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re: Underwood and "Attempting"

Posted by: Ann 05:29 pm EST 12/06/13
In reply to: Underwood and "Attempting" - enoch10 05:13 pm EST 12/06/13

I think you're under-estimating the size of her fan base. She's a many-times Platinum recording artist. She is very, very well known. I would guess it was many of her fans who stuck through the whole three hours. Just for her. Country music fandom often is a family thing, and I'm guessing this musical was quite attractive to many of those families.

Even with less than 100% effective leads, I think watching it would lead to being interested in more musicals.

I found her acting and his singing at times wince-worthy. But there were other good points (and I don't understand the complaints about the scenery - except the mountain set, I thought the others were quite good, and there were enough of them for such a telecast), and off-key or not, I choked up during "Edelweiss."

When something is marketed to a mainstream audience, I think theatregoers either have to accept some unfortunate aspects (or get pissed off and rant, as many are - which is fine, but not as healthy). I'm fine with this one, and enjoyed it over all.


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re: Underwood and "Attempting"

Posted by: lowwriter 06:09 pm EST 12/06/13
In reply to: re: Underwood and "Attempting" - Ann 05:29 pm EST 12/06/13

I'll be quite honest. I am not an Underwood fan and when she was competing on American Idol I voted against her. Precisely because I found her so wooden. But last night for some strange reason I was rooting for her to succeed all night. And since I really don't care for her, it says something that I watched the whole thing!


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re: Underwood and "Attempting"

Posted by: enoch10 05:42 pm EST 12/06/13
In reply to: re: Underwood and "Attempting" - Ann 05:29 pm EST 12/06/13

i agree with you. no doubt there are many Underwood fans who watched it specifically because she was in it. i don't doubt that. i just wish the suits making these decisions had to think twice about casting someone not up to par. they don't. they know they can get away with it. i'd like for there to be more of a pushback against these decisions. something like, well, she'll being in the numbers but we'll get such a critical drubbing maybe we should look for someone else who is more of a compromise. maybe a few less numbers but with the kind of chops the people won't revolt. they know the people won't revolt because they'll take whatever crap is handed to them. some will, anyway.

i'm ok with folks who think she was fine. i disagree but thats a different argument. its the she was lousy but i don't care folks who drive me up the wall.

whats getting lost is i don't think she was lousy. i do think she was out of her depth. she doesn't have the training and she doesn't have the natural skills that could be molded easily even for a specific part. i suspect we saw as good as she could do at this stage of her development.

the other thing thats getting lost is - i really didn't hate this production. i didn't love it. but i didn't hate it.


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re: Underwood and "Attempting"

Posted by: Ann 05:44 pm EST 12/06/13
In reply to: re: Underwood and "Attempting" - enoch10 05:42 pm EST 12/06/13

Maybe they did think twice - maybe they original thought of someone worse.


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re: Underwood and "Attempting"

Posted by: enoch10 06:07 pm EST 12/06/13
In reply to: re: Underwood and "Attempting" - Ann 05:44 pm EST 12/06/13

you know, it didn't help that i saw fantasia in AFTER MIDNIGHT last night. now if she is to be believed (and i don't have any reason not to) she first went to b'way with almost no training. she got a good reception in COLOR PURPLE and i don't doubt it after what i saw last night.

i know it is a cliche and i know i wrote it in another thread but i am being as accurate as i can when i say she had that theater in the palm of her hand and in a way i've seldom experienced from performers with more experience and much, much more training.

throwing a performer (especially one untrained) out of their depth is almost always a bad idea. but when it's not, it's a beautiful thing to experience.

oddly enough i saw two american idol contestants last night both playing in the big league. and i do understand that its apples and oranges - it all had to be new and unnerving and disconcerting for underwood. but it doesn't change the fact that one shined, one didn't.


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re: Underwood and "Attempting"

Posted by: enoch10 05:54 pm EST 12/06/13
In reply to: re: Underwood and "Attempting" - Ann 05:44 pm EST 12/06/13

then they should have thought twice again.


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re: Underwood and "Attempting"

Posted by: Ann 06:00 pm EST 12/06/13
In reply to: re: Underwood and "Attempting" - enoch10 05:54 pm EST 12/06/13

Three times' the charm.


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