Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night- Page 4
Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
#75re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 3:19pmgreat explanation--"it was worth the 500.00 we spent."
#76re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 3:19pmWould I be disappointed that I wasn't seeing the "star" ? Sure, but I would not ask for my money back. You are paying for the entire show not one person's performance. I think it is tacky and shows a lack of appreciation for live theatre. Just my opinion.
"For me, THEATRE is an anticipation, an artistic rush, an emotional banquet, a jubilant appreciation, and an exit hopeful of clearer thought and better worlds."
~ an anonymous traveler with Robert Burns
#77re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 3:22pm
well, there would be no reason for "Boy" without Jackman, so no one should have to pay for that...imagine that dreck without him?
as a "consumer" who loves live theater, and who has spent his life going to theater all over the country, I know what I want. And, yes, sometimes it is to see a specific performer.
MargoChanning
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/5/04
#78re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 3:24pm
Actually Jackman did have an understudy (Kevin Spirtas) in case he ever was sick or injured during a performance and couldn't continue with the show -- thankfully that never happened so Spirtas never went on. It's just that when Jackman needed time off, he arranged the dates with the producers in advance and they decided to simply cancel those shows altogether rather than deal with all the of refunds that inevitably would have occurred with an understudy going on for him.
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
Updated On: 7/8/05 at 03:24 PM
#80re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 3:26pmI am disappointed when who we went to see the show for isn't on (like Raul in "Taboo" - the only reason we went to see it a second, then third time), but I certainly wouldn't hiss and boo!!! I just come back and see it again, hoping he (or she) will be on that night. I don't ask for my money back since what else would I do? I'm there already. And yes, sometimes the understudy is great!
Jersey_Girl
Understudy Joined: 6/10/04
#81re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 3:42pmJust to add my two cents: we were at last night's performance and though my husband was disappointed that he did not get to see Christina, I was elated that we would get to see Charlotte. Charlotte gave it her all and I can't image how the show could be any better. I thought the audience was quite supportive and though some people may have been disappointed not to have seen Christina, the standing ovation reserved only for Charlotte reflected how much the audience enjoyed her performance. I always loved Charlotte as Roxie and now love her even more. For me, she IS Sweet Charity.
Di2
Broadway Star Joined: 11/18/04
#82re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 3:53pm
I don't go to shows to see a "star." I go to enjoy the type of performers that made Broadway famous.......it's unfamous, down in the trenches, do it cause you love it but don't pay us a whole lot performers.
The performers weren't "famous" and if they were, they were just famous to us theatregoings and fellow actors but not the masses. I guarantee that a non theatre person would have no clue who the hell Sutton Fuster is.
The Broadway performers were just ridiculously talented people that worked their asses off. But now Broadway feels the need to sell out and does so constantly.
So, now we get aging tv star has-beens (i.e. Nell Carter in Annie...how lame was that..so inappropriate, and Eric Estrada. WTF??)
Or theatre wanna-be's with zero training (i.e. American Idol cast-offs who that think they can sing but can't...like Amy Adams doing my "Joseph" tour.) uh...ok....
Do you know how many singers I know from my other tours and shows that can kick the sh*t out of the Narrator?
Instead they choose someone linked to the American Idol name who might or might not be able to pull it off 8 shows a week.
Personally, I cheer for the understudy as they are working so hard to impress you and win you over plus you get to watch a new talent.
If a "star" was out, I would never ask for my money back or make my disappointment known. I would keep it to myself.
But then again I would never go to a show just to see one person as they are all stars in my book.
If I want to see Hugh Jackman, I will pay my $9.50 and watch him where he belongs...on the big screen.
Updated On: 7/8/05 at 03:53 PM
#83re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 3:59pmDi2, while agree with what you said, you may want to rememebr that Nell Carter was a Broadway star before she hit TV. Hugh was a well know musical theatre performer as well.
"For me, THEATRE is an anticipation, an artistic rush, an emotional banquet, a jubilant appreciation, and an exit hopeful of clearer thought and better worlds."
