Remember in an episode of the vicar of Dibley when Frank does an impersonation of Stephen Hawking, this sounds exactly like that. No where on earth does this accent exist in real life. Disastrous interpretation.
I think the problem with this whole production is not the actors, it's the direction. You can hear glimpses of her real voice coming through and it's actually quite pleasant. She clearly was just following her director's instruction to be completely ridiculous and kind of acerbic in her acting and it impacts her vocals. Everything is just too overdone and it takes away from the subtlety and nuance of this show.
typical of a west end production. their interpretations of americans are sometimes hilarious. i saw a production of "sweet charity" and was laughing my ass off. they were soooo off. i also saw a production of west side story in london, and i was rolling my eyes up the whole time. my brit friends got mad, but it's the same as when americans try to do british. i know the brits laugh.
I'm always annoyed at how people will defend this version of the musical by saying "their voices are fantastic underneath those accents"! I'm sure their voices are just fine, but I can't just listen to these horrible, flat, obnoxious tones and just think "Oh, well, their voices are great elsewhere, so they're great here!"
this interpretation feels like what a person who has never been to New York or met a New Yorker think they are like. It is a charicature and really does noot feel genuine.
I really dont think that this woman really got Marta at all. Her expressions are crazy and do not really fit. And as for the costume, Marta is gutsy and quite frankly should be the sexiest of the three girls and that costume is rediculous!
Her expressions may seem extremely over-exagerrated but keep in mind that this, as well as any other filmed stage production, has to be visible to everyone in the audience up to the last row. Naturally it looks OTT now, and Marta is an OTT character but still, if you're sitting 20 feet away it wouldn't look half as overdone.
I think she has the perfect look for Marta. As for the accent, Marta is this character who is, as i describe it, New York City's biggest fan. And I've always viewed her as someone who hasn't live in NYC her whole life. So she just tries to make herself this big brash New Yorker... I donno. It's 1am I probably don't make any sense.
Angel pales in comparison to the original Marta, Pamela Myers. I was always bugged by the key change in the song, and the fact that her voice was all smooth bugged me as well. I loved the original interpretation, a big, brassy, New Yorker.
Anna Francolini is a stunning actress. I saw this performance and it was incredible. It is not a bad imitation of New York but a theatrical interpretation and is inevitably larger than life. One of the best nights I ever spent in the theatre.
This is embarrassing. A bad British imitation of New York. Not just her, but the whole production. I don't care what the interpretation is, there's nothing honest about any of them. They're all mugging, they're all going way over the top, and it looks like very few of them have ever actually been to New York City. I know Brits complain when we do their accents, but this isn't so much to brag about.
Wow I LOVE her characterization when I saw it at the 5th avenue in seattle she was a played as a hip ghetto prettty black woman and I really liked her characterization. This woman made be believe her charcter very much who is she and what pruduction is this.
really full on, scatty and OTT, etc - its not that the actors can't act or that they are making a "tragic mistake", they are just going along with how the director wanted it interpreted - if you don't like the interpretation then that's cool, but I don't think you should be blaming the actors, particularly if you've only seen this clip and having seen the Donmar production the whole way through.
Actually, have any of you watched this production the entire way through? I have - and if you had you'd realise that Sam Mendes has just taken a slightly different approach with this production - the craziness of Bobby's "crazy married friends" is made much more obvious, to exaggerate the contrast between him and them and make his break down during "Being Alive" even more poignant. Therefore, Amy actually acts as if she has mental problems and Marta is
A talented performer making a tragic mistake. She substituted an accent for character. It happened because she's trying to play a character she doesn't understand. She's assembled a lot of externals and she's mugging unforgivably. She's trying to make the character a Noo Yawker instead of simply allowing her to be one.
I think that if she had toned down the accent she would sound nice on this song. Her voice is almost, almost reminiscent of Pamela Myers, who is a master of this song. Her outfit's a bit outrageous and she looks like a teenager, but I liked her interpretation of the lyrics, she got the mood right.
I'm wondering who taught this woman how to speak with a New York accent. I'm a New Yorker, and a performer, and I know for a fact that, no matter what burrough you're from, when a real performer sings,their accent does not come through as obnoxiously as it does here. And it's just an annoyingly exaggerated accent.
She is supposed to be imitating a New Yorker! Marta is a kid (in her late teens...early twenties)obsessed with New York. Thus, the outrageous accent & young look. I played the part when I was 22 & just so happened to be just as infatuated with the city.
I disagree. I don't think Marta is supposed to be imitating New Yorkers, she's supposed to BE a New Yorker. Even if she's not from New York, I feel like she's supposed to blend in, and that's why she's able to enjoy the city. Nobody wants someone who tries to be like them, but clearly isn't, around. No New Yorker wants someone with that bad an accent around. And even so, I don't think she's going for an imitation. I think she's just getting carried away. She's got a nice voice otherwise though.
A superb interpretation and delivery, both vocally and physically. This performance illustrates why the original cast was ready to riot when the producer (or was it director Hal Prince?) considered removing this song from Company to shorten the production. It also illustrates why, as a showtune writer, I look for someone like this Anna Francolini--an actress who can sing--and not a singer who thinks she can act.
