I just thought it was like saying Nathan Lane was too perfect for The Producers. In the sense that the role was smack dab in his wheelhouse and he'd done that type of thing before.
But he ended up being wonderful as the character.
Still, I agree it's hardly a stretch for Cheno.
But for me, it's the show I love. Cheno is fine, I'm not a massive Cheno fan or anything. If it takes her name to finally get the show back on the boards I'm happy with her. (I also would have loved to see Megan Mullaly in the role)
I think Chenoweth is the best "name" for the role they could've gotten, certainly. But it'll be Cunegonde/Glinda/Olive Snook on a train in 30s dresses.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
FINALLY! Glad it is finally confirmed. I remember in previous readings that Andrea Martin played L. Primrose. I wonder how Annie Golden would be? Does anyone know who played the Kevin Kline role in the readings?
As 1930's stars go, Chenowith has a period look and sound but it definitely veers towards a Lina Lamont quality, something very different than that strangely skewed hauteur the great Madeline Kahn brought to the role originally. I cherished seeing her performance in that show as one of the all-time great pairings of an actress and a role. How we miss her genius today!
Even so, count me excited to see what Kristin can do with the part and even more excited that this brilliant score will be heard on a Broadway stage again. I just hope the creatives heed RuPaul's words and DON'T FVCK IT UP!
Every time I read that Kristin Chenoweth was going to play Lily Garland, I was reminded of Addison DeWitt's line in ALL ABOUT EVE: "You're too short for that gesture."
I also thought she was miscast in THE APPLE TREE and PROMISES, PROMISES.
I like Cheno, she's fun but before everyone starts screaming about how perfect she is, remember how everyone was saying Katie Finneran was the "perfect" Miss Hannigan? Let's give her a chance (and the director Scott) before we put her on too high a pedastal.
"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.”
~ Muhammad Ali