Being a native Washingtonian, back in 2006 I just had to take one of my best friends to the Ken Cen to see this production as well as Ms. Baranski's performance. I ended up being embarrassed for the both of us. An overall disappointment, but Christine was fun. Had no idea she was in pain throughout that performance. At that time, didn't know about her shattered knee. What a trooper.
I just watched an interview with Christine, and she said that this was her most challenging role to date. Just before rehearsals started, she fell and shattered her knee, and had to have it reconstructed. She was still in physical therapy while she was doing the show.
Been there done that except the musical part. I know exactly what she went through. I shattered my kneecap into 10 pieces and had it reconstructed with PT to learn how to rewalk
Baranski has a phenomenal range of skills. One of our treasures is to watch her as Mary Ann Thorpe when America was introduced to her comedic talents and to this day, when I need a bit of cheer, I turn to Mary Sunshine in all her drunken, acerbic highjinx on Cybill on CZcams. She just keeps proving herself the very best. Thank you, CB!
Listennnn - Christine hurt her knee in rehearsals, when she went off stage on on her days off she was in so much pain! she still wanted to do the show, she was fully committed 😍, I think she is amazing, so Magical, so please stop the hate on her for her dancing etc , also on her vocal ability - everybody sings differently and I think Christine did a Great Job, I love her voice so much, think the world of her. ❤️
No, she SHATTERED her kneecap in February before rehearsals began in April. She had to have it completely reconstructed and underwent aggressive physical therapy to be able to fulfill this contract. She didn’t hUrT hEr KnEe DuRiNg ReHeArSaL.
It may not have the choreography of the Broadway production, but I happily would watch this enthusiastic version over having to sit through the lifeless movie any day!
I ADORE Christine. But when I started watching the video, I assumed I was watching a dress rehearsal/walk thru because the movement was flat, no energy, boring. Shocked to realize this as an actual performance! What happened?!?
She broke her knee cap just before this show started. She had it surgically reconstructed and was doing to show while recovering and doing physical therapy at the same time.
I saw this in DC opening week and cried during the intermission. Baranski COULD have been fabulous. Her Boy with the Bugle was absolutely perfect. Had she played that consistently throughout, the whole show would have worked. Although, Harriet Harris was miscast. I adore her, but totally miscast.
They replaced Baranski with Wendie Malick and she was actually much better. Baranski should have been Vera. Christine Ebersole, Marin Mazzie -- a lot of other people could have been Mame. Mame
@@cdgross As talented and appealing as Baranski is, she does not possess the star quality to play Mame. Like Dolly Levi, it is a role that cries out for a larger-than-life glamor as well as great talent.
I’m cursed to have seen the original cast and it was one of those magic moments in the theater that cannot be described. I say cursed because it’s difficult, very difficult for me to appreciate lesser choreography, Christine Baranski is good except the way she incessantly slides into notes is annoying. Especially annoying during my best girl and tender moments where in the melody is perfect the way it is and doesn’t need playing with. ‘....And you promise me that these will be the first words that you utter “ it’s a very important moment in the shower and the song it shows that auntie Mame as wild as she is has heart and understands the true meaning of life and the sanctity of a job she’s been given to do in raising Patrick. I haven’t her jizz the notes during that moment, she distracts from the message of the song in order to come off as a great vocalist, and in the meantime misses the opportunity for a wonderful tender moment. I’ve seen a lot of productions of Mame but I’ve never seen one where the title song is sung by Mame, the whole idea is that they are singing TO her. I like some of what I saw here and I would actually like to be able to see the entire production, but I’m reticent to except certain liberties they have taken with the intent of the piece.
I think Christine is MAGICAL. I respect your opinions I just think she is amazing, so talented and everyone has their different ways of singing - so when you say she slides into notes that’s the way she sings and I think she does it brilliantly!
I probably will get attacked for saying this, but I don't mind: I don't "get" Christine Baranski. I guess it's just a me thing, but she just seems pretty much the same in everything I've seen her in: big, splashy, and upstaging. She reminds me of Dolores Grey but without the ability to play different characters. In Sweeney Todd, she played Mrs. Lovett more like a Hollywood film star than a murderous piemaker. She plays Mame as a big star lady... Only. Instead of how she should be played: a big star lady who also cares a lot about Patrick. She's like a mother, but without a child of her own. Baranski just plays her flat while kicking up her own performance 10 notches. Its lost beneath all the glammer and glitz.
