I Am What I Am - HARVEY FIERSTEIN - La Cage Aux Folles Broadway Revival 2011

[dfwjac]

Say what you want. it's not a song about pretty singing. it's an angry anthem of a man who's sick and tired of pretending to be something he's not in to make other people comfortable within their prejudices. This version captures that perfectly. Not many do.

[funboy7979]

Nice. Vocal nodes scraping against vocal nodes. No breath support, no diction, no technique at all. The original French movie was far more affecting than the musical or the terrible American film.

[MissAthenaGirl]

I saw this live with Harvey Fierstein in New York for my 16th birthday. I saw the marquee with his name on it and could not supress a severely fan-girlish scream of sheer delight! He played this role like a BOSS!

[bway1497]

He was amazing in this role. It was written for him, even if he did write it...

[Shadow3103]

This man was absolutely INSANE as Zaza and I would pay good money to see him play that role again. He doesn't have the BEST voice, but with the passion and understanding of the role he had? Just amazing.

[clairetm63]

I think Harvey Fierstein understands the character more than any other, because I think the script of this play comes from his heart. Albin is just an insecure guy who wants to be accepted, gay or not, but is still proud in who he is, and I think Harvey feels the same way. So even if he has a pretty wacky voice for the character, he certainly knows how to play him!

[LoLoTate08]

Good lord, that must have been an incredible performance to watch. There's NO ONE like Harvey Fierstein. His voice is amazing and he did something so different and amazing with such a classic song.

[jdrc02]

NO ONE HAS A DRAG VOICE LIKE THAT....

[AMTProductionCo]

YOU ALL ARE FOOLS! This man was absolutely AMAZING as Zaza! The only actor who could do this role! He wrote it he knows it like the back of his hand! The man was absolutely wonderful. His voice isn't a problem. Sure he doesn't sing like Sinatra or Pavarotti, but who cares? Look at Tom Waits, or Bob Dylan, or Louis Armstrong. Beautiful music regardless of their vocal ailments.

[MrApollo45]

What a horrible voice!!!!

[CaliCaliente00]

@MrApollo45 Just because it's unusual, it doesn't mean it's horrible. :)

[549nyc]

Awonderful reminder of what is one of my ten most memorable nights at the theatre! Brava! ZaZa!!!

[mikeypl7]

I was so bummed when I heard he was in it and I couldn't go down. He's an amazing actor who uses his voice perfectly and has perfect technique. I hope to see an actual video of this soing

[rnarly]

I never realized that H.Fierstein influenced Captain Beefheart,and Tom Waits as much as he obviously did.

[FlemsnopesVIII]

Exactly the kind of- unique voice i'd expect, yet blows me away.

[sleepinbee87]

Harvey can't sing, but it's a shame there isn't a video clip of him ACTING through this piece. I was a wreck after act 1. He was amazing.

[yelanates]

@sleepinbee87 He *can* sing, actually. He uses what he has to great effect.

[otwist]

i was curious to hear what he sounded like! u saw it with douglas hodge last christmas..... and now i can see why it closed!! awfull casting!!!!!

[22professional]

Bloody hell what a horrendous racket LOL!

[matthewrmt]

Thank you so much for this recording. I saw Harvey and Chris Sieber twice. They were absolutely brilliant. They actually had great chemistry. I believed they were sexually attracted to each other which made the relationship so much more vibrant and real. I sent Harvey Fierstein a message applauding his performance and how deeply he'd moved me. He was generous enough to write back. I feel this performance is up there with Patty LuPone's Mama Rose in Gypsy--truly a magical theater moment!

[MrLtMuldoon]

Thanks so much for putting this up, I was curious to see how it was. I saw Kelsey Grammer and Doug Hodge (which was fantastic!) but Fierstein was a very interesting choice! Of course he would be great, glad to hear this. Did you see Christopher Sieber? What did you think? I was curious about him as well.

[ammie4lifelove]

I saw him on March 8, and he was amazing! I met him afterwards, and he was so sweet. La Cage was wonderful,and I'm so sad that it closed. <3

[AMTProductionCo]

I saw him do this! It was absolutely AMAZING!!! Fierstein really understood the part, of course he wrote it. God I was so amazed!

[brightsunshine]

@AMTProductionCo When Hodge played it, he was HILARIOUS. Was Fierstein funny as well?

[AMTProductionCo]

@brightsunshine oh yes! very much so! him being so large and with that raspy voice of his made it absolutely hilarious...left the whole audience in stitches the whole time. what a great stage presence! it was a beautiful piece of theater.

[yelanates]

@brightsunshine Nope. Fierstein hasn't a single funny bone in his body. *rolls eyes*

[brightsunshine]

@yelanates Aw, that's unfortunate. I felt Hodge was meant for that role. So perfect.