| The role of Mme. Hortense in "Zorba" | |
| Posted by: | Indavidzopinion 05:38 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
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| What is it about that part that every actress who plays the part in a major production winds up winning the Tony, or am I remembering wrong? What a stunning theatrical moment it is when she sings "Happy Birthday" juxtaposed with what immediately precedes it! Zoe Wanamaker is putting in a performance that lives up to those of her predecessors. Brava! | |
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| re: The role of Mme. Hortense in "Zorba" | |
| Posted by: | jimvar1 08:29 pm EDT 05/10/15 |
| In reply to: | The role of Mme. Hortense in "Zorba" - Indavidzopinion 05:38 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
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| I named my favorite cat "Bobolina." Sadly, I had to put her to sleep 2 years ago due to uncontrollable epileptic attacks. No, I couldn't use the "hot glass cup" treatment on my baby, the way they did in the film. | |
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| re: The role of Mme. Hortense in "Zorba" | |
| Posted by: | Billy_Boy 12:16 pm EDT 05/10/15 |
| In reply to: | The role of Mme. Hortense in "Zorba" - Indavidzopinion 05:38 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
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| In a summer stock production of ZORBA in the mid 70s (with Theodore Bikel as Zorba), I was lucky enough to experience one of the finest interpretations of Mme. Hortense. The actress was charming, flirtatious, engaging, and incredibly vulnerable. I've never forgotten how good she was. Her name is Taina Elg. Anyone remember her? | |
| Link | Wikipedia - Taina Elg |
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| re: The role of Mme. Hortense in "Zorba" | |
| Posted by: | lonlad 01:06 pm EDT 05/10/15 |
| In reply to: | re: The role of Mme. Hortense in "Zorba" - Billy_Boy 12:16 pm EDT 05/10/15 |
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| Yes, she was charming (as you say) as Guido's mother in the original Bway production of Nine. | |
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| re: The role of Mme. Hortense in "Zorba" | |
| Posted by: | lujoc 09:29 am EDT 05/10/15 |
| In reply to: | The role of Mme. Hortense in "Zorba" - Indavidzopinion 05:38 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
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| Maria Karnilova said in an interview that all her other parts were disappointing after Hortense because it was so rich and she got to do so much in it. | |
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| re: The role of Mme. Hortense in "Zorba" | |
| Posted by: | PlayWiz 01:56 pm EDT 05/10/15 |
| In reply to: | re: The role of Mme. Hortense in "Zorba" - lujoc 09:29 am EDT 05/10/15 |
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| Karnilova was pretty terrific in the original Broadway mounting of Gigi as Mamita still kicking up her heels pretty high during "The Night They Invented Champagne" along with a very good Daniel Massey and perfectly fine Karin Wolfe, who was unfairly criticized because she wasn't Leslie Caron or Audrey Hepburn. | |
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| "Gigi" that is. nn | |
| Posted by: | PlayWiz 01:57 pm EDT 05/10/15 |
| In reply to: | re: The role of Mme. Hortense in "Zorba" - PlayWiz 01:56 pm EDT 05/10/15 |
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| I forgot the quotes. | |
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| re: The role of Mme. Hortense in "Zorba" | |
| Posted by: | TheOtherOne 05:43 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
| In reply to: | The role of Mme. Hortense in "Zorba" - Indavidzopinion 05:38 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
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| Maria Karnilova did not win the Tony for the original production, but Lila Kedrova, who had won the Oscar for the 1964 film, won the Best Featured Actress in a Musical Tony for the 1984 revival. "Happy Birthday" is indeed a very haunting moment in the show. | |
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| re: The role of Mme. Hortense in "Zorba" | |
| Posted by: | lastcall 06:54 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
| In reply to: | re: The role of Mme. Hortense in "Zorba" - TheOtherOne 05:43 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
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| loved the show and zoe. wouldn't she be great as mrs. primrose in ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY? thinking back to those early encores! productions, when many 'stars' had their head down reading the book and lyrics for most of the show....congrats to the current encores!...which gives us almost full productions of these works that we would never see, if it were not for this marvelous venture. thank you encores! | |
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| re: The role of Mme. Hortense in "Zorba" | |
| Posted by: | Renfield1950 05:42 pm EDT 05/10/15 |
| In reply to: | re: The role of Mme. Hortense in "Zorba" - lastcall 06:54 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
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| "almost full productions" Where the books are concerned, most of the time it's not close to "almost." Some of the books have been whittled down to less than half their original lengths. It's difficult for there to be much character development or dramatic impact under these circumstances. A show shouldn't be judged by an Encores! presentation. Admittedly, with the full books, some of the shows might come off worse, not better, but even so, they shouldn't be judged by these renditions. | |
