Marin Mazzie/Spamalot review

[Marway44]

Posted: 2/25/07 at 4:06pm

Hi gang,
WARNING: SPOILER
I was going to post a "Spamalot" review but had nothing negative to say about the new cast except for Marin Mazzie who was the weakest link. Her "Find your grail" was just perfect and I thought her big 11:00 number would be just as good, but boy was I wrong! She was just horrible in the song. She was not funny, barely sung it; just spoke/shouted it, and didn't show the attitude of someone who was upset about her lack of part. The only good thing she did was hold the note at the end of the song like a true perfect performer. Other than that I am sorry to say she brought down the second act for me.

While it is true I am comparing her to Sara, and the one I saw from the touring cast, I could tell the audience was pretty cold to it also. After the song, they just applauded very shortly and it seemed out of kindness. (Kind of like after Daphne sang "I dreamed a dream")

The rest of the cast was perfect, and I am glad to say with the exception of Marin, the show has held up terrifically. It just goes to show a show can still be fun and enjoyable after the big names are gone.

Does anybody share my views on her or have a different opinion. I would be interested on hearing your thoughts on her, the new cast, and the show as a whole. And please do not misconstrue this as a personal attack on her. I thought she was perfect in the show otherwise. And of course her performance in "Ragtime" was just amazing!

Thanks.

[MotorTink]

Posted: 2/25/07 at 4:13pm

I saw this show last month for the first time. My review can be found on my blog.

regarding Marin - I had never seen her in anything before so I have nothing to compare it too. She had a beautiful voice, but I just didn't like the character.

[Katecab99]

Posted: 2/25/07 at 6:08pm

i saw her yesterday in the role and absolutley loved her in every other moment other than "diva's lament". after "find your grail", i was expecting her to beat the hell out of that song, and she just didn't.

but, love her regardless AND she looked AMAZING. i was so glad to see her on stage again!

[kyle.]

Posted: 2/25/07 at 6:36pm

I love Marin but it's called DIVA'S Lament for a reason.

Why do you think she was cast when she is not delivering the Diva goods?! I mean....that's what the role is! A sassy diva....

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 2/25/07 at 6:44pm

I saw it in November and somewhat agree. She looked great, but she was trying too hard to be funny and it just wasn't working for me. She's one of my favorites, but I don't think this is the right role for her.

[C is for Company]

Posted: 2/25/07 at 7:08pm

I'd still rather see Marin than Lauren, I was so unimpressed with her Lament, the comedy just did not land.

[wickedfanatic34]

Posted: 2/25/07 at 7:34pm

Ok yeah, loved her in the part. her Lament was dull. But I also like Lauren. She was different.

[Marway44]

Posted: 2/26/07 at 7:16am

I agree with the comments. Trying to hard to be funny is spot on, and just not right for the role. In anything I have ever seen her in, she was perfect. Some people just don't have great comic abilities. But I still enjoyed her terrific singing voice.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 2/26/07 at 8:08am

I saw Lauren's standby, I think her name was Rosema Hill (or something close to that), and she was good in the role - but overall the role just isn't that exciting.

I still don't see how that role wins of Clara Johnson in a featured category.

[dirty rotten guy]

Posted: 2/26/07 at 8:13am

Because, its not the role, its the performance.

[mallardo]

Posted: 2/26/07 at 10:09am

The role is a tough sing for anyone. The girl currently in the London production was audibly straining the other night when I saw it. She barely got through Diva's Lament. Marin Mazzie has one of the great voices on Broadway and she's a hell of an actress to boot. Cut her some slack - she has off nights like anyone does.

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 2/26/07 at 10:21am

Seriously? Marin is awesome...I find it hard to believe she doesn't blow the roof off the theatre everynight...

[Marway44]

Posted: 2/26/07 at 12:11pm

mallardo,

I looked at your response, and agree with you that it may have been an off night. However, she just wasn’t funny. But, I plan to go back tomorrow night to see if it's her or like you said. I will report back. I do agree with cutting some slack. I don't know how they do that 8 times a week, 4 to 5 times over the weekend.

[mallardo]

Posted: 2/26/07 at 12:32pm

marway44, how do we define funny? It's such a subjective thing. If you say the audience didn't respond to her then, okay, I accept that. Hannah Waddingham, the London production's Lady of the Lake, was not particularly funny to me - she overdid the gestures and came off as arch, trying too hard. Is this built into the role? Now I'm wondering. We all know that Sara Ramirez WAS funny. Maybe she just connected to the role better than the others have.

I'm a huge Marin Mazzie fan (see my avatar) so I'm very biased. I'll be interested in your second viewing.

[Marway44]

Posted: 2/26/07 at 1:05pm

mallardo,

I can't agree more with what you just said. It was extremely well put. Funny is very subjective. A second viewing will help me to better determine if the role is not right for her or if she was having an off night. I like the humor in the show, and my mother does not. And when you try to be funny, that does not work aither. Now Sara, as you said was just naturally funny. The show did not impress my mother the first time we saw it, but Sara did. My mother stll remarks to this day, how terrific Sara was. A second viewing will help me to better determine if the role is not right for her or if she was having an off night.

By the way I sincerely hope Marin will reprise her role as Mother in the new "Ragtime". Her "Back to before" was just amazing!