What a ridiculous post from Greatwhiteway. Umm considering that Victoria Mallory and Mark Lambert are hardly "names," your logic makes absolutely no sense. How would casting Mallory sell tickets? Ridiculous. It's not like she's Maddox Jolie-Pitt for goodness' sake. I look forward to seeing young Ms.Mallory in the role. Now, can we please get an announcement already?
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
I would imagine she thinks Ramona Mallory has a nicer ring to it than Ramona Lambert.
When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain.
-Kad
his would be the worst case of nepotism/gimmick you could have... The producers hoping the story of the daughter of the two actors who met in the original production now being in the show herself. They are hoping the gimmick will sell tickets/get lots of press but they are putting arguably Stephen Sondheim's best music in the hands of someone who frankly isn't that good and I predict it will backfire on them!
Is anyone, ANYONE going to buy tickets to this production strictly because the daughter of two original cast members is in it? Especially when the daughter (and parents) are unknown to 99% of the public.
Broadway.com is running an article today suggesting that Lansbury has been cast as Madame Armfeldt, though it's odd that they cite no source in claiming so.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
Wow, I actually read the article just now. What a silly article. Broadway.com is such a joke.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
Whoever mentioned the section of "Weekend in the County" that was cut, can you please tell us which section? I, of course, hope it is restored as I find all of that song perfectly written and neccessary!
So exciting to hear that after 30+ years we get a revival of A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC in which the director not only alienates actresses who are age-appropriate for the role, but he decides to cast a no-name British actress over oh let's say every other actress that would be appropriate and exciting for the part, and on top of that he decides to cut one of the most brilliant musical sequences written for the stage. Thank you, Trevor Nunn.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
Settle down, there, Ray. As you yourself mentioned just 2 posts up, the article has no sources, and is in no way any more official than the posts on this board. Waddingham as Desiree (and Lansbury as Mme. Armfeldt, for that matter) is no more definite now than it was before the article came out. Let's just chill.
Has it ever been officially announced that Waddingham is indeed Desiree?! Besides, if Angela Lansbury is Madame Armfeldt, Pia Zadora could be playing Desiree and I wouldn't care! Updated On: 7/7/09 at 05:31 PM
Adamgreer, I'm being overtly dramatic on purpose, so I'm settled down, it's just a Broadway show. And zoox, the ridiculous article insinuates at the end that Waddingham is under strong consideration to play the part. At this point with so many rumors going on, it's hard to know. But really, the cutting of "A Weekend in the Country" and the "age issue" in the casting has me quite concerned about Nunn's direction.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
Let's make it clear that "A Weekend In The Country" isn't cut in this production. A section of it is.
While the casting of Waddingham would be disappointing in comparison to many of the big names that have circulated for Desiree (I won't even start on the precedent Equity is setting by allowing such things so continuously,) she certainly was marvelous in the role.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
I agree, even the notion of "A Weekend in the Country" being abridged is concerning; it is most certainly one of Sondheim's wittiest numbers and is central to the plot. Obviously, people going to see ALNM are not interested in seeing a shortened piece; ninety percent of the people seeing the show are going in with the expectation of sitting there for a long period of time and certainly would not mind an extra three minutes in order to keep "A Weekend in the Country" intact.
Somethingwicked, I should have referred to the editing of "A Weekend in the Country," I do realize it wasn't fully cut. But regardless it's pretty ridiculous that he even touched it. And Waddingham may be perfect but I think there are dozens of American actress who would probably be perfect as well, so for Equity to justify the exchange would be absurd. Either way, I guess I'll shut up and wait and see it or not see it whenever it opens.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
WAIT A SECOND. which section of "A Weekend in the Country" was cut?
When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain.
-Kad
"With riotous laughter we quietly suffer The season in town, which is reason enough for A weekend in the country, How amusing, How delightfully droll. A weekend in the country, While we're losing Our control. A weekend in the country, How enchanting, On the manicured lawns. A weekend in the country, With the panting And the yawns. With the crickets and the pheasants And the orchards and the hay, With the servants and the peasants, We'll be laying our plans while we're playing croquet For a weekend in the country, So inactive That one has to lie down. A weekend in the country Where"
Here is the truncated ending used for this production
"With riotous laughter we quietly suffer The season in town, which is reason enough for A weekend in the country, How amusing, How delightfully droll. A weekend in the country, As we're losing Our control. A weekend in the country, So inactive That one has to lie down. A weekend in the country Where"
I really am annoyed by people calling Hannah Waddingham boring casting. Sure I would absolutely love Winslet in the role but if we get Waddingham instead I would be happy. And equity allowing her to be transfered is absolutely okay. There were many people who could have played Georges and Dot in Sunday but we got the brilliant Daniel Evans And Jenna Russel from the London production. Waddingham got glowing reviews and just because she isn't a well known film star doesn't make her boring casting. If she can play the role wonderfully as she is said to do then I would have no problem with Waddingham.
Current Avatar:The sensational Aaron Tveit in the soon to be hit production of Catch Me If You Can.
No one wants Winslet, Esparza and Angie more than me.
But Waddingham is extremely talented. Her performance of "Our Kind Of Love" is quite masterful, and many consider it the best ALW track of the last decade or so, for whatever that's worth. It would be a disappointment in light of all the casting possibilities and with Winslet being the frontrunner or signed, depending on who you speak to, it seems Brantley's rave of her performance may be non-sequitorial. We shall see.
I can't say I wouldn't be disappointed if this, the PERFECT cast, does not work out, but that's why life is interesting I suppose.
But I just can't believe if Winslet can't do it that there wouldn't be 100 other actresses who could be just as thrilling as Waddingham (or Winslet, for that matter).
Either way I was told we will know by Friday, Monday at the latest. But I'm sure that can change, too. Casting is complete.
No one wants Winslet, Esparza and Angie more than me.
I thought you claimed it was a done deal? Remember when you wrote...
I clearly stated weeks ago that this was essentially a done deal and it has continued to be.
and then:
No one knows anything except Nunn, Sondheim and Winslet. The truth has a way of revealing itself.
and finally:
Frederick is the real suprise. Who to team with Angie and Winslet? Who indeed... (!!!!) I'd say someone is gonna win his Tony for his second Broadway Sondheim show!