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| re: The role of Mme. Hortense in "Zorba" | |
| Posted by: | lowwriter 12:05 am EDT 05/10/15 |
| In reply to: | re: The role of Mme. Hortense in "Zorba" - lastcall 06:54 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
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| Thought Zoe would be perfect as Fräulein Schneider in Cabaret. | |
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| re: The role of Mme. Hortense in "Zorba" | |
| Posted by: | scoot1er 11:25 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
| In reply to: | re: The role of Mme. Hortense in "Zorba" - lastcall 06:54 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
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| What I loved about the early Encores! was that the actors DID have their heads in their scripts and just sat and listened to the dance music when it occurred. The whole point of this series, for me, and I believe the original intention was, to present rarely heard scores. Now, it seems every Encores! production is auditioning for a Broadway transfer. They are over-produced and put too much emphasis on sets, costumes and lighting which distracts from the pure joy of just hearing the score sung live with an incredible cast and orchestra. Well...that's how I feel about it. Oh, I have been a subscriber since the first season, and in spite of my misgivings, I am not about to give up my subscription. | |
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| re: The role of Mme. Hortense in "Zorba" | |
| Posted by: | student_rush 07:25 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
| In reply to: | re: The role of Mme. Hortense in "Zorba" - lastcall 06:54 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
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| Your comment about "reading from scripts" is incredibly important. People on this board lambast Encores! performances as if they were complete productions. While most are fully staged, it's important to remember that these are put together with nine days of rehearsal. Nine days. I think John Turturro gives a nuanced (perhaps overly cinematic?) reading of the role, but he his casting has received some flak here. But remember, this performance is being shown to the public after less than a week and a half of rehearsals. At some point, don't we have to grade on a curve? | |
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| re: The role of Mme. Hortense in "Zorba" | |
| Posted by: | PlayWiz 07:34 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
| In reply to: | re: The role of Mme. Hortense in "Zorba" - student_rush 07:25 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
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| Blocking, rehearsing scenes and choreography have that short a time of rehearsal with the company, but once actors are cast they have the music (and probably the script) and have time to get to their vocal coaches and learn the music. Any cuts in the music and script tend to be given to the actors so they know what material they have to learn and what to dispense with. In other words, there's more than 9 days to do some work beforehand. But wow, having Robert Cuccioli in a small part--he could have given a fine acting and singing performance of the lead. | |
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| re: The role of Mme. Hortense in "Zorba" | |
| Posted by: | larry13 12:17 am EDT 05/10/15 |
| In reply to: | re: The role of Mme. Hortense in "Zorba" - PlayWiz 07:34 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
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| When I first read that Cuccioli was cast in a small role in this ZORBA, I thought it very strange. I looked up the two B'way. productions and saw that the actor playing the part had been one of Quinn's understudies in the revival. I believe it very likely Cuccioli was cast for this reason, especially considering Turturro's lack of musical theater experience and the time constraints on Encores. When I saw it this week, I had mixed reactions to Turturro's performance, as I did with much of the cast. I won't bother to go into that here; as for Turturro, a great deal has already been voiced by others. But I have no doubt that Cuccioli would have made a far stronger vocally and even dramatically Zorba. What a waste of such a major talent.(And is this the first time Encores has ever bothered to employ him?)Is Turturro such a big name that he was given the lead? Encores' ensembles are frequently filled with top NY singers and dancers, some of whom do lead roles elsewhere. But why is there the necessity to put people who can't sing and dance in the lead roles at Encores? | |
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| re: The role of Mme. Hortense in "Zorba" | |
| Posted by: | lowwriter 12:48 am EDT 05/10/15 |
| In reply to: | re: The role of Mme. Hortense in "Zorba" - larry13 12:17 am EDT 05/10/15 |
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| I wondered too if Cuccioli was there in case Turturro had to drop out. I enjoyed Turturro, though. | |
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| re: The role of Mme. Hortense in "Zorba" | |
| Posted by: | lowwriter 12:06 am EDT 05/10/15 |
| In reply to: | re: The role of Mme. Hortense in "Zorba" - PlayWiz 07:34 pm EDT 05/09/15 |
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| Don't really see Cuccioli playing Zorba though I agree not having him sing more was a waste. | |
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