving the new avatar, melissa errico fan!
"Fundamentalism means never having to say 'I'm wrong.'"
-- unknown
#6re: Fantasia as Effie, I THINK NOT
Posted: 11/1/05 at 10:32am
What if Jennifer Hudson can't act? Should she still play the role then? What if Fantasia really gave the best audition?
I personally detest threads like this because it's all based on asumption. Unless you've seen Fantasia's infamous "screen test" and seen what she is capable of doing with the role, you can't really say with any conviction whether she can pull it off or not.
That said, almost everyone in the industry expects an announcement that Fantasia will indeed be playing the role any day now, so you might as well get used to it, or stay home. Resigning yourself to hate something that hasn't even happened yet is a total waste of energy.
#7re: Fantasia as Effie, I THINK NOT
Posted: 11/1/05 at 10:40am
"Fantasia is an okay singer"
Well, that's a stretch.
#8re: Fantasia as Effie, I THINK NOT
Posted: 11/1/05 at 10:42amDefinitly not Fantasia. If they are willing to go for a slimmer singer tho, what about Ramona Keller? She would kick ass.
touchmeinthemorning
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/3/04
#9re: Fantasia as Effie, I THINK NOT
Posted: 11/1/05 at 10:47amIf they wanna go with something different, they should cast someone like Martha Stewart or Stritchy. Otherwise, stick with the big soulful sound this music is written for.
"Fundamentalism means never having to say 'I'm wrong.'"
-- unknown
robbiej
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/20/03
#10re: Fantasia as Effie, I THINK NOT
Posted: 11/1/05 at 10:53am
Slimmer singer???? Ms. Keller would make Beyonce look like an Effie.
Fact is, no one is taking into account that the role, in some ways, needs to be reconceived. Film is a VERY different medium than the stage. The kind of performance that plays to the back of the Minskoff (the kind of performance Ms. Holliday gave, I would imagine) would simply overhwhelm the screen. Choosing a different vocal style than Ms. Holliday, but one that is still distincly 'black', is a wise choice. Remember, as has been discussed here many, many times, this show is not about weight. It's about selling out. Denying your race to make it in a white business. And from all reports, Fantasia's screen test was spectacular.
I remember when everyone was gnashing their teeth over Renee Zellweger, CZJ and the Gerbil Boy were cast in CHICAGO. What a disaster THAT turned out to be.
"I'm so looking forward to a time when all the Reagan Democrats are dead."
touchmeinthemorning
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/3/04
#11re: Fantasia as Effie, I THINK NOT
Posted: 11/1/05 at 11:00am
Problem is Fantasia sings a lot like Beyonce. How do you make the "she can't sing like I can" series of lines work? If you cut them, then the major thread of the story is lost...and we're no longer watching a film adaptation, but we're watching a brand new story entirely.
Whoever they cast as Effie NEEDS to sang SO much better than any of the other girls...or at least so much more emotionally...something that makes her likable to the audience. Fantasia just scares me because I don't think people could take her seriously as an actor...but, I may be totally wrong...she may be out of this world. But, she'll HAVE to be to make it work.
"Fundamentalism means never having to say 'I'm wrong.'"
-- unknown
#12re: Fantasia as Effie, I THINK NOT
Posted: 11/1/05 at 11:16am
Well obviously Effie's music is very different then Deena's. And that's how the writers of the piece differentiate the "skills" of the characters. Obviously in the many years the show ran in NYC and on the road, there were plenty of Deenas who sang as well if not better then the women playing Effie.
Robbie is dead on. What works on stage isn't the same as what works on film. If you had taken that Jennifer Holliday performance she gives on the Tonys and tried to put that on film, audiences would have laughed. As it is, even realizing that its a stage performance, she looks like she's going to eat Curtis's head.
Jennifer Holliday's perforrmance is legendary. Whoever plays the role on film is going to have to live in her shadow, and Condon is wise to try to go in a completely different direction.
