Sutton Foster, Frances Ruffelle, or Lea Salonga; Who is THE Eponine?
Sutton Foster, Frances Ruffelle, or Lea Salonga; Who is THE Eponine?
artist_in_waiting
Understudy Joined: 12/27/05
#1Sutton Foster, Frances Ruffelle, or Lea Salonga; Who is THE Eponine?
Posted: 1/9/06 at 3:14am
I do apologise if this topic has been discussed before.
Updated On: 1/9/06 at 03:14 AM
#2re: Sutton Foster vs. Lea Salonga; Who was the better Eponine?
Posted: 1/9/06 at 3:17amI wonder how many people out there actually saw both of them live on stage. That'd be the only way to really "know" with the most number of variables removed. And even then, it's still subjective.
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
AngusN
Broadway Star Joined: 3/23/05
#3re: Sutton Foster vs. Lea Salonga; Who was the better Eponine?
Posted: 1/9/06 at 3:29am
Frances Ruffelle.
Updated On: 1/9/06 at 03:29 AM
#4re: Sutton Foster vs. Lea Salonga; Who was the better Eponine?
Posted: 1/9/06 at 3:33amI have seen neither live, but on recording, I agree Frances Rufelle is the best Eponine, not only did she originate the role of Eponine but she won virtually every theatre award given that year to a featured actress in a Broadway show. Her performance on the Original Cast Recording is breath-taking.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
#5re: Sutton Foster vs. Lea Salonga; Who was the better Eponine?
Posted: 1/9/06 at 3:35am
Heeeeeeeeere we go again!
Where's my trench coat?!
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
artist_in_waiting
Understudy Joined: 12/27/05
#6re: Sutton Foster vs. Lea Salonga; Who was the better Eponine?
Posted: 1/9/06 at 3:37amEponine has the longest trench coat i've ever seen. lol
#7re: Sutton Foster vs. Lea Salonga; Who was the better Eponine?
Posted: 1/9/06 at 3:39amShe's often a petite actress. lol
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#8re: Sutton Foster vs. Lea Salonga; Who was the better Eponine?
Posted: 1/9/06 at 7:53amFrances Ruffelle. Although the last time I listened to my Les Mis CD, her sugary sweet voice really started irritating me.
#9re: Sutton Foster vs. Lea Salonga; Who was the better Eponine?
Posted: 1/9/06 at 8:07am
Frances Ruffelle's voice has ALWAYS irritated me. I can't stand to listen to her on the OBCR. It might have SOMETHING to do with Lea Salonga being the first Eponine I ever saw/heard when my grandfather showed me the 10th anniversary DVD, but I doubt that's the only factor since I'm obsessed with Sutton's versions of the songs. She would have been ABSOLUTE perfection in the role if she were just a little shorter, but, as it is, she was just plain perfection.
This is all, of course, based on recordings and . . . other things . . . as I've never seen the show live. *cries*
AngusN
Broadway Star Joined: 3/23/05
#10re: Sutton Foster vs. Lea Salonga; Who was the better Eponine?
Posted: 1/9/06 at 10:10am
I think Trevor Nunn sums Frances' voice up concisely and accurately:
"There are great and strong voices, big or beautiful voices, but very rarely, there is what can only be described as a magic voice. Frances is one of these rare ones, and the magic seems to lie in the contradiction, she is youthful and wise, vibrant and sad, spontaneous and skilled. Hearing is believing."
Trevor Nunn, Artistic Director RNT
AngusN
Broadway Star Joined: 3/23/05
#11re: Sutton Foster vs. Lea Salonga; Who was the better Eponine?
Posted: 1/9/06 at 10:10am
I think Trevor Nunn sums Frances' voice up concisely and accurately:
"There are great and strong voices, big or beautiful voices, but very rarely, there is what can only be described as a magic voice. Frances is one of these rare ones, and the magic seems to lie in the contradiction, she is youthful and wise, vibrant and sad, spontaneous and skilled. Hearing is believing."
Trevor Nunn, Artistic Director RNT
#12re: Sutton Foster vs. Lea Salonga; Who was the better Eponine?
Posted: 1/9/06 at 11:34am
I love Ruffelle on the recording, and I recall seeing her on the Tonys. I wish I had seen her live.
I did see Natalie Toro twice, and found her pretty fantastic.
Have I ever shown you my Shattered Dreams box? It's in my Disappointment Closet. - Marge Simpson
#13re: Sutton Foster vs. Lea Salonga; Who was the better Eponine?
