[ByeByeBirdieFan89]

http://www.talkinbroadway.com/allthatchat/d.php?id=185985

These queens never fail to amuse me. I don't think she was that bad at all.

If they think that was the worst Velma, I guess they haven't seen many Velmas. I've heard of some real Velma trainwrecks in the past.
One said she had a "phoney attitude" on stage, I guess they don't understand that these are phoney characters.

Anyway, just found that post rude, false, and amusing. You guys don't think she is one of the worst Velmas right?

[Joe]

i enjoyed luba alot and i think kev did too...

[Kev]

I think Luba is easy to criticize because she's not technically impeccable in terms of dancing, but I still enjoyed her A LOT. She nailed other aspects of the role wonderfully.

[ByeByeBirdieFan89]

^ I definitely agree.

I take it she's better than say Vicki Lewis, right? Wasn't Vicki one "not so great dancer" Velmas?

[Linda]

I *really* did miss the dancing and cartwheel with Luba as Velma especially in I Can't Do It Alone. But her singing and acting were definitely very good.

And I don't care for the new hairstyle. To me Luba with the bun was so much more oomph.

The audience Sunday afternoon was pretty good. Always nice to see.

And the show's gross receipts for last week was 90%+; way to go!!!!

[NurseCodeBlue]

The "dancing" was definitely not Luba's forte, but she made up for it with her singing/acting.

It seems like when it comes to not-so-great Velmas, Mamie's on top of the list on this forum. Can't comment personally since I've never seen her. BTW, what's with the blonde/bun fixation? Has Broadway never seen a blonde Velma before? (Ute Lemper...)

[Linda]

I saw Mamie as Velma twice. Her dancing was top-notch, and her singing was fine. But unfortunately for Mamie, I hadn't seen any other Velmas besides Bebe, and I adored Bebe. For me, the problem with Mamie's Velma was that she did not have enough "wry comedic attitude". Hard to explain. I don't think Sharon Lawrence's Velma was anything to write home about.

As for Ute, I never saw her. I had a ticket but a few days before, Ute walked out of the show and never came back. Argh!!!!!

[Joe]

Mamie tried to be sassy, but it just didn't work, IMO. and that wig...she really should of threw a diva fit and refused to wear it.

Sharon Lawrence, looked stunning...messed up half the dance steps the day I saw her, she was more or less a big ol' mess. I think, however, if she was to come back to the show she'd make a great Roxie Hart.

Ute was fabulous.

[Kev]

Never cared for Mamie's vocals as Velma...nasal and flat half the time.

Vicki was a MESS, but she made it enjoyable and essentially made fun of her inabilities on stage. i.e. when she basically fell out of the final ICDIA pose, she said to Roxie "so what didya think...well, minus that last part?"

not sure why that one person deemed Luba as "phony"...for me, Roxane as Velma is better-suited with that description; gave 110% but I never quite bought her as a hard-edged vixen, she had a soft edge.

[Norma Desmond]

It's pretty hard to screw up Velma because the role is so strongly-written. Though any performer can have one of those inevitable "off days".

[Kev]

nice article on luba
http://www.broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=5517

[ByeByeBirdieFan89]

Wow. That really was a great article.

Pretty awesome she got to work with both Bobbie & Reinking! So both Brooke & Luba had a session with Reinking - which is great.

And I am very excited that she is planning to release another CD, which will have Theatre music on it. Her current album is fantastic, but I def. wanna hear Luba belting out some showtunes.

[Kev]

yeah, well, Melanie had sessions with Reinking too

[ByeByeBirdieFan89]

LOL. Poor Ann! But honestly what did Ann have to each her - how to clap on beat, and do a cart wheel? Because all I ever hear is that Melanie's choreography was EXTREMELY minimal.

It just seemed a little odd that a replacement Velma got a session with both Bobbie & Reinking. I doubt every replacement Velma gets that.

[Kev]

[ByeByeBirdieFan89]

Question :

When Luba wears her hair down in the show, is that a wig?

[Rich]

No
~rich

[santtu]

She couldn't have been worse than Valarie Pettiford who played the role in the London Production...