BWW Carrie Preview — Page 2

"I'm a little surprised people are actually making any kind of evaluation based on this footage"

I agree with that statement as well. They've released the footage of "You Shine" as a brand new number from this show at their FIRST TECH REHEARSAL... meaning the actors should be pretty much rehearsed at this point.

The guy playing Tommy leaves a lot to be desired.

I enjoyed hearing them all talking about it, but that song is SO generic. I wish it had an angle or an attitude or said something about the characters or their situation other than "You shine."

...which actually made me laugh a little, unintentionally (or perhaps not?) referencing another Stephen King novel?

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Blaxx - you are taking what I said out of context - in that sentence, I'm only speaking in terms of evaluating the performers as physically right or not for their characters based on how they appear 'out of costume' at a press launch; actors are never in costume for press launches.

In most cases this would be true. I guess I'm taking into consideration the fact that self image issues have more impact now than they did back then. If they need to "uglify" this girl to look like the outcast victim of a high school clique, I wish they could have gone with someone who fits the type without the need to dress her up for the part - perhaps a bigger girl as she was described on the novel, if I remember correctly.

That's what I meant when I said she "looked too pretty". I guess in my head, having to make a really pretty girl look the opposite is borderline offensive, almost as if a girl who actually fits the part couldn't do it justice.
It reminds me of that Simpsons episode when Moe was doing a soap opera and the producer said she needed "TV ugly", not "ugly ugly".

Perhaps I'm too sensitive about this.

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I get you, blaxx - I enjoyed Ransom very much in August, but I also wonder if she possesses sufficient unusual qualities to portray a character as strange as Carrie. She seems very "normal." in a way truly odd actresses don't (i.e. Sandy Dennis, Geraldine Page, Amanda Plummer, etc.). It's a quality that can't be faked.

Holy cow... can't believe some of the comments here. I guess I don't see things the way many others have, but here's my take:

Physically, I think Molly Ranson will be a fine Carrie. In today's high school you'd be surprised how many normal, average-looking girls could still be bullied outcasts. The torment Carrie receives is less about her appearance, and more about her home-life and upbringing, which is more at odds with those who are tormenting her. I worry more about Molly's acting than her singing voice - and from all counts, it sounds like her acting will be just fine.

All this talk of Tommy's age/appearance is hilarious. Have you seen William Katt in the film? He looks like he's 30. The cast of "teenagers" in the original production look like they were either extras in the "Satan's Alley" production in the movie Staying Alive, or had walked off the set of Olivia Newton-John's "Physical" video. NONE of them looked like teenagers except for maybe Linzi. From what I've seen, this cast look closer to the appropriate age than any of the other productions - both film and musical.

I thought Tommy was fine. I thought he had a nice voice, and he and Sue seemed to have great chemistry. The song wasn't schmaltzy or over-the-top - it was simple and quite lovely... and as another poster mentioned - seems to fit the tone of the production. I'd love to see it in the context of the production - I sense it will fit in well.

I liked the comments by Arima and the Casting Director. This seems to really be a passion project for them, and their enthusiasm did not seem canned for the video. Marin, too, seemed sincere in her feelings.

All in all... I have hope that this will work, and could even transfer. We'll see. Does anyone know how ticket sales have been?

The difference between this guy and William Katt is huge!

Katt was actually ACTING. His Tommy seemed like a regular/popular high school senior. He had that cocky/awkward cool/nerd balance down perfectly.

This guy could be playing Prince Generic in Disney's The Little Mermaid and the Beauty Beast. I have no idea who he is from this song. The number doesn't help these two at all, but I don't see any subtext going on either. Just basic by-the-numbers "pretty ballad" singing.

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One of the things that I think worked to Spacek's advantage so much is to see her without makeup in the early scenes. Cissy has light brown eyelashes that almost make her eyes disappear. Even though it goes against intuition and "Theatre 101" not to highlight an actor's eyes (the most expressive tool they have, arguably), it worked so well for the character to almost disappear as a cypher. She relied on her voice and her posture and her wardrobe to define the character's earliest impressions.

It would be nice to see what they do with Ranson to help her play the part. I'd love to see her eyes disappear the way Spacek's did. Lighten her eyelashes and scrub her face clean. Help her with the wardrobe, and hope that as an actress her voice and physicality will convince us that she is this (sad, bullied) person Carrie White.

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I tried to figure out how to change it so I can play like everyone else here, but to no avail. Anyone know if I can change the name that appears with my posts? I know I have the option to use a different email address for my profile, but was hoping to keep my current one.

I might be wrong, but I don't think there's a way but to create a new profile.

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I don't think Carrie is supposed to be 'ugly' - she's not Fosca; I think (in the original story at least) she's supposed to be somewhat plain, a little plump and has terrible hygiene.

What is your opinion in the context of modern self image awareness? Especially because her odd looks and behavior lead to her bullying and the supernatural version of a Columbine-style ending. Would you think eventually these kind of topics will carry so much weight that casting could even be considered offensive? Perhaps to the point of black face?

I'm only curious and I know it's extremist. It's a only a show after all. I guess the themes of bullying, looks and murder resonate much more to me now, as we encounter all these teenage-suicides because of bullying or those who react violently instead. Oppressing families are not uncommon amongst these teens, either.

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Updated On: 2/20/18 at 05:15 PM

Blaxx - I think, in terms of modern bullying cases, if a girl is overweight or doesn't wear the right clothes or doesn't wash her hair that is 'considered' plenty grounds for being different enough to make her an outsider and 'worthy' of being picked on.

Bullying has never been about someone being 'beautiful' or not - its always about a person's inability to assimilate. Carrie as a character is an outsider because of her mother's influence - on her clothes, on her hygiene, on the way Carrie interacts with the other students.

The tragedy (if there is one) in this story is that as Carrie fights back against her mother, she begins to find the beginnings of community at the school, only to have the rug pulled out from under her by the particularly cruel act of a small group of students. But in the context of the story, whether you agree with the philosophy or not - Carrie's 'beauty' in the final sequence of the story is in direct relation to her ability to assimilate with the other students.

Updated On: 1/18/12 at 05:19 PM

Does it show how close Tommy and Sue are? If so, this sample ballad is superfluous. If it doesn't, then "Do Me a Favor" misses the point of her asking him for this favor.

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Updated On: 1/18/12 at 05:23 PM

I think at that point in the story, we just don't care about Tommy and Sue. Brian dePalma's pacing of the film is expert; by the time Carrie is asked to the prom we are firmly rooted in the conflict between her and her mother and what's going to happen with Carrie and Tommy. We really don't care about Sue and Tommy's relationship at that point.