Fantasia - AMAZING!!!!!

[fbueller]

Posted: 12/16/07 at 11:47am

Just saw Fantasia in TCP(I was one of the lucky few who actually get to see her) last night! I was totally blown away by her performance. I knew the singing would be first-rate, but I wasn't expecting much from her acting. She did an outstanding job. I was very moved. You go, girl!!!

Updated On: 12/16/07 at 11:47 AM

[dream on]

Posted: 12/16/07 at 12:52pm

Someone posted on allthatchat that she was amazing this weekend as well.

Thanks for the positive comments. She deserves them.

[jv92]

Posted: 12/16/07 at 12:56pm

So she decided to show up for work, eh?

[TBone]

Posted: 12/16/07 at 1:16pm

I saw her on friday - my second time seeing her and she really is fantastic in the role. It's a shame she's having such an issue with being able to make the performances.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 12/16/07 at 2:04pm

When she shows up, she really is incredible. It is a shame a great performance is tarnished by her horrendous attendance record.

I am glad I got to see her, but I understand peoples' frustrations with her.

[pab]

Posted: 12/16/07 at 3:40pm

"It is a shame a great performance is tarnished by her horrendous attendance record."

I would add that it is a shame a great performance is tarnished by such a mediocre work.

[sally1112]

Posted: 12/16/07 at 3:44pm

I assumed the "amazing" part of the title was referring to the fact that she was actually there.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 12/16/07 at 3:49pm

Fantasia is in The Color Purple? Wow thank you for telling me I had no idea!!!

[Pascal/Menzel/Bundy]

Posted: 12/16/07 at 4:01pm

funny thread :)

[theater junkie]

Posted: 12/16/07 at 7:27pm

I saw it last night and let me say I have held off on seeing this show, becuase it didn't seem like my cup of tea, but boy was I wrong. Fantasia was very good, when she sang her solo, I belive its the second last song, I would say that is the single best perfomance currently on broadway possible one of the beest ever. She brought the house down and the audience went nuts. I do agree with the posts though that other than that one song it does not seem to be a truly demanding role such as Elphaba, The Little Mermaid, or Legally Blond, and can't understand all the absences. But while the show is in great shape, she does add an unprecedented magic to it. Oh and got my ticket using the broaday box code and got a $60 ticket for a Saturday Evening performance in row O orchestra, a few seats off right of the center, can't beat it!

[hilltop]

Posted: 12/17/07 at 12:51am

Here's another review from this weekend:

//I'm not really a fan of her voice, and I don't watch 'American Idol', so I didn't know much about her to start with. But I couldn't get over how deeply she pulled me into a story that, after reading the novel AND seeing the film numerous times, was not at all new to me. She wasn't "Fantasia" playing "Celie" she WAS Celie. And she managed to capture the humorous parts as perfectly as she did the dramatic ones. Her big solo was a standout partially because her voice is powerful, but mostly because she acted the hell out of it. I mean, she brought the house DOWN vocally and artistically. And she also cried real tears during the Finale. I don't think I've ever seen that in a live performance...

And to all the people who hate on her for whatever reason: Your loss, and keep hating, haters. But before you do, take a moment to ask yourself: What did I do tonight? If you didn't give a Broadway performance that caused people to (literally) leap to their feet during the curtain call, then perhaps you need to shut up?

Just a thought. //

Updated On: 12/17/07 at 12:51 AM

[mywonderwa11]

Posted: 12/17/07 at 1:48am

I got a chance to see her perform in the matinee on December 1st and I'm so glad I was lucky enough to catch her. She was phenomenal! Probably one of the smartest decisions I made on that NYC trip was buying a last minute ticket to the show that day.

[friedrichVT]

Posted: 12/17/07 at 3:36am

For all the altruists who say she should not have taken the job if she couldn't deliver 8 times a week....perhaps you should pose that statement to the producers who tried to capitalize on a struggling "reality show winner" who delivers an unbelievably raw, TRUE, rediculously heartbreaking performance. She may not have known what that entailed,and as far as it shows,she did not...but THEY did...shame on THEM, not HER. Think for a second...she may be doing her VERY best. She went on Idol to have a recording career. The producers aproached HER to infuse some lifeblood into their mediocre show... She has done just that. If you have an axe to grind ...write the producers. If you can reach them as they,despite refunds,are laughing ALL the way to the bank.

Updated On: 12/17/07 at 03:36 AM

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 12/17/07 at 4:01am

^^^^

Fantasia, honey is that you?

