This girl is really good. A little too pop sounding for my personal taste. She sounds a little Barbara Walsh from the revival, but obviously she didn't try to imitate her, since the revival came out a couple years later. I would've liked it to have more guts and be a lot more raw, but this is still good nonetheless. I still don't think Company is a very good show for a high school. They did it well, but the kids can only go so far with the characterization, since they haven't had the experience.
WOW! this girl was excellent! I was impressed how she made it a song but yet all the bitterness of the lyrics came through. Good job whomever this girl is.
Most people's complaints about this production are basically, "They're not old enough". Not enough people seem to be saying what a brilliant production it is! I've done a bit of amateur theatre but nothing compared to any of this. I'm preferring these clips to the ones of the professional Revival also on YouTube. This girl has a great voice and gives a good interpretation if you ask me. Well done everyone!
they are not old enough.... simple.... that girl is not meant to sing that song... it's meant to be sung by a midddle aged woman... this musical is meant for 40 yearolds... little as 30.
This young woman has a fabulous voice. Absolutely fabulous. I wish I could have seen her face.
1. Is that a live band? (If it is, it's great one :) The tempo is so fast (Sondheim requests a Slow Bossa Nova) that it's hard to get the text out. I had the feeling the singer found it a little too driving.
2. The singer doesn't yet have the ability to vary her vocal colour very much. It's all a bit too similar. But that's not uncommon with young singers. But it's a great voice.
It's not even vocal color that's lacking -- The idea of this song is nothing that the average high schooler could grasp. This isn't some humorous drunk rant about things that piss the character off, this is a song about self-loathing and the hypocrite within the character, as she judges and nags at anything she can find when SHE is the one with the real flaws.
Well actually, she wasn't even aware of the movie. The film came out in September, 2003... and this clip is from March of 2004; not much time to study that crappy flick. But thanks for the knock.
I understand she is young and obviously not a damaged alcoholic, though she should be playing it as though. She does not have the right motives nor is she playing it angry enough. Not the loud kind of angry, it's a different kind of angry, it's quiet and introverted until she gets really riled up, and we're supposed to hear that in the "aaaaahhhhhh"'s and the "rise"'s. Maybe it's just me and I'm terribly picky with this song, but I am not hearing enough acting.
You cannot take criticisim. You shouldn't post stuff on youtube if you're so worried about being judged. How is a high school kid supposed to understand this character? This high school is overambitious.
Thanks for laying-down the rules-for-posting. I am not the actor nor the director nor the producer; just the clip-uploader. So, taking "criticisim" or "criticism" doesn't apply, right? These kids read books, go to movies and plays, etc. I think they have "some" idea of understanding characters even if they haven't lived thru the experiences. Imagine if ALL actors had to experience their characters' situations before playing the parts!!
Please don't reply by typing "what a stupid comment?"...
I'm with you. The whole point of school is to LEARN, and stretch yourself. If anything, most schools are UNDER-ambitious. Even if the actor DID understand the character intellectually (and I'm sure it was discussed,) it's no simple task to get on stage, act with complexity and subtlety, AND belt out a song. This is incredible for a high-school performance.
Believe me, this high school isn't. This is a MUCH better performance than your average high school effort. Just watch some other YouTube vids of HS musicals... it's usually the kind of thing that makes you want to hide your head under the pillow.
Anyway, school is about LEARNING. This girl is what, 16? 17? Jeez.
I so loved this performance!!! She may not have exactly acted the character's age, but she didn't HAVE to be spot-on. Personally, I think it didn't detract from the performance at all.
Only 30 years of cigarettes will take care of the voice. I have a feeling if she acted 55, we would scoff at over acting. It was a beautiful performance.
This girl has a wonderful voice but... I am a firm beliver that nobody under the age of 40 can truly understand what this song is supposed to mean and therefore could never perfom it well. Sorry, you're great, but this show is not meant for high school, not because of content, but because of the maturity that it takes to play these characters. She should try again in 30 years, then it would be fabulous.
I understand what you're saying and appreciate the comments.
