How did Tammy Blanchard's Louise compare to Laura Benanti's- Page 2

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/14/08 at 5:43pm

I really thought Blanchard did a nice job with the role. She approaches it in a completely different way than Benanti...over all though, without a doubt, Benanti is better. Every character besides Rose always seems to fade into the background as was the case with the Bernadette revival but in the current production, Louise is a much more prevalent and driving force, mostly thanks to Benanti's understated, fantastic performance that almost made me forgive her for The Wedding Singer. Almost.


But in the end, I much prefer Benanti although I liked Blanchard quite a lot.

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/14/08 at 5:44pm

Minimalist also refers to the DIRECTION. Not just sets.

[theaterguy11]

Posted: 4/14/08 at 5:48pm

Yes, I know.

However, I felt the current revival was faaaar more minimal. It felt like a musical in concert.

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/14/08 at 5:52pm

Well it's not just the sets. The orchestra on stage also helps the musical in concert feeling. But remember where this revival originated.. Encores! The home of musical concerts.

[BrianIdol]

Posted: 4/14/08 at 6:55pm

Tammy was amazing in the show. I felt her performance felt much more "vintage"...if you listen to the way she sings the last line of her Strip....her "WE'LL" is a total throwback and her performance really brought me back in time. Laura's is a much more modern take on the role. I also loved how pale Tammy's skin was (i know this is a wierd comment), but back in the day, pale was very hot.

[thatgirl712]

Posted: 4/14/08 at 7:03pm

I enjoyed Tammy very much in Me And My Shadows playing the young Judy Garland.

Diane

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 4/14/08 at 9:09pm

I'm in the Tammy camp. It always felt that she was the quiet, timid Louise, almost to the point of wondering if maybe that was how she really was, which made to the subtle, gradual transformation all the more striking and moving.

I guess I'm the minority, but I never saw the slow build of Laura's transformation. It kinda just felt to me like someone flipped on a switch and turned up the volume level - there was never anything really natural about the performance.