Remember in an episode of the vicar of Dibley when Frank does an impersonation of Stephen Hawking, this sounds exactly like that. No where on earth does this accent exist in real life. Disastrous interpretation.
stevenscollege 2 months ago
I think the problem with this whole production is not the actors, it's the direction. You can hear glimpses of her real voice coming through and it's actually quite pleasant. She clearly was just following her director's instruction to be completely ridiculous and kind of acerbic in her acting and it impacts her vocals. Everything is just too overdone and it takes away from the subtlety and nuance of this show.
thereisnodarkness 2 months ago
She did pretty good in my opinion. Could care less what people says.
KamikazeLive 3 months ago
She appears as if she wants to devour each hundred people that get off of that damn train.
Boonedaba 5 months ago
She has a HUGE lisp....she's very bad. Her high notes hurt my ears.
Beejeification 8 months ago
WTF? what is she doing to this song? I'd have walked out. Un-Bearable!
LUJANENSE 10 months ago
Why can't they actually get someone who can act in this role? This one and the woman from the revival are just horrible actors. ugh.
encorebc 1 year ago
1. this is 2 fast 2. She sounds Jersey or FROM New York. Like on person said down here all the characters seem stereotypical.
broadwayloverny10 1 year ago
Why do all of these characters scare me? The notes being held sound pretty ugly, its obviously on purpose, but why... ?
mike2finch 1 year ago
she's a little scary...
maybemaybenot160 2 years ago
typical of a west end production. their interpretations of americans are sometimes hilarious. i saw a production of "sweet charity" and was laughing my ass off. they were soooo off. i also saw a production of west side story in london, and i was rolling my eyes up the whole time. my brit friends got mad, but it's the same as when americans try to do british. i know the brits laugh.
moorewjr 2 years ago
mmm...I don't like her take on it...her accent makes it look like she's trying too hard
angrywiggler64 2 years ago
The accent seems to be an attempt to do "Tyne Daly on crack".
ITCJon 2 years ago
Do Brits really think that New Yorkers are that crazed, obnoxious and angry? She has no clue what this song is about.
DannyHiggs 2 years ago
I'm always annoyed at how people will defend this version of the musical by saying "their voices are fantastic underneath those accents"! I'm sure their voices are just fine, but I can't just listen to these horrible, flat, obnoxious tones and just think "Oh, well, their voices are great elsewhere, so they're great here!"
VRNProductions 2 years ago
Her tenue has something of the Wicked Witch of the East... Her singing is OK, but I think the instrumentation of the orchestra isn't fluent enough.
RickvanVeldhuizen 2 years ago
odd. Is she supposed to be mental?
boinxtdor 2 years ago
the donmar production is too steryotypical. all the charachters are overdone. the broadway revival is much better
dramatime1 2 years ago 6
Wow....She's really obnoxious....I prefer angel desai's version; smooth but still quirky, without overdoing it.
JoshySmoshy56 2 years ago 3
I really like this performance despite the really OTT accent. Maybe it's just because I love this song!
asmileisspecial 2 years ago
Underneath the intense fake accent....she has a gorgeous tone.
broadwaymelody33 3 years ago
her expression is quite off but actually convincing. hehe! nontheless it's really a good performance
rainskidoodle 3 years ago
I love the tone but hate the accent
wrlowe92 3 years ago
Very nearly perfect. Someone finally gets it. I've lived in NY for 20 years. I have met this woman a thousand times.
agitzy 3 years ago
I don't know, she seems almost TOO kooky to be Marta. Still, not bad.
AtLastOnTheGround 3 years ago
this interpretation feels like what a person who has never been to New York or met a New Yorker think they are like. It is a charicature and really does noot feel genuine.
Asylum07MasterMadman 3 years ago 2
I really dont think that this woman really got Marta at all. Her expressions are crazy and do not really fit. And as for the costume, Marta is gutsy and quite frankly should be the sexiest of the three girls and that costume is rediculous!
apophis1975 3 years ago 6
Her expressions may seem extremely over-exagerrated but keep in mind that this, as well as any other filmed stage production, has to be visible to everyone in the audience up to the last row. Naturally it looks OTT now, and Marta is an OTT character but still, if you're sitting 20 feet away it wouldn't look half as overdone.
bohemiawelcumsyou 3 years ago
I think she has the perfect look for Marta. As for the accent, Marta is this character who is, as i describe it, New York City's biggest fan. And I've always viewed her as someone who hasn't live in NYC her whole life. So she just tries to make herself this big brash New Yorker... I donno. It's 1am I probably don't make any sense.
jayms74 3 years ago
I LOVE this
valerieann88 3 years ago
I prefer Angel Desai from 2006 Revival as "Marta". Good interpretation though. she's very expressive.
musicaldudepeter 3 years ago 4
I liked Angel's characterization of Marta, but I really didn't care for her singing; I thought she was way to histrionic.
bluebettle 3 years ago
Angel pales in comparison to the original Marta, Pamela Myers. I was always bugged by the key change in the song, and the fact that her voice was all smooth bugged me as well. I loved the original interpretation, a big, brassy, New Yorker.
doggys235 3 years ago 2
I thought her singing fit her really good; quite sexy xD
RickvanVeldhuizen 2 years ago
Her tempo changes make me dizzy. She's trying to be expressive, but it's too much.
hatorigirl1202 4 years ago
isn´t sondiehm great
malagaboyz 4 years ago 3
I LOVE this interpretation.