This actor was coached A LOT by older and wiser people, to make sure that she would capture the essence of "the age" issue. Only a stupid director would let this show happen on a high school stage without extensive interpretive direction. These kids are well "educated," which will help them in future productions. That's what HS theatre is supposed to do - give students as much knowledge as their itty-bitty brains can absorb. ;-}
Not everyone over 40 understands it. Elaine Stritch didn't understand the line "A piece of Mahler", she had no idea who Mahler was. I have a feeling this girl knows who Mahler is.
she has a good voice but im a bit putoff by the hand gestures she makes. i agree that she doesnt have the infliction of an older alchaholic(elaine stritch, barb walsh) but its good for the high school level.
I liked it. obviously no elaine stritch. But though at points she definitely seemed to young. But she did do a good job, a lot better then I'd think for high school. I plan on doing this show, since it's my favorite, for my senior project so this gives me hope. Whoever I cast for Joanne is going through a lot of analyzation, I can tell you that.
Have you seen others? . . Just wondering? Your profile says that you're 15, and I was just wondering how you've become such a Sonhheim performance critic at this early age. {I'm not being nasty - I'm interested in where your interests lie.} I love people that get really enthusiastic about theatre at such an early age.
the idea of a high school performing sondheim is reprehensible. The social commentary is above their heads and ultimately makes a product that is fake. This song should be sung by some on 3 times her age.
When I read your comment, my knee-jerk reaction was, "Who asked you?!?," or "What do YOU know?" Then I realized.. this must be some kind of joke. So, who are you? Why did you make me go to the dictionary to look up "reprehenible?" Hey - you spelled it right.. so you're nobody that I know!!
I think it's completely possible for people at high school age to have a knowledge and realisation of social commentary. I know that people at my school would, but then again, they're english. :P but i think that to say it's re[rehensible is a bit of a super-exaggeration.
Maybe you consider that it is most apt to be shown by teens -- with the new idea that teenage marriage is so easy and blissful, perhaps you could consider it a more interesting approach. Here they are married, and look, here's the irony. Becoming adults so soon really brings the very problems that are portrayed -- which are timeless. (My response to another person on another video who argued the same point.)
How about Hello Dolly? Should the high school student be three times the age for that too? Maybe all high schools should just produce Charlie Brown and Runaways every other year.
After watching all the clips from this production, she is the only one worth applauding for. She did a great job, she seems like the only one who can actually sing well and in pitch. Kudos to her!
I dont think you can really say that... eileen stritch didnt even know what she was saying when she sang this song. She openly admits that. She just lucked out with her tonal quality and what not... Yes age does help with this song to understand the meaning... but age does not make this song.
That is kinda harsh. I am pretty young too and this is one of my favorite audition/recital/concert/performance songs. Who better than teenagers to sing and belt about frustrations they feel towards there peers and the pathetic things that they could be and the joy of what they are not. That is what this song is about. At least that is how I interpret it when I sing it.
Perhaps, but consider this. This girl sang this song at a private party to Sondheim [sitting in the "audience"], and he didn't have a problem with her hands. She also won an award for her performance at the annual Helen Hayes HS musical competition.
fairly good performance, especially considering this a much "older" part for a teen ager to sing, really written for a woman in her 40s
skewlboypin 1 year ago
This girl is really good. A little too pop sounding for my personal taste. She sounds a little Barbara Walsh from the revival, but obviously she didn't try to imitate her, since the revival came out a couple years later. I would've liked it to have more guts and be a lot more raw, but this is still good nonetheless. I still don't think Company is a very good show for a high school. They did it well, but the kids can only go so far with the characterization, since they haven't had the experience.
broadwayboy611 1 year ago
That was absolutely amazing! Very talented!
babygirl76205 1 year ago
I really dont think she has a clue of what she is singing about.
iamupforallfun 2 years ago 5
@iamupforallfun
She totally missed the alcoholic midlife crisis part of the song.