Posted: 1/9/06 at 12:25pm
Of the Eponines I saw (on Broadway that is- with number of times seen in parenthases)
Diana Kaarina (11)
Sarah Uriarte-Berry (5)
Christeena Riggs (5)
Catherine Brunell (3)
Megan Lawrence (2)
Rona Figueroa (1)
Marnie Nicolella (1)
Jessica Boevers (1)
Jessica-Snow Wilson (1)
I still think Brunell followed by Riggs gave the best performance. And Lawrence was the most disappointing. She screamed her way through the show to the point where it hurt my ears to have to sit through her.
And hang on, when did you win the discus?
iluvtheatertrash
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/9/04
#14re: Sutton Foster vs. Lea Salonga; Who was the better Eponine?
Posted: 1/9/06 at 12:29pmDiana Kaarina all the way.
"I know now that theatre saved my life." - Susan Stroman
#15re: Sutton Foster vs. Lea Salonga; Who was the better Eponine?
Posted: 1/9/06 at 12:31pmSUTTON. FOSTER.
apdarcey
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/10/04
#16re: Sutton Foster vs. Lea Salonga; Who was the better Eponine?
Posted: 1/9/06 at 12:35pmi found lea to actually be a little bit disappointing hearing her...
BtMartin25
Featured Actor Joined: 1/4/06
#17re: Sutton Foster vs. Lea Salonga; Who was the better Eponine?
Posted: 1/9/06 at 1:00pm
Sutton Foster NAILS the "All my life, i've only been PRETEEEEENDIIIIIIIIIIING!"
it rocks..
have seen neither live, though.
bt
#18re: Sutton Foster vs. Lea Salonga; Who was the better Eponine?
Posted: 1/9/06 at 1:05pmDefinitely Lea Salonga.
#19re: Sutton Foster vs. Lea Salonga; Who was the better Eponine?
Posted: 1/9/06 at 1:12pmI love Frances Ruffelle's performance on the Tony awards, people gave cheered for her after her small solo during "One Day More." Her voice is very unique, she puts a lot of emotion. When she sings "A Little Fall of Rain" there's a lot of sadness and tragedy in her voice, at the same time you feel her love for Marius. I wonder if she ever played Kim on Miss Saigon. I hope she does something on Broadway soon.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
#20re: Sutton Foster vs. Lea Salonga; Who was the better Eponine?
Posted: 1/9/06 at 1:17pm
Um... Frances Ruffelle isn't Asian, so she probably wouldn'tve played Kim in Miss Saigon.
Mind you, nobody seemed to care that Lea Salonga is filipina when they cast her as Eponine.
#21re: Sutton Foster vs. Lea Salonga; Who was the better Eponine?
Posted: 1/9/06 at 1:21pm
Having seen both Frances Ruffelle and Lea Salonga (along with countless others) in the part, there was a reason Ruffelle originated the part. She has a truly unique voice (of which I am a huge fan), and her aching undertone in her songs is heartbreaking.
As for her playing Kim, she is a bit too old now, and not quite the same ethnic quality needed for the role. I remember her saying she would love to do something like 'Mimi' in 'Rent' a number of years ago. I would say our most likely chance of seeing her on the Broadway boards would be if she came over her and repeated her 'Roxie' in 'Chicago' (which she has done a couple of times in London). I am not sure she would be up for an extended stay though, as she has come across as someone who puts her kids before her career.
My mother always used to say, "The older you get, the better you get, unless you're a banana." - Rose Nyland
BroadwayGirl107
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/26/03
#22re: Sutton Foster vs. Lea Salonga; Who was the better Eponine?
Posted: 1/9/06 at 1:37pm
Sutton Fotser without a doubt. I think Kaarina was wonderful as well, and would have loved to see Ruffelle.
But Foster.
BwayBaby18
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/19/05
#23re: Sutton Foster vs. Lea Salonga; Who was the better Eponine?
Posted: 1/9/06 at 2:21pmBythesword Burnell is by far the best....she was also a better Millie then Sutton and Susan
EVIE
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/12/04
#24re: Sutton Foster vs. Lea Salonga; Who was the better Eponine?
Posted: 1/9/06 at 2:21pmOut of the three, I have only seen Sutton Foster live and she was incredible. But, I love Frances on the recordings and I saw the small clip of One Day More on Broadways's Lost Treasures. I actually don't enjoy Lea's Eponine very much, based on her 10th Anniv. concert performance.
jynni
Understudy Joined: 1/8/05
#25re: Sutton Foster vs. Lea Salonga; Who was the better Eponine?
Posted: 1/9/06 at 2:29pm
Sutton Foster is the only one of the three that I've seen live and Lea Salonga I've only ever seen on the 10th Anniversary DVD.
Frances Ruffelle's voice is a little too little girlish for my taste.
Of the other two, I like Sutton the best. She was fabulous.