The overexaggerated New York accent makes it charming
broadwaymelody33 4 years ago
great stuff
sparsafree 4 years ago
Anna Francolini is a stunning actress. I saw this performance and it was incredible. It is not a bad imitation of New York but a theatrical interpretation and is inevitably larger than life. One of the best nights I ever spent in the theatre.
leelyford 4 years ago
This is embarrassing. A bad British imitation of New York. Not just her, but the whole production. I don't care what the interpretation is, there's nothing honest about any of them. They're all mugging, they're all going way over the top, and it looks like very few of them have ever actually been to New York City. I know Brits complain when we do their accents, but this isn't so much to brag about.
DannyHiggs 4 years ago 3
Wow I LOVE her characterization when I saw it at the 5th avenue in seattle she was a played as a hip ghetto prettty black woman and I really liked her characterization. This woman made be believe her charcter very much who is she and what pruduction is this.
tabethastan 4 years ago
i just got casted in this play today as harry !
johnny27360 4 years ago
wicked singing
musicalfool 4 years ago
this is such a tragedy...roseannes daughter singing a glorious song and also scaring the shit out of me!
carlosman2 4 years ago
I think the production really works as a whole -- But that's just my opinion anyway - feel free to shout at me... :-P
(PS - read my first post frist, then the second and finally this one - it will make sense then!! :-P )
SRadders 4 years ago
really full on, scatty and OTT, etc - its not that the actors can't act or that they are making a "tragic mistake", they are just going along with how the director wanted it interpreted - if you don't like the interpretation then that's cool, but I don't think you should be blaming the actors, particularly if you've only seen this clip and having seen the Donmar production the whole way through.
SRadders 4 years ago
Actually, have any of you watched this production the entire way through? I have - and if you had you'd realise that Sam Mendes has just taken a slightly different approach with this production - the craziness of Bobby's "crazy married friends" is made much more obvious, to exaggerate the contrast between him and them and make his break down during "Being Alive" even more poignant. Therefore, Amy actually acts as if she has mental problems and Marta is
SRadders 4 years ago
I think your right I don't think her character is from New York.
chicken007fillet 4 years ago
You're right - she says 'I came to New York because it's the center of the world and that's where I want to be.'
AllanWo 4 years ago
i wonder how an american imitating an english person sounds to the english? it goes both ways
gabsylv 4 years ago
this is fierce.
DivaBaby137 4 years ago
Is everyone in this production flat?
encorebc 4 years ago
A talented performer making a tragic mistake. She substituted an accent for character. It happened because she's trying to play a character she doesn't understand. She's assembled a lot of externals and she's mugging unforgivably. She's trying to make the character a Noo Yawker instead of simply allowing her to be one.
GeorgeWTush 4 years ago
yeah, except, I could be wrong, but her character is not from New york...
bosley28 4 years ago
She certainly has the potential to be nearly as good as Myers, but that accent makes the song flat out ugly.
MattBarlow 4 years ago
I think that if she had toned down the accent she would sound nice on this song. Her voice is almost, almost reminiscent of Pamela Myers, who is a master of this song. Her outfit's a bit outrageous and she looks like a teenager, but I liked her interpretation of the lyrics, she got the mood right.
YourFaceFacely 4 years ago
I'm wondering who taught this woman how to speak with a New York accent. I'm a New Yorker, and a performer, and I know for a fact that, no matter what burrough you're from, when a real performer sings,their accent does not come through as obnoxiously as it does here. And it's just an annoyingly exaggerated accent.
YourFaceFacely 4 years ago
She is supposed to be imitating a New Yorker! Marta is a kid (in her late teens...early twenties)obsessed with New York. Thus, the outrageous accent & young look. I played the part when I was 22 & just so happened to be just as infatuated with the city.
trs002 4 years ago
I disagree. I don't think Marta is supposed to be imitating New Yorkers, she's supposed to BE a New Yorker. Even if she's not from New York, I feel like she's supposed to blend in, and that's why she's able to enjoy the city. Nobody wants someone who tries to be like them, but clearly isn't, around. No New Yorker wants someone with that bad an accent around. And even so, I don't think she's going for an imitation. I think she's just getting carried away. She's got a nice voice otherwise though.
YourFaceFacely 4 years ago
I agree!
gabsylv 4 years ago
A superb interpretation and delivery, both vocally and physically. This performance illustrates why the original cast was ready to riot when the producer (or was it director Hal Prince?) considered removing this song from Company to shorten the production. It also illustrates why, as a showtune writer, I look for someone like this Anna Francolini--an actress who can sing--and not a singer who thinks she can act.
paulinmaryland 4 years ago
Spot on brilliant!
WheresMyPrize 4 years ago
VERY nice performance of this complicated and wonderful Sondheim tune. Thanks for posting!
jpatpt 4 years ago