Bolbyman 1 year ago
WOW! this girl was excellent! I was impressed how she made it a song but yet all the bitterness of the lyrics came through. Good job whomever this girl is.
wackybrinyc29 2 years ago
Most people's complaints about this production are basically, "They're not old enough". Not enough people seem to be saying what a brilliant production it is! I've done a bit of amateur theatre but nothing compared to any of this. I'm preferring these clips to the ones of the professional Revival also on YouTube. This girl has a great voice and gives a good interpretation if you ask me. Well done everyone!
giantsquidrule 2 years ago
they are not old enough.... simple.... that girl is not meant to sing that song... it's meant to be sung by a midddle aged woman... this musical is meant for 40 yearolds... little as 30.
armandofarras 2 years ago
Her voice is very good, as has been said. :)
yelanates 2 years ago
Well, I don't know what people are complaining about. I like it. Besides, does anyone really expect a 16-year-old to be Elaine Stritch?
TheLizonya 2 years ago
love your voice (=
JacquieDolly 2 years ago
MY voice?
Oh - ya mean HER voice!! ;-}
Yeah, it's very sturdy and right on key. At every performance, I looked forward to her performance of the piece.
leojrevlis 2 years ago
This young woman has a fabulous voice. Absolutely fabulous. I wish I could have seen her face.
1. Is that a live band? (If it is, it's great one :) The tempo is so fast (Sondheim requests a Slow Bossa Nova) that it's hard to get the text out. I had the feeling the singer found it a little too driving.
2. The singer doesn't yet have the ability to vary her vocal colour very much. It's all a bit too similar. But that's not uncommon with young singers. But it's a great voice.
dangerousmezzo 3 years ago
It's not even vocal color that's lacking -- The idea of this song is nothing that the average high schooler could grasp. This isn't some humorous drunk rant about things that piss the character off, this is a song about self-loathing and the hypocrite within the character, as she judges and nags at anything she can find when SHE is the one with the real flaws.
AtLastOnTheGround 2 years ago
sounds like she's heard the performance from Camp a little too much.
cmh281288 3 years ago
Well actually, she wasn't even aware of the movie. The film came out in September, 2003... and this clip is from March of 2004; not much time to study that crappy flick. But thanks for the knock.
leojrevlis 3 years ago
This is actually a better performance than most I've heard and seen, just wish there wasn't a white blob.
Yvos87 3 years ago
Mmmm, not the best...
EtrangerStranger 3 years ago
Mmmm, why comment then?
Please give reasons for your wisdom.
leojrevlis 3 years ago
I understand she is young and obviously not a damaged alcoholic, though she should be playing it as though. She does not have the right motives nor is she playing it angry enough. Not the loud kind of angry, it's a different kind of angry, it's quiet and introverted until she gets really riled up, and we're supposed to hear that in the "aaaaahhhhhh"'s and the "rise"'s. Maybe it's just me and I'm terribly picky with this song, but I am not hearing enough acting.
EtrangerStranger 3 years ago
I fully agree her character really isn't realized in her singing voice the bitterness and years of hard living aren't there in her performance.
crimsoncrow 3 years ago
Wow....someone who actually understands the importance of character! Where have you been!?
EtrangerStranger 3 years ago
You cannot take criticisim. You shouldn't post stuff on youtube if you're so worried about being judged. How is a high school kid supposed to understand this character? This high school is overambitious.
ajt141 3 years ago
Thanks for laying-down the rules-for-posting. I am not the actor nor the director nor the producer; just the clip-uploader. So, taking "criticisim" or "criticism" doesn't apply, right? These kids read books, go to movies and plays, etc. I think they have "some" idea of understanding characters even if they haven't lived thru the experiences. Imagine if ALL actors had to experience their characters' situations before playing the parts!!
Please don't reply by typing "what a stupid comment?"...
leojrevlis 3 years ago
I'm with you. The whole point of school is to LEARN, and stretch yourself. If anything, most schools are UNDER-ambitious. Even if the actor DID understand the character intellectually (and I'm sure it was discussed,) it's no simple task to get on stage, act with complexity and subtlety, AND belt out a song. This is incredible for a high-school performance.
jzapert 2 years ago
Believe me, this high school isn't. This is a MUCH better performance than your average high school effort. Just watch some other YouTube vids of HS musicals... it's usually the kind of thing that makes you want to hide your head under the pillow.
