Audra McDonald in Light in the Piazza- Page 2
Audra McDonald in Light in the Piazza
#25re: Audra McDonald in Light in the Piazza
Posted: 3/1/06 at 1:59pmMarin Mazzie would be fine in voice, but she's just not matronly enough. She'd be more like MILF Margaret.
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
#26re: Audra McDonald in Light in the Piazza
Posted: 3/1/06 at 2:25pm
Oh God.... I just listened to the NPR recording. **fans self** Oh my, oh my...
That woman is a goddess.
"I seem to have wandered into the BRAIN load-out thread... "
-best12bars
"Sorry I am a Theatre major not a English Major"
-skibumb5290
-best12bars
"Sorry I am a Theatre major not a English Major"
-skibumb5290
lvpblues
Broadway Star Joined: 2/18/04
#27re: Audra McDonald in Light in the Piazza
Posted: 3/1/06 at 2:27pm
I'm sure there are many actresses out there who could (and probably will) play Margaret. But the one choice I have is Judy Kaye (keeping it with the Ragtime meets Piazza streak we have going on in this thread 
). I just think she has the voice, the presence and the pathos for the part (and I can see her in those glorious costumes).
Audra sings the song divinely, but she's not appropriate for Clara. Age-wise, I think she is best suited for Franca. But it is quite lovely to hear her interpret the score (and perhaps she will one day entice us with "Dividing Day" or "The Joy You Feel" and the inevitable "Fable").
~K
Updated On: 3/1/06 at 02:27 PM
#28re: Audra McDonald in Light in the Piazza
Posted: 3/1/06 at 2:35pmJudy Kaye would probably be wonderful.
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
#29re: Audra McDonald in Light in the Piazza
Posted: 3/1/06 at 2:40pmok, dont hate me for this but - audra is talented and could the **** out of either role in concert, but aren't those roles pretty much written to be caucasian so she couldnt do it onstage?
Don't f*ck with me fellas. This ain't my first time at the rodeo.
#30re: Audra McDonald in Light in the Piazza
Posted: 3/1/06 at 2:49pmI agree - age aside, having a black woman play Margaret would add an aspect to the peice that really isn't necessary - and isn't what the show is about.
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
kissmycookie
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/21/04
#31re: Audra McDonald in Light in the Piazza
Posted: 3/1/06 at 2:51pmIt's called color blind casting. Audra's done it before as Carrie Pippenridge in Carousel. And won her first Tony for it.
#32re: Audra McDonald in Light in the Piazza
Posted: 3/1/06 at 2:55pmbut see Carrie in Carousel can be played by a black woman, the show is not as dependant on her being white or black as Piazza is.
Don't f*ck with me fellas. This ain't my first time at the rodeo.
#33re: Audra McDonald in Light in the Piazza
Posted: 3/1/06 at 2:58pm
Yes. Exactly. There are roles in which race is not an issue - and there are others that are.
Someone of any race can play The Witch in INTO THE WOODS.
The same is not true of something like CAROLINE OR CHANGE, or even THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA.
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
kissmycookie
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/21/04
#35re: Audra McDonald in Light in the Piazza
Posted: 3/1/06 at 3:12pmum, let's see the playwright when they create the character.
Don't f*ck with me fellas. This ain't my first time at the rodeo.
Doogie
Broadway Star Joined: 8/4/03
#36re: Audra McDonald in Light in the Piazza
Posted: 3/1/06 at 3:15pm
MUNK- Vicki Clark is not particularly matronly. Marin could be matronly onstage, I'm sure.
Kissmycookie- Carrie Pipperidge and Margaret, Clara Johnson are totally TOTALLY different. first off, there are no class, race, or reservation issues in Carousel. I don't think many people under the age of 40 who saw Carousel with Audra said "wow. Colorblind casting." I think they just said "this girl playing Carrie is fantastic!" Wouldn't really work with Margaret or Clara.
#37re: Audra McDonald in Light in the Piazza
Posted: 3/1/06 at 3:16pm
If you can't see why it would not work for a black woman to play Margaret, then nothing I can say can make you see it. It's obvious.
THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA takes play in 1950's. Americans in Italy. Now, the play will suddenly be about a black family in Italy? I'm all for colorblind casting, but it's not appropriate here. It would never work.
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
#38re: Audra McDonald in Light in the Piazza
Posted: 3/1/06 at 3:22pm
I have to agree with Munk. Mazzie is not matronly at all. She wasn't even matronly when she was playing Mother in RAGTIME. She's more playful and coquettish, no matter what role she's doing.
I'd love to see Judy Kuhn take on Margaret.
kissmycookie
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/21/04
#39re: Audra McDonald in Light in the Piazza
Posted: 3/1/06 at 3:26pm
c&a: Rodgers and Hammerstein said it's okay for Carrie Pippenridge to be black? Adam Guettel said only white people can play Margaret or Clara Johnson?
Munk: I think we've tussled over this issue before, and I can only agree to disagree with you.
I don't quite understand why it's okay to suspend disbelief for one piece of work and not in another.
#40re: Audra McDonald in Light in the Piazza
Posted: 3/1/06 at 3:29pm
So how about an all-white production of A RAISIN IN THE SUN?
An all-black FLOWER DRUM SONG?
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
#41re: Audra McDonald in Light in the Piazza
Posted: 3/1/06 at 3:34pm
I'm pretty sure they've done an all-white Raisin. Seriously, can you name me three people whiter than Combs, Rashad and McDonald?
BSoBW3
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/21/06
#42re: Audra McDonald in Light in the Piazza
Posted: 3/1/06 at 3:35pm
"Adam Guettel said only white people can play Margaret or Clara Johnson?"
No, but Craig Lucas did in his lyrics.
The smallest stream is a valent river. It will drown me if it can.
kissmycookie
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/21/04
#43re: Audra McDonald in Light in the Piazza
Posted: 3/1/06 at 3:39pm
If that's the case, BSoBW3, I stand corrected for the Piazza comment.
Munk: I'd have no problem with that. That's the beauty of acting.
Edited for misspelling a name.
Updated On: 3/1/06 at 03:39 PM
#44re: Audra McDonald in Light in the Piazza
Posted: 3/1/06 at 3:39pm
Yes, thank you.
"Your skin is like milk."
"Your milk is like snow."
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
#45re: Audra McDonald in Light in the Piazza
Posted: 3/1/06 at 3:42pmYeah...ummmm...he could've been talking about chocolate milk. Ever think of that???
BSoBW3
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/21/06
#46re: Audra McDonald in Light in the Piazza
Posted: 3/1/06 at 3:42pm
MEF - I actually did when I was writing my comment.
Then how do you explain the "snow" - dirty snow...that would bring a whole new meaning to the comment.
The smallest stream is a valent river. It will drown me if it can.
#47re: Audra McDonald in Light in the Piazza
Posted: 3/1/06 at 3:43pmOr maybe her skin is freezing cold.
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
BSoBW3
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/21/06
#48re: Audra McDonald in Light in the Piazza
Posted: 3/1/06 at 3:44pm
Cold skin like chocolate milk?
The smallest stream is a valent river. It will drown me if it can.
Updated On: 3/1/06 at 03:44 PM
#49re: Audra McDonald in Light in the Piazza
Posted: 3/1/06 at 3:45pmOr maybe her skin can be really dry and flakey...like snow...
"If you are going to do something, do it well. And leave something witchy."
-Charlie Manson
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