New URL for the American Idol buzz blog!
Please go to the new American Idol Buzz blog at http://blogs.ajc.com/american-idol-blog/
Access Atlanta > American Idol Buzz > Archives > 2008 > November > 19
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
11/19: It’s “Ain’t Misbehavin’ ” with Frenchie Davis, Ruben Studdard & Trenyce
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
ABOVE: Frenchie Davis with Tarn Harris, a reporter at the Atlanta Daily World.
At Fox Theatre last night, I caught opening night of the national tour of “Ain’t Misbehavin’ ,” which was a popular musical revue on Broadway 30 years ago starring Nell Carter.
Since there is no plotline, this musical relies on, well, the music and the performers. And the three “Idol” alums aquit themselves well. We have to give Ruben Studdard a bit of a learning curve break since this is the first time he’s ever done anything like this. His voice, of course, is incredible. His dance steps? He isn’t going to win “Dancing With the Stars” but he doesn’t trip over himself either. His charm? Always there and then some, especially when he gives the audience that impish grin. His best work came in the second half, especially with the jokey tune “Your Feet’s Too Big.”
Trenyce from season two was excellent, showing great vocal restraint at times and solid dance steps.
But we have to reserve special kudos to Frenchie Davis. She really could have given Ruben a run for his money if she had stayed on “Idol” season two. Four years of “Rent” helped, too. She is a commanding presence on stage with her voice cutting deep inside. Her duet with Ruben on “Honeysuckle Rose” was hot, as was her sexy “Find Out What They Like.”
My colleague and theater critic Wendell Brock, who has seen a many “Ain’t Misbehavin’ ” productions in the past was less impressed. Here’s his review.
Although there are some awfully good singers here, there doesn’t seem to be strong sense of ensemble — or many barn-burning breakout numbers, for that matter. So for most of opening night’s first act, actors wandered onstage and did lukewarm dance steps while every klutzy crash or bit of robust breathing was amplified by their microphones.
I stopped by the after-show cast party at the Georgian Terrace. Here are a few photos I snapped:
ABOVE: Trenyce with Ruben and his understudy Seth Diggs.
ABOVE: Me with Ruben.
Tracey Hardy, daughter of Nell Carter, with Trenyce.
There, I met Tracey Hardy, daughter of the late great Nell Carter who lives in Atlanta. She said the show brought back memories of her watching her mom as a child backstage. And she was deeply impressed with Davis. “I really believe my mom would have enjoyed that — though she probably would have wanted to jump on stage!” She also loved Ruben’s rendition of “Fat and Greasy.
Ruben with his Atlanta-based manager Cedric Evans.
Ruben greets Billie Allen Henderson, whose husband was the original music arranger for “Ain’t Misbehavin’ “
Billie Henderson, the widow of the man who was musical director and arranger for the first “Ain’t Misbehavin’,” flew in from New York to check it out and she left very happy. “It was marvelous, such a joy and pleasure,” she said. “It was fresh but also brought back the old values, the subtext with this wonderful cast.”
Richard Maltby, the director who directed the play on Broadway 30 years ago, said “Ruben is sensational. Every performance, he grows. He’s just beginning to find himself. At the first rehearsal, he said he wasn’t sure he could do this. But watching him, I know he can.” Maltby said when he saw Ruben in 2003 on “Idol,” he thought about doing a revival centered around Ruben. It just took five years to come to fruition! He also got “Idol” vocal c oach Debra Byrd to help out.
Frenchie said she just wanted “to do Nell Carter justice.” She was also happy to work with Ruben, noting “he’s not just the teddy bear you think he is.” She noted, “his dressing room is next to mine and there’s nothing but laughter coming from there.”