Anyway, school is about LEARNING. This girl is what, 16? 17? Jeez.
jzapert 2 years ago
Absolutely Amazing. This is what Stritch sounded like in High School!
Her diction, timing and tone are full broadway standard. What high school WAS this?
JimFranzese 3 years ago
flhsmusicals. c om
rodanvideo 3 years ago
Totally agree move2themusic, she was great .. age was not an issue, she captured the spirit, and what a voice.
piraticalmaid 3 years ago
I so loved this performance!!! She may not have exactly acted the character's age, but she didn't HAVE to be spot-on. Personally, I think it didn't detract from the performance at all.
move2themusic 3 years ago
Oh my god! Why didn't i go to this High School?! Who's the head of the theatre department? Auntie Mame..you go kids!
Paigeturnernyc 3 years ago
Stunning voice.
pete422188 3 years ago
hear voice is to refined, she did not capture the bitterness of the character nor does she have since of irony about her line.
crimsoncrow 3 years ago 3
Only 30 years of cigarettes will take care of the voice. I have a feeling if she acted 55, we would scoff at over acting. It was a beautiful performance.
foundarecord 3 years ago
Tyler,
"TOO" refined..
"SENSE" of irony..
Oh, NOW I can understand your sentence!
Nah - I don't agree... I loved the performance.
Just curious - are you familiar with Follies? It's a "spooky" show with incredible music.
leojrevlis 3 years ago
This girl has a wonderful voice but... I am a firm beliver that nobody under the age of 40 can truly understand what this song is supposed to mean and therefore could never perfom it well. Sorry, you're great, but this show is not meant for high school, not because of content, but because of the maturity that it takes to play these characters. She should try again in 30 years, then it would be fabulous.
DigitalBPrince 3 years ago
I understand what you're saying and appreciate the comments.
This actor was coached A LOT by older and wiser people, to make sure that she would capture the essence of "the age" issue. Only a stupid director would let this show happen on a high school stage without extensive interpretive direction. These kids are well "educated," which will help them in future productions. That's what HS theatre is supposed to do - give students as much knowledge as their itty-bitty brains can absorb. ;-}
leojrevlis 3 years ago
Not everyone over 40 understands it. Elaine Stritch didn't understand the line "A piece of Mahler", she had no idea who Mahler was. I have a feeling this girl knows who Mahler is.
foundarecord 3 years ago
She has a great voice. Loved it.
thunderbird63 4 years ago
My favorite part was the facial expressions.
bigjoy 4 years ago
Bravo!
DenasPaul 4 years ago
she has a good voice but im a bit putoff by the hand gestures she makes. i agree that she doesnt have the infliction of an older alchaholic(elaine stritch, barb walsh) but its good for the high school level.
no1cherfan 4 years ago
umm... the stage would have been soaked...she was throwing that glass around...
jdlynch 4 years ago
...And the stage would have burned down, since she didn't know how to handle a cigarette either!!
Where are we going with these comments?
leojrevlis 4 years ago
I liked it. obviously no elaine stritch. But though at points she definitely seemed to young. But she did do a good job, a lot better then I'd think for high school. I plan on doing this show, since it's my favorite, for my senior project so this gives me hope. Whoever I cast for Joanne is going through a lot of analyzation, I can tell you that.
bassman462 4 years ago
this was an ok performance... didn't blow me away
vampriss25 4 years ago
Have you seen others? . . Just wondering? Your profile says that you're 15, and I was just wondering how you've become such a Sonhheim performance critic at this early age. {I'm not being nasty - I'm interested in where your interests lie.} I love people that get really enthusiastic about theatre at such an early age.
leojrevlis 4 years ago
Damn, she killed.
