A Little Brains, A Little Talent

[bluesun7777]

Whoa. Find me a better version of this song, and I will salute you.

[fantasmaplasma]

I think her singing is better than the more popular versions on youtube, but i'm not crazy about her acting. She brings something very original to the singing voice of the character.

[FoxloidShiroko]

She's amazing ;///u///;

[08silvercs]

WOW, JUST WOW!!!

[barbudillo]

wow, she is amazing!

[call0me0nny]

i think some of the dance moves are a little awkward but she still looks and sounds amazing!

[cutiemcprettyface]

i liked this alot. its just too bad the camera person wasn't so good.

[Bdwaybuff]

I SAW HER DO THIS LIVE. I am so glad to see it again. She is truly spectacular

[daneldorado]

I'd never heard of Valerie Wright before, but after watching this video of her doing "A Little Brains, a Little Talent," I am suddenly her biggest fan!

There are numerous clips of this song posted to YouTube. They are ALL inferior to this Valerie Wright rendition. Yes, although I hate to say it, I like it even better than the Gwen Verdon version.

YAY Valerie! You can really sing, and you can really dance! And what a bod!

Cheers,

Dan

[ccballet9]

she's simply amazing. in my opinion, sooooo much better than jane...

[robbiegalgal]

Wonderful, many thanks for the post; easily the most convincing Lola I've ever seen. Would like to second the request for a post of "whatever Lola wants" if possible. Robert

[jmt319]

Thrilling performance from Valerie Wright!!!

Thanks for posting.

[iluvjuliabeforegreen]

Could you post 'Whatever Lola Wants', please? =D

[har9020]

I saw the national tour of this show with Jerry Lewis and with April Nixon as Lola. Nixon was absolutely superb. She is a petite and very pretty African-American girl with sex appeal for days, a lovely voice, and great comic timing. She makes Bebe Neuwirth sound like a man.

[michaelgarzota]

Who is that actress? She's positively bewitching!

[LatasianDevil]

you should see south plantaion's damn yankees

its really good

lola in sphs is a pretty and slutty girl

and she dressed like the devil's playmate

[HumbleHarry]

I would never say this actress isn't talented, but wasn't the Lola character once the ugliest woman in Providence, R.I., before Mr. Applegate rescued her? Something about this performance misses at alluding to that important aspect of Lola's past. I don't know what it, but I don't believe the character she's playing has never known an ugly day in her life.

[HumbleHarry]

"...has ever," that is.

[wanderinpianoman]

I dont know about the revival but even in the original she's not. I just played Joe and I dont ever remember that being mentioned

[HumbleHarry]

I've never seen a stage version of the show, but in 1958 film version it is part of Lola's back story. At one point in the movie, Mr. Applegate even threatens to turn her back into that pitiable creature. It added something to the character to have that hanging over her head, I think.

[dianasaurus3]

No, I'm playing Lola in the stage production with the original script. She sold her soul to become beautiful because she was the ugliest woman in Providence, Rhode Island. That is said.

[LeGiulia]

It is true that's she was once ugly... but she's 172 years old... so she's known beauty for a while. I would imagine she has become comfortable with being the best home wrecker on Applegate's staff by now.

But that's just my character work that I've done while playing Lola.

[TheShiksaGoddess]

@HumbleHarry I don't remember that at all

[HumbleHarry]

@TheShiksaGoddess I do. Lola mentions her past to Joe somewhere around the "Two Lost Souls" number.. Also, near the end of the movie Mr. Applegate raises his hand to Lola and threatens to turn her back to her old countenance after he realizes she has betrayed him. Lola even covers her face in defense, though Applegate doesn't make good on the threat. It happens when they're sitting in the stands at Joe's final game. The stage version of Damn Yankees might be different, however

[Elphaboy]

@HumbleHarry i totally remember that plot point, on stage i believe it happens b4 the game cuz she shows up to the game in like a veil and such to hide her uglyness...

[paulbunt]

I saw Bebe do it in the 90's with Victor Garber. She was absolutely terrific and the production itself was great. Gwen actually was involved in 90's Broadway revival, which spawned this touring show w/ Jerry Lewis.

[lovexx54]

gwen owned this part and no one can ever compare!!

Gwen pwned this song like so much more than y'all will eva know!!

[BroadwayBabe121]

Ok, can I just make one more point? Lol

Like, she's reallyyyyyy good, but it's amazing when you compare, liek she's got all the'se blatantly sensual moves.. and Gwen Verdon just had to pop her hip and boom, she was sexy.

[wanderinpianoman]

See I beg to differ....I loathe gwens rendition of this song

[BroadwayBabe121]

This seems like, it was choreographed by the same person who did the revival of Sweet Charity (aka NOT bob fosse)

But unlike Christina Applegate, as much as I like her, Valerie Wright doesnt look awkward at ALL doing the moves.

[BroadwayBabe121]

Wow. She's a HELLUVA dancer. And she can sing while she dances. thats crayzee.

[knavishsprite]

Gaaawd, she's a true triple threat! Tell me you're going to post her "Lola Wants"....

[broadwaystud2004]

you say incomparable... but did u see bebe neweuth do this part? ... haha...

[lovexx54]

yah really Bebe was superb..but Gwen Verdon originated the part and her Alittle.. is the best i've heard.