[Kalimba]

Posted: 12/17/07 at 7:58am

The one operative throughout this thread - "mediocre" (in terms of the show, not the performances). Yes, I did see the show and also bought the CD to see if I'd get a different perspective and no, it did not change my opinion. What's up with that sorry excuse of an overture? This material at least called for the talent of a more experienced musical team (as in writing for the stage) as opposed to what was a hodge podge of mostly nothing. I bet Fantasia will be relieved when this chapter of her life is closed.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 12/17/07 at 8:05am

And to all the people who hate on her for whatever reason: Your loss, and keep hating, haters. But before you do, take a moment to ask yourself: What did I do tonight? If you didn't give a Broadway performance that caused people to (literally) leap to their feet during the curtain call, then perhaps you need to shut up?

And yet the irony is for a good number of performances, Fantasia didn't give a Broadway performance either.

[fbueller]

Posted: 12/17/07 at 9:02am

Fantasia, honey is that you?

So funny!

Has anyone seen performances of both Fantasia and LaChanze? Which performance did you like better?

[peaceone]

Posted: 12/17/07 at 9:35am

Thanks Hilltop for that review, its amazing that people still don't believe in the power of Fantasia. She is a star and brought tons of money to the show. I know that Oprah and the rest of the producers are grateful to her for accepting there offer and being apart of the production..And as Reggie said he sees a much bigger opening for Fantasia.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 12/17/07 at 11:44am

I don't think most people are questioning how she is in the role, it's that she's obviously not up to the grueling Broadway schedule as evidenced by her many absences.

Yes, she may have brought money in, but as of late she's also cost them a lot of money when they've had to refund tickets bought by people who wanted to see her and instead were faced with getting a refund or seeing someone they didn't come to see. That has to be factored in as well, especially by any producers thinking of hiring her in the future. If you're banking on a name, you need for that name to be able to handle the job. 50+ absences in the time she's been on ~ especially the increasing number immediately after three weeks off for the strike ~ clearly shows she cannot handle an 8-show a week schedule.

[sidneybruhl]

Posted: 12/17/07 at 11:54am

I would expect Fantasia to be nothing short of a revelation considering all the rest she seems to be getting by missing so many performances.

[Midoria]

Posted: 12/17/07 at 12:07pm

Hilltop:

Thanks for editing/reposting my LJ review without crediting me.

If anyone wants to read the whole thing, here is my post from last night. The last 4 paragraphs are related to the actual show.

http://midoria.livejournal.com/3483.html

Updated On: 12/17/07 at 12:07 PM

[philcrosby]

Posted: 12/17/07 at 12:47pm

I saw her on the 12/8 Matinee, and Fantasia gave one of the pertformances I will remember all my lifetime. She was in that role 110% -- and that may be the problem. She doesn't have the training to pace herself or to fall back on any sort of technique.

But for the end result (for those lucky enough to see it) ... WOW.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 12/17/07 at 6:10pm

"For all the altruists who say she should not have taken the job if she couldn't deliver 8 times a week....perhaps you should pose that statement to the producers who tried to capitalize on a struggling "reality show winner" who delivers an unbelievably raw, TRUE, rediculously heartbreaking performance. She may not have known what that entailed,and as far as it shows,she did not...but THEY did...shame on THEM, not HER. Think for a second...she may be doing her VERY best. She went on Idol to have a recording career. The producers aproached HER to infuse some lifeblood into their mediocre show... She has done just that. If you have an axe to grind ...write the producers. If you can reach them as they,despite refunds,are laughing ALL the way to the bank."

I don't think anyone in ths thread has not complimented her actual performance, which as I said earlier, is incredible. The problem is she can't do it 7 times a week (because she isn't contracted for Wednesday matinees anymore). One would have thought that the producers or creative team would have put her in touch with someone who could have worked with her on her pacing.

[Fosse76]

Posted: 12/17/07 at 6:16pm

"Has anyone seen performances of both Fantasia and LaChanze? Which performance did you like better?"

I have. While vocally they don't seem too different, Fantasia acts the role much better. While it may be true that the show may not be taxing on Fantasia vocally, she is RARELY ever off stage and it is an emotionall draining show.

[luvcaroline]

Posted: 12/17/07 at 7:16pm

I also saw both LaChanze and Fantasia in the role and I must say that Fantasia was better. I agree that vocally they are on the same par technically, but there is no question that Fantasia ACTED the songs much better. Fantasia leaves no doubt that she is feeling every emotion that she is singing. Also, she has an amazing connection with the audience that I did not see with LaChanze. I actually loved LaChanze's performance and I think she deserved the Tony, but Fantasia's performance was in a different ballpark and ranked as one of the best that I've ever seen. I just wish that more people could have seen her.