Eugene David<br>...The One-Minute Pundit

Posted 5:17 PM by Gene

An unintended demonstration in why I have trouble with the critics (in this instance we'll call them critics and not AD-BLURB COPYWRITERS as usual for reasons that should become obvious): Here is Terry Teachout in The Wall Street Journals:

Kristin Chenoweth, who took a week off from "Wicked" to appear in "Candide," was the best of all possible Cunegondes, not excluding Barbara Cook, who created the role.

Now here is Peter G. Davis in New York:

No doubt Kristin Chenoweth as Cunegonde has her admirers, but her overmiked, terminally chirpy coloratura soprano mostly put me in mind of a factory whistle....

Two fine critics with two opposite-extreme opinions. WHICH IS RIGHT? If we can't get agreement from two superior writers like these, how can we trust the PREENING SELF-PUBLICIZING INCOMPETENTS who make up nearly ALL AD-BLURB COPYWRITERS?

P. S. I cannot judge this matter for myself for I've never heard Kristin Chenoweth sing; but I fear the truth may lie more on Mr. Davis's side, first as Mr. Teachout can spout asinine loveydovey over favorites like THE GREATEST COMPOSER OF ALL TIME, HERR DOKTOR SONDHEIM (thankfully rarely), and second as Mr. Davis saw Candide in pre-Broadway tryouts in '56, and while nostalgia can penetrate a writer's thoughts beyond his knowledge, having heard the incomparable Miss Cook in five cast albums I find it impossible to believe she could be improved upon.