Sing to Me!

Ok, I’m about to become very unpopular. As I have mentioned recently I don’t go on Facebook much anymore. A big part of that is that I have to scroll through 20 ads before I even see anything posted from someone I know, and even then, their post is 3 days old, but I digress. At any rate, I was scrolling through my feed the other night, and I came across 3 friends almost one right after the other who had posted the duet of Suddenly Seymour from Little Shop of Horrors sung by the cast in the most recent production at The Pasadena Playhouse. Now, let me start by saying that I love Little Shop. I have seen at least 4 different productions, and both of my daughters have played Audrey, and all I have to do is hear the beginning strains of Somewhere That’s Green, and I will tear up. Each production was different, and for the most part I enjoyed them all. This is not a commentary on Little Shop. This is a commentary on Musical theatre singing in general. Let me say here that this is an opinion, my opinion, because this is my blog. You may disagree with me. In fact, I’m sure the majority of you will, and that’s fine, but don’t read anything into this that is not there. I am no stranger to Musical Theatre. I have been singing since I was 3, and I did my first professional musical at the age of 10. Over the last 46 years I have been in the chorus or featured in 22 musicals, and I have seen countless others, not bad statistics for research. I do not understand the obsession over vocal power. Now here’s the part where everyone starts hating on me. I pulled up the recording of Suddenly Seymour as everyone was commenting how amazing it was. I listened. I didn’t like it. There I said it. ANNOUNCEMENT: Please do not accuse me of not liking the duet because Audrey is being played by a transgender actor! I did not even know that when I listened to the recording!!! And this opinion has nothing to do with that! What I did not like was all the belting and riffing. Now, they are not the first cast to sing the duet like that. In fact, most do try to belt their faces off. I am also not opposed to belting a song. There are certain songs that need to be belted, When You’re Good to Mama and All That Jazz from Chicago, Everything’s Coming Up Roses from Gypsy, Poor Unfortunate Souls from The Little Mermaid and lots of others. I, myself, can belt. My first high school show was Godspell, and my father said I got the role singing Turn Back, O Man because I “blew the doors off of the back of the auditorium.” People with a good belt are impressive, it’s true, but just because you can belt doesn’t mean you should on every song you sing. Riffing is a blog entry all on its own. Short and Sweet: I’m not a fan, and it’s way over used! Back when I was auditioning for Godspell in 1978, there were no body mics. We had to project and belt to be heard at the back of the theater or the top of the balcony, but today we have this cool stuff called technology and you can whisper on stage and the cheap seats can hear you because everything that’s heard by the audience is coming through a speaker. This technology has been a great help to the actor and I’m sure saved countless voices. Yes, even with body mics, there are still songs that need to be belted, but only if the song or character suits that style. No, I do not want to hear Feed Me from Little Shop in a lyric tenor voice, but so many songs now become screaming matches between the actors. We get it, you can sing loud. You have power, but let me use the Suddenly Seymour duet as an example. Audrey is broken and sad. Life has beaten her down. That song can grow in power as she realizes that Seymour gives her the respect she deserves. She can be someone with Seymour. The song can end powerfully, but power doesn’t have to come from a belt. Too many times I just feel like the actors are yelling at me, and I just want to turn it off. I have been listening to Michael Caine read his book Blow the Bloody Doors Off. He talks about when he first got into film after being a stage actor for many years and projecting so the balcony could hear him that he had to retrain himself to act for the camera. I experienced the same thing when I was shooting my one and only film, and I was so frustrated because I was used to being loud and booming, but there was no need when the camera is 6 inches from your face, and a boom mic is literally right above your head. Remember that thing called technology? By the end of the 2-week filming I began to appreciate the camera because I could embrace nuance and subtlety. That’s’ what I miss with listening to musical theatre stars of today. Where is the nuance, where are the subtle, almost breathless tones sometimes? I want to see that in singing as well as dialogue. Stop yelling at me! Sing to me. Emote the song. It can be much more powerful than just being loud. When you whisper, you draw people in. Make the song about the song, not about how loud it can be! Rant over!

