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re: Nothing against Houdyshell, but from a singing perspective? Upgrade. (nm)

Posted by: BruceinIthaca 07:14 pm EDT 03/12/14
In reply to: re: Nothing against Houdyshell, but from a singing perspective? Upgrade. (nm) - MikeR 03:45 pm EDT 03/12/14

But in most productions, her voice simply blends with the others. I know, Mary Testa apparently was directed to turn it into her own cadenza, but that's not how it is written. Any actress who can carry a tune could be cast, if she acted it well.


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re: Nothing against Houdyshell, but from a singing perspective? Upgrade. (nm)

Posted by: pierce 01:51 am EDT 03/13/14
In reply to: re: Nothing against Houdyshell, but from a singing perspective? Upgrade. (nm) - BruceinIthaca 07:14 pm EDT 03/12/14

But when you have a General Cartwright with a strong voice, she can really make her presence felt in "Sit Down" - and without adding cadenzas or distorting the song in any way.

Ruth Williamson did it beautifully in this segment from Guys & Dolls (from the 1992 Tony Awards broadcast).

Link Sit Down You're Rocking The Boat

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re: Nothing against Houdyshell, but from a singing perspective? Upgrade. (nm)

Posted by: LegitOnce 10:53 am EDT 03/13/14
In reply to: re: Nothing against Houdyshell, but from a singing perspective? Upgrade. (nm) - pierce 01:51 am EDT 03/13/14

See, I totally disagree with you. Williamson's high C is very impressive, but it makes Nicely-Nicely's long F and A-natural at the very end sound anticlimactic. If someone has to sing that pedal high C, it should be Nicely-Nicely.


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re: Nothing against Houdyshell, but from a singing perspective? Upgrade. (nm)

Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 12:34 pm EDT 03/13/14
In reply to: re: Nothing against Houdyshell, but from a singing perspective? Upgrade. (nm) - LegitOnce 10:53 am EDT 03/13/14

As others have pointed out, having General Cartwright take over "Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat" with a roof-raising solo is not in the original conception of the show. And aside from the fact that having her do that arguably steals Nicely-Nicely's thunder, it also strikes me as making the number feel too similar to "Brotherhood of Man" in that other, later show by Loesser.


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re: Nothing against Houdyshell, but from a singing perspective? Upgrade. (nm)

Posted by: pierce 10:01 pm EDT 03/13/14
In reply to: re: Nothing against Houdyshell, but from a singing perspective? Upgrade. (nm) - Michael_Portantiere 12:34 pm EDT 03/13/14

I like General Cartwright's note, but I don't think it "steals" anything from Nicely-Nicely Johnson


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re: Nothing against Houdyshell, but from a singing perspective? Upgrade. (nm)

Posted by: Michael_Portantiere 10:11 pm EDT 03/13/14
In reply to: re: Nothing against Houdyshell, but from a singing perspective? Upgrade. (nm) - pierce 10:01 pm EDT 03/13/14

Well, I think it "steals" from Nicely in a sense, but it's all a matter of perception.


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re: Nothing against Houdyshell, but from a singing perspective? Upgrade. (nm)

Posted by: PlayWiz 07:45 pm EDT 03/12/14
In reply to: re: Nothing against Houdyshell, but from a singing perspective? Upgrade. (nm) - BruceinIthaca 07:14 pm EDT 03/12/14

Yeah, it's not exactly Lily Garland.

Ms. Kaye is always a fine presence and is a wonderfully talented performer, but this is practically a cameo appearance for her.


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