GermyLung 4 years ago
the idea of a high school performing sondheim is reprehensible. The social commentary is above their heads and ultimately makes a product that is fake. This song should be sung by some on 3 times her age.
Oldeagle 4 years ago
When I read your comment, my knee-jerk reaction was, "Who asked you?!?," or "What do YOU know?" Then I realized.. this must be some kind of joke. So, who are you? Why did you make me go to the dictionary to look up "reprehenible?" Hey - you spelled it right.. so you're nobody that I know!!
leojrevlis 4 years ago
i'm a big mouthed theatre queen.
Oldeagle 4 years ago
I think it's completely possible for people at high school age to have a knowledge and realisation of social commentary. I know that people at my school would, but then again, they're english. :P but i think that to say it's re[rehensible is a bit of a super-exaggeration.
nekonuk 4 years ago
Maybe you consider that it is most apt to be shown by teens -- with the new idea that teenage marriage is so easy and blissful, perhaps you could consider it a more interesting approach. Here they are married, and look, here's the irony. Becoming adults so soon really brings the very problems that are portrayed -- which are timeless. (My response to another person on another video who argued the same point.)
seergreen 4 years ago
How about Hello Dolly? Should the high school student be three times the age for that too? Maybe all high schools should just produce Charlie Brown and Runaways every other year.
ZB2002 4 years ago 2
After watching all the clips from this production, she is the only one worth applauding for. She did a great job, she seems like the only one who can actually sing well and in pitch. Kudos to her!
jm615 4 years ago
Yay!! You actually approve of SOMETHING. Yes, she was wonderful.
leojrevlis 4 years ago
i actually think the hands are pretty joanne-esque
spklneelyspkl 5 years ago
There is just something very unpleasant hearing a teenage girl sing this song. I get the same feeling when I see it in CAMP.
ljay889 5 years ago
I dont think you can really say that... eileen stritch didnt even know what she was saying when she sang this song. She openly admits that. She just lucked out with her tonal quality and what not... Yes age does help with this song to understand the meaning... but age does not make this song.
Jbspangs 5 years ago
That is kinda harsh. I am pretty young too and this is one of my favorite audition/recital/concert/performance songs. Who better than teenagers to sing and belt about frustrations they feel towards there peers and the pathetic things that they could be and the joy of what they are not. That is what this song is about. At least that is how I interpret it when I sing it.
highflyingadored01 4 years ago
shes sounds exactly like the girl from CAMP the movie.great job !!
MissBroadwayx3 5 years ago
BETTER!!
leojrevlis 5 years ago
great job just glad you didn't murder the 'rise' part really good although i'm let on commenting.
RockingChickInBlack 5 years ago
Someone needs to learn not to use her hands. There is power in stillness.
ktrent 5 years ago
Perhaps, but consider this. This girl sang this song at a private party to Sondheim [sitting in the "audience"], and he didn't have a problem with her hands. She also won an award for her performance at the annual Helen Hayes HS musical competition.
rodanvideo 5 years ago
She's a drunk. They tend to be rather expressive with their hands. Yeah.
clarklesparkle 4 years ago
Good observation!! I like you!!
leojrevlis 4 years ago
As everyone else is saying...fantastic job!
swtslevy 5 years ago
It would be a shame if this girl didn't make it to Broadway, she is awesome.
geminat 5 years ago
impressive.
daugherity 5 years ago
This girl is fantastic!
broadwaysweetheart 5 years ago
Damn. I have goosebumps on my arms now O:
MistressRhea 5 years ago
Dang! Shes freeked AWSOME! Thank god this school shows that some high schools are capible of doing shows like Company.
fosseboi 5 years ago
Awesome! You guys seem to do a lot of shows that other high schools don't want to try, which is great!
TellTheStory 5 years ago
where is this hs? this is superior to most of the college performances i've seen. congrats guys!
fremissante 5 years ago
Brilliant!! This gal has some set of pipes...
doug18020 5 years ago
I hope you got a standing ovation.
That was fan-friggin-tastic.
enterxnamexhere 5 years ago