~ an anonymous traveler with Robert Burns
Di2
Broadway Star Joined: 11/18/04
#84re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 4:01pm
true..
***shying away***
**Embarrassed and stepping off of the soapbox***
For the love of God take the mic away from me NOW!
NBC
Broadway Star Joined: 6/5/03
#85re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 5:10pmI will happily pay to see the understudy tonight, if I get the chance!
"I cried during the Frug." - MC
#86re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 5:37pmI beg to differ with the original poster. Charlotte is amazing in the role and she's got great legs!
"I'm learning to dig deep down inside and find the truth within myself and put that out. I think what we identify with in popular music more than anything else is when someone just shares a truth that we can relate to. That's what I'm searching for in my music." - Ron Bohmer
"I broke the boundaries. It wasn't cool to be in plays- especially if you were in sports & I was in both." - Ashton Kutcher
"I broke the boundaries. It wasn't cool to be in plays- especially if you were in sports & I was in both." - Ashton Kutcher
#87re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 6:00pm
Great legs is right! I don't see age as a factor either, in this story.
OT - I saw "Nights of Cabaria" the other night -I rented it to refresh my memory of the original, original storyline! How Fosse ever got a comic Sweet Charity out of this very depressing movie I'll never know. And Cabaria was no "innocent, naive" prostitute in this story either. She fighting everyone the whole movie! And the ending with the "second chance" guy wanting to KILL HER? Not just "not accept her for her past". No, no...KILL HER for her money.
I like G. Masina in La Strada better.
"My dreams, watching me said, one to the other...this life has let us down."
#88re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 8:10pm
I fall asleep and look what I miss!
Okay. Here's my deal with this thread. You are entitled you your opinion. I am entitled to mine. They are opinions. The negative opinion will always face more criticism around here than the postive one. Period.
My opinions are based on a set of standards I have going into a play or musical. Standards based on seeing the best doing what they do. I personally think that what LaManna and Applegate are doing on stage is mediocre, at best. I am sorry if it comes off as bashing, but to me, it is just a passionate argument.
I think Sweet Charity is one of the worst productions I have seen on Broadway. Period. So my passion, or bashing as you call it, comes from a place of confusion as to why anyone could like this show. REally I don't get it.
I personally LOVE Helen Gallagher, and Gwen Verdon. I frequently see posts on this boards saying Verdon was not a singer, which is not true at all. She could sell a song in a way few people can do. And if you listen to her on the Sweet Charity cast recording you will find her in the best voice of her career. My frustration really comes from the bashing of the original, saying Applegate doesn't need to be a good singer because Verdon wasn't. Did Verdon have to talk half the show? Did Verdon have to do abbreviated choreography?
The bashing of vetran D'Amboise is also unfair. She is every bit as capable of filling those gold boots as Applegate, if not more.
I personally think there would be much more negativity surrounding Applegate if she didn't break her foot. I think a lot of your opinions are clouded by sympathy for Applegate, and that people are turning this into "the show must go on" story that it really isn't.
I am sorry if you feel bashed, but if you state an opinion that I disagree with, be prepared to defend it and be challenged. You challenged me on my opinion, so why are you above being challenged back?
I think too often, people bash the original in favor of the mediocre revival that wasn't even close to the original. Again, just my opinion.
#89re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 8:12pm
There are some shows I pay to see only because of who is in it. Did I really care to see another Gypsy production? No, I wanted to see Bernadette tackle the role. If she weren't in it the night that I saw it, I would've asked for my money back.
That is one of the downfalls of casting "names" - you usually get great box office, but requests for refunds when the names don't show.
The truly beautiful should be lawfully restricted from wearing clothing; and the truly butt-ugly should be lawfully mandated from going naked.
#90re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 8:34pm
Great points bobbybuddy!
I am in total agreement with you regarding posters bashing d'Amboise simply because she is not "Applegate" and they came to see a "star". It's very wrong. And, as I said above, I have no problem whatsoever with your dislike of the show. Hell, I even AGREE with a lot of what you say about the poor choreography!
