screw the clowns, send in Catherine Zeta-Jones!

who says Sondheim doesn't sell? well, tickets to the new revival of the his and Hugh Wheeler’s, A Little Night Music are most likely going to sell better then T-Mobile phones! this week the post reports non-other then Catherine Zeta-Jones will join Angela Lansbury in this tale of mixed-up love. the two will play Mother, (Madame Armfeldt) and Daughter, (Desaree), the latter of which will sings Sondheim's classic "Send in the Clowns."
and it is manly because of this song that i am praying to the Gods, (also known as Judy) this report is true. the song "send in..." is a very difficult one to put off, most performers who attempt it, over sing it, thinking a great voice is all that's needed, when truthfully a great voice is the last thing required. now don't mistake me, to sing you MUST know what you are doing musically, period. but if you let your voice get in the way of this song, you're f*cked. take Sally Ann Howes version of "Send in the Clowns" from the 1990 New York Opera's production. now yes, the B*tch has a nice voice, but that's about it. she is caught up in "SINGING" the song; it's really too bad, she was "truly scrumptious" back in her day.
DISCLAIMER, Coleman is about to go off...
this song is why musical theatre exist; a character sings, when words and movement alone will not do to express what they are feeling, and this song is a product of that theory. "send in..." comes from a place of bitterness, Desaree is rejected and angry. the moment before, she has put her heart on the line expecting her feelings to be shared, and when she finds they are not the song starts. if when you sing this song you are thinking about your voice, you have failed in your performance. the emotion drives this song, not the voice, which is why Glynis Johns (OBC) and Judi Dench 's takes on the song are so celebrated.
i feel if given the chance, Catherine Zeta-Jones would do brilliantly in this role, and more importantly sing "Send in the Clowns" the "right" way. the ladies listed above are just a taste of the many different performers who’ve take a stab at this song. go find you favorite on youtube, but be warned "send in the clowns" on repeat might kill you.

-CTD