An After Christmas Gift

I first met Duke Lafoon back in 1995. I was doing a little play called Rip Van Winkle at Swift Creek Mill Playhouse. Duke was Rip, and I was a troll. Even back then I knew Duke was mega talented! He just has "it". The big cherry on the top of this sundae is that he is one of the nicest people you will ever meet. He moved to New York long ago, but occasionally, he will return to his roots here in Richmond to play a role. I try never to miss him when he is in Richmond. This was my main reason for asking my daughter could she get us comps to A Christmas Story at Va-Rep, one of her perks as an actor in their touring company. This was the last week, and chances were slim, but we got 2 seats in the balcony. I have never seen the movie, I know, I know, but I haven't, and I wasn't sure what to expect. Here's the other thing... I don't like shows with big kid casts. Usually, there's a little too much "cuteness" for my taste. Yeah, yeah, I know, I'm a bitch. This show surprised me in a BIG way. If you read this blog at all, or if you know me, I don't hand out praise easily. I never say something I don't mean. THIS SHOW IS FANTASTIC!!!!!! From start to finish it shines. The boy who plays "Ralphie" could step onto Broadway tomorrow without batting an eye, and the kids ensemble are nothing short of phenomenal. Their vocals and dancing and general presence on stage are through the roof fabulous! I was so impressed! The adults in the cast have their moments too, especially in the "Major Award" number with Duke! True to Va-Rep's form, the production values are superior, sets, costumes and lights, all so spectacular. Who could forget the running (literally) gag of the neighborhood dogs. And one more thing.....Susan Sanford YOU ROCK!!!!!! And of course I can't forget to mention Duke. He, once again, did not disappoint! Duke, Richmond is so lucky to have you as one of their beloved sons, and I am even luckier to have you as a friend.
There are only 3 more performances of A Christmas Story. Get a ticket....if you can!

Give my Regards to Broadway!

Back in January of 2011, I wrote a blog post about a very special young man that I had the fortune of performing with back in the spring of 2003. That young man was Zak Resnick. The subject of that post dealt with the fact that he was going to be on American Idol. He didn't make it through the Hollywood cuts. Now, let me interject here that I don't put a lot of stock in American Idol. We all know that Reality TV is not really reality. Wow! That's a lot of "R's" American idol is not based on talent alone. If it was, Zak would be in the Top 10 if not your next American Idol, but I digress. Hollywood's loss was Broadway's gain. Tonight Zak debuts on Broadway at the Winter Garden Theater as "Sky" in Mamma Mia! Now, I'm sure some of you are thinking, "Wow! He's lucky!" Honey, luck had nothin' to do with it! Well, maybe a little luck, but mostly, I think, it had to do with Zak's awesome talent and his persistence and determination to live his dream! I have never seen anyone work any harder at getting himself out there. All of us actor types can take a page out of the Zak Resnick manual on how to make it in the Biz. I couldn't feel any prouder than if he were my own son. I know this is just the tip of his career iceberg. No one deserves it more. Zak, all your hard work has paid off, and tonight you fulfill your dream. Enjoy it! Revel in it! and know that all of us are so thrilled for you! I wish I could be there! I know the audience will fall in love with you as we all have! Break a leg!

I once thought of you as a white night on a steed

A piece of my childhood died this week. How sad I was to learn through Facebook that Davy Jones of Monkees fame had passed away at the age of 66 from a massive heart attack. If all of us ladies of my age were really honest with ourselves we will admit that we had a crush of some proportion on Davy, the groovy guy with the British accent who was one of The Monkees. He was the "cute" one. I can remember sitting in my grandmother and grandfather's family room every Saturday afternoon to hear the familiar strains of ♫♪ Here we come, walkin' down the street....Hey, hey we're the Monkees! ♫♪ It was a silly, madcap show that ended each week with a song. It was simple and frivolous, and you didn't have to think to watch it. It was about the fun. Of course I knew all the words to I'm a Believer, Last Train to Clarksville, and Daydream Believer, the one Davy made famous. In this day and age of instant information, so 12 seconds ago, it is hard to imagine not knowing everything about a celebrity. As things began to surface this week after Davy died, I was surprised to learn that he had played the role of the Artful Dodger in the original production of Oliver on Broadway, and he was nominated for a Tony for it. I will always remember him as the littlest Monkee, Marcia Brady's crush, and the daydream believer. Rest in peace, Davy Jones.