Nothing like a DAME...thoughts...??

[4JewsInaRoomBtchng]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 1:23am

Yes, there is nothing like a dame...and there is also nothing like the concert that we were just subjected to...and i wish i meant that in a good way!

was anyone else really disappointed?? I know I should say things to back up my claim (and I will when I have some energy, there's plenty to say)....but wanted to see if anyone else felt the same way....?

before i forget...just a few things (to be expanded upon when i've recovered....)

1) the sound engineer should be fired...or shot.

2) very sad that so many performers just didn't show up. i know it happens with benefits...but come onnnnnn people. please.

3) so sloppy! so boring! just not good. bizarre humor from some performers, weird song selections, i dont know ....and i'm sorry, women of COMPANY...i loved them all in their show, but something was just NOT right with that tonight. it seemed like it was the first time they'd ever done it....and while it might have been only the 2nd or 3rd....well, there's just no excuse. I was a little embarrassed for them. Not trying to be awful or rude, but their version of "let the river run" was pretty rough going.

4)on a positive note...the comedian was HYSTERICAL and was my favorite part of the show. And Jose Llana is the man. its just kind of ironic that the best 2 parts were one, not a singer, and two, a male.


:::ISCUSS::::YOU KNOW YOU WERE THERE AND EITHER WANT TO AGREE PASSIONATELY OR DISAGREE WITH A VENGEANCE::: heheheee
Updated On: 3/20/07 at 01:23 AM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 1:39am

Out of curiosity, what were some of the other performances?

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 1:46am

Just to name a few...

Beth Leavel did Surabaya Santa.
Jennifer Holliday sang AITYING.
Ana Gasteyer, Don't Rain on My Parade.
Maureen McGovern, Ordinary Miracles.
Lea Salonga and Liz Callaway, I Still Believe.

The aforementioned comedian was Kate Clinton.

I had a wonderful time.

Posted: 3/20/07 at 2:46am

There's detailed rant on it over at All That Chat:
http://www.talkinbroadway.com/allthatchat/d.php?id=1379107

Followed by a very classy response:
http://www.talkinbroadway.com/allthatchat/d.php?id=1379112

[Steve2]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 3:39am

^
^
^
Thanks for posting that, PegasusRising. Performers actually do read these sites!

[shesamarshmallow]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 3:41am

Oh wow, Beth singing Surabaya - that sounds amazing!!!

Posted: 3/20/07 at 6:56am

i really loved it & had a wonderful time!!!!
& i'm so touched by the people who *did* donate their time & energy!

my highlights were:
Beth Leavel
Jose Llana
Jennifer Holliday
Kate Clinton
The Women Of COMPANY
Westchester Dance Academy
Renee Goldsberry
Ana Gasteyer

& seeing all the setpieces from DROWSY in a new context! that was a joy in itself!

i posted on the off-topic board about seeing Ilene Kristen in the audience & how that was such a personal thrill for me!!!

[mallardo]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 7:01am

I am full of admiration for Brooke Tansley. Brava for that response.

Posted: 3/20/07 at 7:04am

yes, im impressed with her response...& the original poster *could* remove the catty "ouch" from the thread title. its unproductive & mean-spirited & people can tell from your review that you didnt care for the show.

i'm glad i went & i have a deeper appreciation for all the performers & crew now.

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 7:08am

Sure, there were some technical flaws - but I'm assuming these kinds of benefits are done on a shoestring budget and with little-to-no rehearsal. I found the talent, on the whole, to be quite good, and had a blast. Loved the Operal performance - I'd never of that singer or that piece, since I'm not much of an opera afficianado, but I really liked her voice and the performance - and I might never have been exposed to that, had I not gone. I don't see how people can complain about shows like this - their purpose is to raise money for a wonderful cause, and with performers and tech people volunteering their time, how can anyone expect perfection? As a matter of fact - how can anyone, EVER expect perfection? Thats one of the big problems with the world today - people want what they want when they want it - and they're so used to getting it via the media, cell phones, internet and blackberrys, that they have no patience for good old fashioned "lets put on a show in the barn" kinds of performances. What a shame.
I loved the show last night and thank all of the performers for brightening my day.

[liotte]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 7:54am

While I found some performances better than others, it was great to see such a variety up on stage. Glad I went.

[broadwaybaby086]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 10:11am

The variety was nice. It just wasn't my cup of tea; I should have known, as this was my third benefit in the past six months, and I always forget that I get a bit bored (quite, actually)- which is no fault of the performers, just my disposition. I'm happy to donate to the cause, but I think I might skip the events from now on (I'm sure that's a lie; there are too many years ahead of me to swear them off completely). But kudos to everyone who did make it and was able to perform!

[Anakela]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 12:16pm

Haven't seen Stephanie J Block's name mentioned either here or on the rant over at All That Chat, did she perform? She was listed in the Playbill article, but apparently they had (eight?) people pull out, was she one of them?

[Popular]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 1:12pm

Anakela - she wasn't there.

[Anakela]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 2:25pm

cool, thanks for the info!

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 5:23pm

Victoria Clark wasn't there either.

[FallintoLight]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 5:54pm

Anakela - Stephanie's name was mentioned early on in the press releases but the more recent ones didn't mention her. I figured she would not be there as she has not had a day off in a while!

The highlight of the evening for me was hearing Lea Salonga and Liz Callaway sing "I Still Believe." That alone was worth the price of admission! Glad I had the chance to go!
Updated On: 3/20/07 at 05:54 PM

[Josephine2]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 5:56pm

Kudos to everyone who donated their time and energy to this worthy cause. I hope that many are able to benefit from the wonderful resource that Phyllis Newman and BC/EFA have created.

[Phantom2]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 6:33pm

Milena Govich looked incredibly hot. That's some dress! Girl could catch a cold. She's come a long way since playing Rhonda in Good Vibes. WOWZA!

Updated On: 3/20/07 at 06:33 PM

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 6:51pm

>> Jennifer Holliday sang AITYING.

Uhm... isnt it time she started expanding her repertoire a bit? She's only sung this, what, five thousand times in the last month?

[Josephine2]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 6:55pm

^^Something tells me that she probably sang this as a request.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 7:02pm

And it probably makes people very happy to hear her sing that.

[Josephine2]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 7:13pm

^^Exactly!

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 7:21pm

I am happy Count Holiday showed up.

Anything for free press.

[miss pennywise]

Posted: 3/20/07 at 7:23pm

Since I did not see Ms. Holliday perform in DREAMGIRLS when it was on Broadway, I was THRILLED to experience it last night.

The whole evening was very moving for me. A few of the performances less than "wowwed" me, but this was a benefit to help raise money and AWARENESS of women's health issues, not simply means to "entertain" people.

My mother died quite young as a result of breast cancer. Had she known what we know now and had access to the resources that organization's like the Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative provides, she may very well have lived a much longer life. I am proud to have been a part of last night's event, even as a lowly audience member!

Updated On: 3/20/07 at 07:23 PM