Updated On: 11/1/05 at 11:16 AM
kidbroadway
Chorus Member Joined: 10/21/03
#13re: Fantasia as Effie, I THINK NOT
Posted: 11/1/05 at 11:22amI absolutely guarantee that EFFIE, in the movie, will not be played by anyone associated with American Idol. So let's stop discussing it.
#14re: Fantasia as Effie, I THINK NOT
Posted: 11/1/05 at 12:07pm
I have a feeling that Jennifer Hudson can't act, just based on the way she held herself during Idol. She's a great performer, but something tells me she doesn't have the acting chops to pull off Effie. If I remember correctly, she had issues with those little tv spots they made them do.
Frenchie Davis, who is a fine singer, cannot act to save her life either.
I may be in the minority, but I think Fantasia is a very honest performer who has been through enough crap in her life to give an honest performance as Effie White.
And then there's the simple fact that no matter what we say or how much we protest, the studio is going to do whatever the hell they want.
Updated On: 11/1/05 at 12:07 PM
#15re: Fantasia as Effie, I THINK NOT
Posted: 11/1/05 at 12:12pm
And I have to say, that if Fantasia really gave a brilliant screentest (and we have glowing endoresements from Jamie Foxx, one of the big selling points of the film) -- there is no way that the studio is going to pass her up for an unknown. They not only have to think about ticket sales, but albulm sales, merchandising etc, and Fantasia's name would boost all those things -- they have to be able to sell their 90 million dollar baby.
Are you saying you have insider information Kid -- because if you do, I'd love to hear it. Its certainly different then word on the street behind Dreamworks Studios.
Updated On: 11/1/05 at 12:12 PM
#16re: Fantasia as Effie, I THINK NOT
Posted: 11/1/05 at 12:26pm
If kid does have insider info...I think he is hinting that EFFIE is not the role someone from American Idol will be playing. As was mentioned in the earlier gossip post...probably Lorell.
Updated On: 11/1/05 at 12:26 PM
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#18re: Fantasia as Effie, I THINK NOT
Posted: 11/1/05 at 1:40pm
Anyone else think Team Fantasia is acting awfully obnoxious? It's like they're getting paid to go to every relevant message board and assure everyone she has the role while knocking any other suggestion. Heeeeyyyyy, I could use some extra cash for the holidays, maybe... They've been talking of an "announcement any day now" that Fantasia (who favorite musical is the movie version of The Wiz. Oy!) has the role for months. Newsflash: if Effie auditions are still going on (and they ARE) TPTB at DreamWorks can't be that impressed with Fantasia. Why hasn't TheTruth been made aware of this thread yet so he or she can assure us that Fantasia has the role in the bag and no else can do the role justice?
Updated On: 11/1/05 at 01:40 PM
#19re: Fantasia as Effie, I THINK NOT
Posted: 11/1/05 at 1:45pm
"Remember, as has been discussed here many, many times, this show is not about weight. It's about selling out. Denying your race to make it in a white business"
What in tarnation??? this show is NOT about denying your race to make it the white business. No one is denyin that they are African American in this show. its about Love, Dreaming and realizing dreams.
#20re: Fantasia as Effie, I THINK NOT
Posted: 11/1/05 at 1:45pm
I don't know... this "Dream" trio really works for me.
"Jaws is the Citizen Kane of movies."
blocked: logan2, Diamonds3, Hamilton22
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BSoBW2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/8/04
#21re: Fantasia as Effie, I THINK NOT
Posted: 11/1/05 at 1:47pm
It is Eartha Kitt.
I am not a fan of Fantasia, but after all this hoopla, if she really is the best - let it be.
(P.S. Lisa Simpson beat her in a singing competition)
#23re: Fantasia as Effie, I THINK NOT
Posted: 11/1/05 at 1:52pmI am already not crazy about the casting. If Fantasia gets the part of Effie, I will just wait for the movie to hit DVD and rent it.
Just give the world Love.
#24re: Fantasia as Effie, I THINK NOT
Posted: 11/1/05 at 1:53pm^^^lovely picture of Beyonce...but no to Fantasia...they need someone a little more jolly (not a hard knots life young lady)....