He is telling the truth...... this is awful in sequins and poor dancing and worse direction.... they need to remove this from here...it is embarrassing....
The great Mames were: Rosalind Russell Bea Lillie Greer Garson Celeste Holm Gypsy Rose Lee Angela Lansbury Lucy was terrible as Mame. Do you remember the New York Times review: MAMED ! Mame is a Park Ave matron. A lady of intense breeding with the opposite choice in friends. If Princess Diana could of played her, we would still be peeing from laughter. Lucy was too common. I adore her but totally wrong for Mame. Christine was also totally wrong - too crass and she performed as though the entire show was a solo concert she was doing
Michael Van Etten, Midler couldn’t play her. because of the anti-Semitism with the Upson wouldn’t work. Midler is Jewish. That was one of the reasons it didn’t work with Christine Baranski.
I thought Christine was AMAZING! Like so magical, the reason she didn’t dance as much is because she hurt her knee in rehearsals but still wanted to do the show, what a queen!
Uninteresting movement uninspired music too much choral too little sense of purpose or direction. Noise and clamor can’t cover deficiency in all aspects of production.
OK, I am fully ready to be attacked. That said, I thought that Christine never connected with the boy. Lucille Ball absolutely did. Christine's was all about performance...hers!!!! And, whomever played Vera couldn't hold a candle to Bea Arthur!!!! Just sayin....this was terrible and I think that the musical has inherent problems.
There have been quite a few old interviews and documentaries on Jerry Herman since he died last month. In one interview, he said he fought the studio over the casting of Lucille Ball; he really wanted Angela Lansbury to reprise the roll. But Warner Bros wanted a bigger name and Lucille Ball put up some of the investment. He said he has never watched the film - did not attend the film premiere. When told there was a new DVD out, he said - with a bemused smile - "I won't be buying it!"
Being a native Washingtonian, back in 2006 I just had to take one of my best friends to the Ken Cen to see this production as well as Ms. Baranski's performance. I ended up being embarrassed for the both of us. An overall disappointment, but Christine was fun. Had no idea she was in pain throughout that performance. At that time, didn't know about her shattered knee. What a trooper.
I just watched an interview with Christine, and she said that this was her most challenging role to date. Just before rehearsals started, she fell and shattered her knee, and had to have it reconstructed. She was still in physical therapy while she was doing the show.
Jason C. Parker -- Whoa! Really? Entertainers will do all kinds of things under "the show must go on!"
Maim!
Been there done that except the musical part. I know exactly what she went through. I shattered my kneecap into 10 pieces and had it reconstructed with PT to learn how to rewalk
Baranski has a phenomenal range of skills. One of our treasures is to watch her as Mary Ann Thorpe when America was introduced to her comedic talents and to this day, when I need a bit of cheer, I turn to Mary Sunshine in all her drunken, acerbic highjinx on Cybill on CZcams. She just keeps proving herself the very best. Thank you, CB!
Meh. Solji from EXID sings better.
Christines laugh is my favourite thing😂😂 it’s so contagious 🥺❤️
Listennnn - Christine hurt her knee in rehearsals, when she went off stage on on her days off she was in so much pain! she still wanted to do the show, she was fully committed 😍, I think she is amazing, so Magical, so please stop the hate on her for her dancing etc , also on her vocal ability - everybody sings differently and I think Christine did a Great Job, I love her voice so much, think the world of her. ❤️
No, she SHATTERED her kneecap in February before rehearsals began in April. She had to have it completely reconstructed and underwent aggressive physical therapy to be able to fulfill this contract. She didn’t hUrT hEr KnEe DuRiNg ReHeArSaL.
one of my favorites! A long over-due Broadway revival is needed.
I love Christine Baranski.
Christine is Magical.
She would have been great on Broadway.
She's amazing!
