I cried when I saw this performance on Broadway. Keke might have not been experienced in theater, and wasn't like the 'standard' Cinderella character that everyone is accustomed to, but I did appreciate her "socially awkward" portrayal. It makes sense since Cinderella wasn't ever allowed to interact with society and had to put up with constant abuse. It's quirky and different from other versions I've grown up to and I appreciate how it came together. I just wish they had a DVD of her run!
If you’re not theatrically trained... then don’t comment. She did an exceptional job! And besides, you’re watching her while she’s on broadway. Now judge THAT!💅🏾🥴😘
People love to be negative and critical. She did a fine job. On stage your facial expressions need to be more exaggerated so it can be seen from the back. They teach you that.
this show wasn't as good as the day we saw her!! Her voice sound strained this show and she overacts a bit~! But she was really good the day we saw her, we went back to see again but she wasnt on the second time!
Everyone’s is clowning her!! I 100% loved it! Her Cinderella is beautiful!! Remember we are seeing this on a zoomed up camera. In the nose bleeds they need to see everything she’s doing. I felt every emotion. It was magical. I think every Cinderella was amazing!! Y’all are just use to Laura’s cookie cutter princess. Every girl who played Cinderella gave us a version we all needed to see.
Seriously, live theater is not designed to be watch as anything other than live. You can enjoy it recorded but people need to understand it’s not an optimal experience. It’s like watching a modern blockbuster on VHS.
I had no idea Keke Palmer has such a good voice! I don't care about the face expressions. People who watch a lot of musicals know that these expressions also help the actors to sing better and more theatrically.
Jas Harley They said on Broadway.com before she started to do the show that She was "the first black woman to play the part in a theatrical production" I thank that's what they said
I'd say she's one of the best Cinderella's. I'm genuinely surprised so many people are grouping all the different actresses into boxes, whether they played white Cinderella or black Cinderella. Who cares, it's still Cinderella.
Despite her expressions are a bit weird, she did fine. If she just keep practcing and improving, she'll be fine. Not everyone is perfect. This is just a starting stone for Keke in the Broadway world.
I know y'all are happy there was finally a black cinderella on Broadway but keke didn't do the part justice. As much as I wanted to love her she was only in it cause of her name not cause she's fit for Broadway, same for Carly Rae Jepsen. Broadway is just not for her. Honestly I would've rather seen Shanice Williams or Diamond White be Cinderella they could pull it off cause they can sing live. Keke should just stick to pop music or acting. Still love her though no hate.
Im not gonna lie i did see Keke Live she was the 4th Cindi i saw Laura, Page, and some random understudy(i don't remember her name) all before i saw Keke and i really didn't have an issue with her singing it was completely in her character where she failed, she played wut she thought a "Disney Princess" was supposed to be rather than a girl in an unfortunate situation. and honestly i think in going for the "First Black Cinderella on Broadway" it would have been far more successful if she were a random girl plucked out of an ensemble somewhere who didn't need the score lowered at all and could have had a career made for her like an Adura Macdonald at 22, and then Vanessa Williams should have been the step Mother, the show might even still be running.
Elphaboy Yeah I agree I love it when they give an unknown a chance to shine. Keke should've just been there maybe 2 weeks they didn't need her the whole tour
Broadway is very diverse. Like music and movies, there are tons of different genres: contemporary, rock operas, sing through, classical, etc. Keke's got a killer voice. She was great in Grease Live for example. R&H Cinderella is more of a traditional, classical Broadway show so maybe Keke was a bit out of her element here, but she did fine to me. Just because you think she wasn't good in one Broadway show does not mean she isn't fit for Broadway at all. FYI, Keke's not a pop star. She's more of an R&B artist.
