In haven't been much interested in this revival. After hearing Mandy Gonzalez, a true "Broadway Baby," I've changed my mind. Thanks so much for this post.
I went to HS with Mandy (we did South Pacific together). She was always good, but is obviously a lot more refined now. I'm not always a huge fan of her, though. She can overdo it at times, IMO.. She sounds good here. I didn't know she was doing another show after Hamilton (saw her in that...we enjoyed it).
She has an overpowering power belt at times, but that type of singing is also rewarded in her industry. She has a truly magnificent vocal instrument, though. It seems from this audio clip like she has really developed as a technical singer since her In the Heights days. She has always been great, but I am impressed by how much more mature her sound is here. I felt that some of her belting in ITH, as impressive as it was, distracted from the emotional arc of the song. Her singing in "Breathe," for example, seems to overshadow the storytelling because it is so filled with power belting. But I am impressed by how much control she has of her vocal instrument here. She is also a great actor, and this role seems like a perfect showcase for that. Lastly, she seems more believable to me as a woman who is supposed to be "washed up." Not that Mandy Gonzalez is that by any means. But Nicole Scherzinger just seems to read as too young to me, even for a younger version of Norma Desmond in this take on the show. I actually think I would prefer to see Mandy Gonzalez as my first choice for who would play the role, if I saw this production. As great as I'm sure Nicole Scherzinger is, I have the impression that Mandy Gonzalez is ideally suited to the part and is probably just spectacular in it.
Correct. And there's way way way too much of it going on in musical theater nowadays. Just loud overblown vocal pyrotechnics lacking subtlety, a sense of character, or connection to story. It's hammy and cartoonish.
Nicole is MAGA and making money off tbe LGBTQ community that she doesnt support. I will never pay to see her. And Im sure Audra is thanking her for handing her the Tony Award because Nicole just lost it because of her stupidity.
I’ll bet the producers thank their stars every day for being able to cast such a wonderful 2nd Norma!
@@lcc6744 agreed! She will attract her own group of appreciative fans and get new ones along the way.
Her “In The Heights” cast mates nicknamed her The Beast.
In haven't been much interested in this revival. After hearing Mandy Gonzalez, a true "Broadway Baby," I've changed my mind. Thanks so much for this post.
I need to see her live!!!!
i vote not human, the power gave it away!
This was MAGNIFICENT!!!!!!!
goosebumps...
She sounds like she’s singing in slow motion.
I went to HS with Mandy (we did South Pacific together). She was always good, but is obviously a lot more refined now. I'm not always a huge fan of her, though. She can overdo it at times, IMO.. She sounds good here. I didn't know she was doing another show after Hamilton (saw her in that...we enjoyed it).
She has an overpowering power belt at times, but that type of singing is also rewarded in her industry. She has a truly magnificent vocal instrument, though. It seems from this audio clip like she has really developed as a technical singer since her In the Heights days. She has always been great, but I am impressed by how much more mature her sound is here. I felt that some of her belting in ITH, as impressive as it was, distracted from the emotional arc of the song. Her singing in "Breathe," for example, seems to overshadow the storytelling because it is so filled with power belting. But I am impressed by how much control she has of her vocal instrument here. She is also a great actor, and this role seems like a perfect showcase for that. Lastly, she seems more believable to me as a woman who is supposed to be "washed up." Not that Mandy Gonzalez is that by any means. But Nicole Scherzinger just seems to read as too young to me, even for a younger version of Norma Desmond in this take on the show. I actually think I would prefer to see Mandy Gonzalez as my first choice for who would play the role, if I saw this production. As great as I'm sure Nicole Scherzinger is, I have the impression that Mandy Gonzalez is ideally suited to the part and is probably just spectacular in it.
Meh
Meh lol
It adds nothing and interrupts the flow to the climax
Helen Snieder did it best.
That is the way the arrangement is written for this production. Thank Maga Nicole for that…..
Correct. And there's way way way too much of it going on in musical theater nowadays. Just loud overblown vocal pyrotechnics lacking subtlety, a sense of character, or connection to story. It's hammy and cartoonish.
that's what she said
no
Much cleaner singing than the other one who scoops note after note.
Oh stop it. That’s a really dumb comment.
“Cleaner” singing. Go clean something you dumb ass.
@DJGNYC The scooping is dumb.
Nicole better
Nicole is MAGA and making money off tbe LGBTQ community that she doesnt support. I will never pay to see her. And Im sure Audra is thanking her for handing her the Tony Award because Nicole just lost it because of her stupidity.
still, a far cry from Glenn/Betty/Elaine.... this is the B-team of Normas