It is interesting. lol.
Can't explain it. But good as she is, I think Fantasia blew her away as her replacement, and Erivo's performance in the revival got a lot more buzz because she seemed fresher and more surprising in the role, and she was a new person to Broadway audiences. I don't think it helped La Chanze that people viewed the show less favorably in that production, but Erivo starred in one that made people reconsider it and love it unexpectedly.
But she has some stiff competition in 2006, and I'm honestly almost surprised she beat Patti in Sweeney AND Kelli in Pajama Game, both pretty thoroughly raved about performances in raved about popular productions, and then there was also Sutton in Drowsy and Chita in A Dancer's Life, but I don't think either had a chance to beat La Chanze or Patti or Kelli. |