She sounds lovely, but I don't know what she's doing with her face. It's just weird. Like sure you've got to exaggerate a little when playing to a theatre that weird, but I can't figure out what emotion she is going for. and her mouth when she's singing, it's just kinda off putting. But she's better than Carly Rae
She might be the first black Cinderella on Broadway. But Brandy will always be the first black Cinderella in movies. But love them both not because of Keke I just love theater. Wanted to see the difference theater version. Yet again I say the Disney version is better version. And why this person keep on messing around with the camera.
Jada Esprit broadway shows aren't meant to be seen up close like a movie such as this. You kinda have to be exaggerated in a huge theatre when you have people on the balcony way in the back watching too
dont get me wrong, Keke Palmer is GOLD. but whats up with her over exaggerated facial expressions when she sings.. she looks like this trying to itch her mouth...
I think she did a great job most of the time, just her switching emotions was a bit confusing and unnatural. Like at the beginning, she's got a big smile and suddenly she looks like someone she loved just was brutally decapitated in front of her. I don't agree with the people clowning on her, she still did a lovely job, just she needs to tune her emotion switching. It's just a wee bit intense for me, even for the stage, which I completely understand why she did that, the camera is zoomed in and we're experiencing it differently than the audience. I still do think she could have toned it down just a tad. Also the odd accent that she uses, I'm not sure if that's natural, but it sounds like it's either completely fake or she's exaggerating her existing accent, and unfortunately it's really hard to listen to her. I feel bad for so much criticism, but someone should have told her to tone it down, Cinderella is supposed to be calm and gentle, Keke's felt a little frantic.
For those bashing Keke I believe she was sick when this was recorded. She sounds sick. I may be wrong, but from what I have heard so far she sounds like shes sick.
Because maybe like most Broadway performers she believed in "The show must go on" and pushed through. She didn't want to disappoint the people who gave her this chance or her fans.
Pauly- Walnuts Still, on Broadway, if you know you are sick and can't fulfill your duty as a performer, you call your understudy. It's such a routine thing for them, it's not a big deal to call out.
I understand that and if Keke was ill it probably would have been better for her to take the performance off, but Keke isn't a veteran Broadway performer. She might think it taboo to call in an understudy. I don't know I'm just speculating here. I do understand where you're coming from. However I also understand where Keke is coming from (if she was sick)
Because they thought she would sell tickets after the mess that Carly created- you’d think they’d learn this lesson and stop casting pop stars for the role...
She's fine, though if I paid for a ticket I'd be disappointed. Her voice is a little underdeveloped for broadway if she did some formal training she would be so much better. She just doesn't seem in control of her voice and there are times where she's fighting to be heard above the chorus. Her expressions need some work, I know you're supposed to exaggerate but she just did not look very comfortable on stage. Almost like she was trying way too hard to show the emotion she was trying to convey while letting some of her nerves show through. Again maybe with practice she might get better. I'll give her one thing, she did a much better job than Carly Rae Jepson. It's just such a shame that instead of filling these roles with actually talented people we have to get big famous names, I mean it's Cinderella I don't think we need a big name to sell tickets.
I adore Keke, and her voice, but this role was not for her. Having to change the key of Cinderella's songs didn't ring true to the role. With that being said, she did well with this accommodation aside from some of the expressions. Theres a difference between a big facial expression thats fitting, and one that looks overdone even from far away, but for her lack of stage experience, I say right on!
There's nothing wrong with changing keys and I think we as theater people need to really start to allow it to happen more not only for vocal health but to broaden who can play what role. Not to mention they already lowered the score for Carly Rae do I don't think they really had to adjust it for Kiki heck they probably just kept it where it was and had her sing it that way.
They changed the keys for Brandy too, I have no clue why people didn’t like Keke’s performance, she felt so genuine as Cinderella! as opposed to some of the other gals who played the role a little too much like non-equity theme park princesses (no shade to them but this is Broadway, not an amusement park). This Cinderella feels like a real person I could be friends with!
Yeah she was originally written as white, but there's nothing wrong with changing it. It wasn't important to her character. Yeah she's French, but it's a stage performance, the race isn't that important. In some situations white washing and black washing is terrible, but not here.