I, for one, will not be bashing the original, but neither will I be comparing Applegate to Verdon. It just can't, and shouldn't be done. Verdon was an dancing and singing personality all her own that has not, and cannot be matched. To dismiss Appelgate's performance as a whole simply because she is "no Verdon", is not right. D'Amboise is "no Verdon" either. Hell, NO ONE IS, we are all aware of that! There are many audience members however, who are actually enjoying this production, and to constantly see belittling, bashing comments toward the show and Applegate is just as frustrating for me as it is for you to read posts praising the show.
Also, I agree with you on another point; there are some posts out there who are indeed giving the show the "sympathy, look she's dancing with a broken foot!" support. That, I can definitely see as aggravating to you and many others as well!
Thanks for responding to the posts, at any rate! Hope you had a nice nap! :)
"My dreams, watching me said, one to the other...this life has let us down."
#91re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 8:39pmI had a great nap. Now I'm listening to Jerry Herman's delightful "Parade" for the first time. Not that has anything to to with the thread, but still..."There is NO tune like a SHOWTUNE!"
#92re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 8:42pmThis is about the dear and wonderful Natascia Diaz. I know for a fact that she was NOT let go because of backstage things. She and Solange were let go due to a choice made by Mr. Bobbie, of which they were not informed. I think it is horrible the way we are throwing things around about these two people that are not true. They do read this board and have been very hurt in the past by the untrue things that were said. So, sorry this got to be long, they were not fired for 'backstage antics' but, in my opinion, they were fired because they out shone the star in parts that had been cut back so they could not out shine the star but did any way. If you still have questions PM me.
"You look like a Christmas tree with a drinking problem!" - MEMPHIS
#93re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 8:56pm
I really don't think they were fired because they upstaged Christina.
It's as simple as their look. Natascia and Solange have a very youthful look. Nickie & Helene aren't suppose to be spring chickens - they have been around the block, and they make that known. It is MUCH more believeable that LaManna and Da Costa have "been around the block" than Diaz and Sandy.
I think that is what it boils down to.
I should mention - I have spoke to Diaz personally, and she is very nice. I was looking foward VERY MUCH to see her as Nickie. I was very dissapointed when they were let go - but I still feel LaManna is fantastic.
Updated On: 7/8/05 at 08:56 PM
MasterLcZ
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/12/03
#94re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 8:59pm
I saw both Applegate and d'Amboise.
Yers, d'Amboise is a finer dancer. But there is a reason she has never 'broken out' into stardom the way understudy Shirley MacLaine did in the original PAJAMA GAME. She doesn't twinkle.
Applegate twinkles.
"Christ, Bette Davis?!?!"
Updated On: 7/8/05 at 08:59 PM
#95re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 9:05pmI have talked to natascia too - a total dream of a sweetie! And from what she said it sounded like a combo of the two! I wish broadway could have seen her. I do not care for the new girl. Talented, but not as amazing as Diaz!
"You look like a Christmas tree with a drinking problem!" - MEMPHIS
#96re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 9:09pmSince I didn't get to see her. How was that "If There Were More People Like You" song?? Was it mainly her song?? What was it like?
#97re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 9:20pmIt was amazingly beautiful.I am sad & glad they cut it. No one can do it better than natascia. I sad they cut cause it was a great song. You missed a flawless performance! I can't wait for SO3 to come out cause she sang it there. PM if you want more details!
"You look like a Christmas tree with a drinking problem!" - MEMPHIS
#98re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 9:48pmBobbyBubby -- have you gotten to "Jolly Theatrical Season" yet? Love that number.
#99re: Sweet Charity w/o Christina Applegate last night
Posted: 7/8/05 at 10:05pm
AARRGGHHH..Applegate sells tickets--d'Amboise does not. In a perfect world, I would be on Broadway in "Boy from Oz"..but I DON'T SELL TICKETS!!!
Updated On: 7/8/05 at 10:05 PM
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