I can't believe it! I wench Everytime she kicks her legs because I know one of them is broken 😮 amazing talent 💗🎉
It may not have the choreography of the Broadway production, but I happily would watch this enthusiastic version over having to sit through the lifeless movie any day!
The 1958 movie (not a musical) was good. The 1974 movie musical with Lucille Ball was an embarrassing travesty.
That kid is awwwwffffulll
Amazing to learn how badly she was injured before this show opened
Of course we see her signature high kick right away.
If you turn the sound off, it appears they are having conniption fits.
This is definitely one to be remade on film. Lucy was obviously miscast.
In the early 2000s there was talk of a TV production starring Cher as Mame!
I think Christine was Amazing - She hurt her knee during rehearsals!
Well, there's a lot of energy there.
OH MY FUCKING GOD THANK YOU
Harriett!!!!! 💖
Little Love isn't so little!
She has Vera Charles written all over her.
some day i'd likedo the same
I ADORE Christine. But when I started watching the video, I assumed I was watching a dress rehearsal/walk thru because the movement was flat, no energy, boring. Shocked to realize this as an actual performance! What happened?!?
She broke her knee cap just before this show started. She had it surgically reconstructed and was doing to show while recovering and doing physical therapy at the same time.
Harriet Harris as Vera is a hoot! Not the usual take on the role.
Baranski and Harris look like they're having fun with the song, but Lansbury and Arthur will always be my favorite. 😄
Who is the woman she sings Bosom Buddy with?
Harriet Harris
Harriet Harris won Best Featured Actress Tony as Mrs. Meers (the villain) in Thoroughly Modern Millie!
She was superb as Frasier's psychopathic agent Bebe Glazer, She was also very good in the underrated and often forgot about musical "Crybaby".
Ooof! Busom Buddies was a bit rough.
I saw this in DC opening week and cried during the intermission. Baranski COULD have been fabulous. Her Boy with the Bugle was absolutely perfect. Had she played that consistently throughout, the whole show would have worked. Although, Harriet Harris was miscast. I adore her, but totally miscast.
They replaced Baranski with Wendie Malick and she was actually much better. Baranski should have been Vera. Christine Ebersole, Marin Mazzie -- a lot of other people could have been Mame. Mame
Wow, i love Wendie Malick! I never knew she had a turn in Mame!
I've always wanted to see Baranski as Vera opposite Cybil Shepard's Mame. The made such a good team on Cybil.
@@cdgross As talented and appealing as Baranski is, she does not possess the star quality to play Mame. Like Dolly Levi, it is a role that cries out for a larger-than-life glamor as well as great talent.
Couldn't agree more. I love Baranski but she was the completely wrong timber for this role.
if only there would have been someone to give these poor confused people aimlessly staggering around the stage some kind of direction...
Christine hurt her knee, but she still continued the show so they didn’t do as much dancing.
I’m cursed to have seen the original cast and it was one of those magic moments in the theater that cannot be described. I say cursed because it’s difficult, very difficult for me to appreciate lesser choreography, Christine Baranski is good except the way she incessantly slides into notes is annoying. Especially annoying during my best girl and tender moments where in the melody is perfect the way it is and doesn’t need playing with. ‘....And you promise me that these will be the first words that you utter “ it’s a very important moment in the shower and the song it shows that auntie Mame as wild as she is has heart and understands the true meaning of life and the sanctity of a job she’s been given to do in raising Patrick. I haven’t her jizz the notes during that moment, she distracts from the message of the song in order to come off as a great vocalist, and in the meantime misses the opportunity for a wonderful tender moment. I’ve seen a lot of productions of Mame but I’ve never seen one where the title song is sung by Mame, the whole idea is that they are singing TO her. I like some of what I saw here and I would actually like to be able to see the entire production, but I’m reticent to except certain liberties they have taken with the intent of the piece.
I think Christine is MAGICAL. I respect your opinions I just think she is amazing, so talented and everyone has their different ways of singing - so when you say she slides into notes that’s the way she sings and I think she does it brilliantly!
Someone was paid to choreograph this? Love Christine but ... wow ...
Wow! I'm sorry but the choreography in Open A New Window and especially in the title number is really drab.
I agree; the choreography is almost out of a high school production.
