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re: ZORBA! Tonight

Posted by: student_rush 10:12 am EDT 05/07/15
In reply to: re: ZORBA! Tonight - AlanScott 10:02 am EDT 05/07/15

If you are a fan of the show (or even if not), John Turturro, Zoe Wanamaker, and Santino Fontana are all giving extraordinary performances.

I believe Matthew Murray's assessment of Turturro and Wanamaker's youthful energy to be precisely on the mark.


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re: ZORBA! Tonight

Posted by: falcon15 10:52 am EDT 05/07/15
In reply to: re: ZORBA! Tonight - student_rush 10:12 am EDT 05/07/15

I have to say, if I hadn't seen Jeff McCarthy and Beth Fowler play those parts, I probably would've been happy with Turturro and Wanamaker. But McCarthy was a force of life and a powerful singer, while Turturro gives kind of a small performance IMO. He's pretty good at being a lovable rogue in the dialogue scenes, but Zorba has to be much more than that. And his singing is not good, he sounds very tentative when he sings.

Wanamaker comes off better acting-wise, but at least last night she did not seem solid. She went up a few times, including during "Happy Birthday," and she is a worse singer than Turturro.

I did like Fontana a lot. I think it's worth seeing, but I wish it had been much better.


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why do they cast non-singers in Encores shows?!

Posted by: Chazwaza 04:47 pm EDT 05/07/15
In reply to: re: ZORBA! Tonight - falcon15 10:52 am EDT 05/07/15

I've never understood it. The point is to hear and celebrate a under-sung score... why would you bring that score to life for an audience, presumably many of whom aren't very familiar with it, with actors who can't sing the score?


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re: why do they cast non-singers in Encores shows?!

Posted by: PlayWiz 05:37 pm EDT 05/07/15
In reply to: why do they cast non-singers in Encores shows?! - Chazwaza 04:47 pm EDT 05/07/15

They also cast tenors in baritone roles many times which doesn't land their songs like they are meant to be sung. They've also cast people who are presumably singers but mostly do contemporary or rock shows but can't handle very legit or traditional shows like some of the principals in their "Kismet" and "No Strings", among other things. Of course, Anthony Quinn wasn't much of a singer re: "Zorba" but had starred famously in the film. But given the choice between a fine actor who cant' sing and a great singer who can't act, well, there are great singers (who can do the style required) who can act. I choose them!


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re: ZORBA! Tonight

Posted by: AlanScott 10:46 am EDT 05/07/15
In reply to: re: ZORBA! Tonight - student_rush 10:12 am EDT 05/07/15

Unfortunately, I'm not sure it's going to be possible for me to see it so I'm trying to console myself. But it may happen.


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