| Lillias White/Jennifer Holliday |
| Posted by: Shutterbug 01:15 pm EDT 06/28/20 |
| In reply to: re: Why was the 1987 revival of DREAMGIRLS such a bust? - Delvino 10:29 am EDT 06/28/20 |
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Agree that White is a gifted singer/actor, and I never miss an opportunity to see her perform. Her Effie was full of the nuance and subtlety that only White can deliver, but that doesn’t make her the definitive Effie in my opinion.
Holliday was, and will always be, the definitive Effie.
When Holliday reaches down, deep down into her chest - no, her guts - to deliver some of the big notes in And I’m Telling You.. her (and the character’s) emotional pain pours out in a torrent of raw feeling. I’ve never felt anything like it as an audience member - no matter who I’ve heard sing it since. Not White and not Hudson. I had the feeling that Holliday WAS Effie and knew Effie’s pain intimately through lived experience.
Of course there was the off stage drama of Holliday getting fired by Bennett and then re-hired, which may have added another layer to an already gut-wrenching performance. Difficult to say if that off-stage experience contributed to the intensity that Holliday delivered.
I saw Holliday perform the song live at an AIDS benefit in the early 90’s. She spoke about her complicated relationship with Bennett and then sang the song in his memory. It was devastating. I remember being in tears. (side note: the headliner at that benefit concert was Whitney Houston who was in magnificent voice. It was a night I’ll never forget).
Holliday may not be a subtle actor, but for me she will always be the only Effie. |
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re: Why was the 1987 revival of DREAMGIRLS such a bust? - Delvino 10:29 am EDT 06/28/20 |
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re: Lillias White/Jennifer Holliday - Snowysdad 05:09 pm EDT 06/28/20 |
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