Did the show with Angela,this was the worst!!!!!!!!!!!
I probably will get attacked for saying this, but I don't mind:
I don't "get" Christine Baranski. I guess it's just a me thing, but she just seems pretty much the same in everything I've seen her in: big, splashy, and upstaging. She reminds me of Dolores Grey but without the ability to play different characters. In Sweeney Todd, she played Mrs. Lovett more like a Hollywood film star than a murderous piemaker. She plays Mame as a big star lady... Only. Instead of how she should be played: a big star lady who also cares a lot about Patrick. She's like a mother, but without a child of her own. Baranski just plays her flat while kicking up her own performance 10 notches. Its lost beneath all the glammer and glitz.
Dear God the choreography sucks
Mike Anderson just don't say anything if you don't have anything nice to say
you are right
If you don't have anything nice to say - come and sit by me! :)
Dreadful. Mame the title number was just drab. I did it in high school and our number was better.
He is telling the truth...... this is awful in sequins and poor dancing and worse direction.... they need to remove this from here...it is embarrassing....
The great Mames were:
Rosalind Russell
Bea Lillie
Greer Garson
Celeste Holm
Gypsy Rose Lee
Angela Lansbury
Lucy was terrible as Mame. Do you remember the New York Times review: MAMED ! Mame is a Park Ave matron. A lady of intense breeding with the opposite choice in friends. If Princess Diana could of played her, we would still be peeing from laughter. Lucy was too common. I adore her but totally wrong for Mame.
Christine was also totally wrong - too crass and she performed as though the entire show was a solo concert she was doing
I always thought bette Midler would make a good auntie mame
Michael Van Etten, Midler couldn’t play her. because of the anti-Semitism with the Upson wouldn’t work. Midler is Jewish. That was one of the reasons it didn’t work with Christine Baranski.
I thought Christine was AMAZING! Like so magical, the reason she didn’t dance as much is because she hurt her knee in rehearsals but still wanted to do the show, what a queen!
Not surprise this statement comes from someone who says “could of” instead of “could have.”
@@NonstopFFriday “could of” not “would of”
Oh, dear! Lackluster, by rote, empty.
I love Christine and Harriet...but this is a disaster from stem to stern.... I may vomit
I don't think Jerry had this in mind.
So awful. Baranski is better suited to play Vera. The choreography is so awful. Mame should not be dancing during the title song.
oddly she is lackluster
Uninteresting movement uninspired music too much choral too little sense of purpose or direction. Noise and clamor can’t cover deficiency in all aspects of production.
Bad costumes and TERRIBLE choreography!! (but I do love her)
Ghastly. Who choreographed this horrendous mess?
Warren Carlyle, now a major Broadway choreographer ("On the Town")
@@auroraspiderwoman5886 Well, this was a mess. He must be cute.
It was pretty bad
Baranski gets on my nerves. Its hard to explain. She's the queen of upstaging, even when the other performer is singing.
sorry you're wrong
OK, I am fully ready to be attacked. That said, I thought that Christine never connected with the boy. Lucille Ball absolutely did. Christine's was all about performance...hers!!!! And, whomever played Vera couldn't hold a candle to Bea Arthur!!!! Just sayin....this was terrible and I think that the musical has inherent problems.
Lucille Ball & Bea Arthur - how can you beat that? Besides, Lucille filmed behind gauze isn't so bad.
I love Lucille, but you CAN NOT have a more iconic and better Mame than Angela Lansbury ❤️❤️
Actually Ginger Rogers was terrific in the original West End production in London.
There have been quite a few old interviews and documentaries on Jerry Herman since he died last month. In one interview, he said he fought the studio over the casting of Lucille Ball; he really wanted Angela Lansbury to reprise the roll. But Warner Bros wanted a bigger name and Lucille Ball put up some of the investment. He said he has never watched the film - did not attend the film premiere. When told there was a new DVD out, he said - with a bemused smile - "I won't be buying it!"
The choreography and staging is not very good. Baranski is suitable, but lacks the power of Lucille Ball.
I was just sick
I think you meant to say Angela Lansbury.
That choreography is laughably horrible. I’ve seen small town community theaters with more original choreography.