Bernadette Peters as Lovett - Will it EVER Happen?- Page 6
Bernadette Peters as Lovett - Will it EVER Happen?
#125Bernadette Peters agenda
Posted: 7/8/13 at 5:19pm
Bernadette Peters, who can still belt loudly, sing softly and (barely) hit E5 did not struggle to sing a song that could (and sounds like it has, at least on the OBC recording) be sung comfortably by someone with throat cancer.
I can't even take you a little seriously anymore.
#126Bernadette Peters agenda
Posted: 7/8/13 at 5:23pm
I hate to say it but at this point I don't think it's a good idea.
I thought she was fine in Follies... until I saw Victoria Clark in Los Angeles. The limitations of Peters' voice were making Ron Raines hold back. It effected HIS performance. When he was with Clark he SOARED. He went from being the lest impressive things about Follies to the most impressive. I feel like Sweeney is just too much for her at this point.
#127Bernadette Peters agenda
Posted: 7/8/13 at 5:26pm
"I can't even take you a little seriously anymore."
Well that's strange considering I actually present an argument unlike the ridiculous criticism on this forum that does not make logical sense.
The idea of Bernadette Peters struggling to sing SEND IN THE CLOWNS is so ridiculously laughable.
Brb going to masturbate on my OBCR of THE GOODBYE GIRL.
#128Bernadette Peters agenda
Posted: 7/8/13 at 5:28pmI actually really liked her in Night Music- but that role was originally written for someone who really wasn't a singer. This role is enormously taxing vocally, though- not only is there a huge amount of material, but a lot of it is just not easy to sing. She's still wonderful, and I hope she finds a great vehicle soon, but this is not at all right for her.
Musicaldudepeter
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/18/10
#129Bernadette Peters agenda
Posted: 7/8/13 at 5:41pmThis is going to be a HUGE casting decision and very exciting to see who they go with... Also all of the supporting roles - Beggar Woman, Anthony, Tobias, etc... Although to my mind, it will be extremely hard to top the 2000/2001 concert cast (Victoria Clark/Audra McDonald, Neil Patrick Harris, Lisa Vroman/Heidi Grant Murphy etc.)
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theeatah
Leading Actor Joined: 1/31/10
#130Bernadette Peters agenda
Posted: 7/8/13 at 5:46pmThey should get Caroline O'Connor or Jenna Russell (if Merrily has finished). I hope it won't be Maria Friedman.
Musicaldudepeter
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/18/10
#131Bernadette Peters agenda
Posted: 7/8/13 at 5:51pmIt will have to be bigger than any of those names... And most likely from these shores, if they're casting the Welsh Terfel. I really think Bernadette would be ideal. For Beggar Woman, I see Kelli O'Hara or Jessie Mueller getting in there somehow... Or maybe they'll cast the supporting roles with singers from the operatic side, as they did with the Judge/Beadle/Pirelli the last time round...
#132Bernadette Peters agenda
Posted: 7/8/13 at 6:09pm
They've sent a notice about the concert via email and they've got the same artwork as they did 12 years ago hehe :/.
Some people have suggested this before but Bernadette would make a good beggar woman, too. But I doubt she is ready to take the backseat yet considering how hyped she is to play Lovett.
theeatah
Leading Actor Joined: 1/31/10
#133Bernadette Peters agenda
Posted: 7/8/13 at 6:16pmWhy would they need to cast an American Lovett to a Welsh Sweeney? Because he lacks box office appeal?
Musicaldudepeter
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/18/10
#134Bernadette Peters agenda
Posted: 7/8/13 at 6:18pmI simply feel to balance the cast, like in 2000 (when Terfel was initially set to play Todd), a Broadway veteran actress from the USA would be most suitable to play Lovett.
theeatah
Leading Actor Joined: 1/31/10
#135Bernadette Peters agenda
Posted: 7/8/13 at 6:29pm
I'm not sure what "balance the cast" means in this instance. Neither of the original leads were American.
Name value, I understand. O'Connor or Russell lack the name value for selling tickets.
#136Bernadette Peters agenda
Posted: 7/8/13 at 6:35pmName value? They could cast my cousin's 7 year old daughter as Lovett and people will fall over themselves to get tickets to see Bryn Terfel sing Sweeney Todd with the New York Philharmonic.
theeatah
Leading Actor Joined: 1/31/10
#138Bernadette Peters agenda
Posted: 7/8/13 at 6:45pm
It's also interesting that Bryn was meant to play the role originally before an injury (back?) that caused Hearn to take over.
Maybe they'll just bring Patti back.
#139Bernadette Peters agenda
Posted: 7/8/13 at 7:04pmGod forbid.
#140Bernadette Peters agenda
Posted: 7/8/13 at 7:12pmVictoria Clark would actually be great in this role - it would be really different from everything she's done already.
#141Bernadette Peters agenda
Posted: 7/8/13 at 8:05pmThey could just bring LuPone back. I mean...why not bring back the same old Sweeney with a recycled Lovett.
Musicaldudepeter
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/18/10
#142Bernadette Peters agenda
Posted: 7/8/13 at 8:12pmClark would be all wrong for Mrs. Lovett. She was perfection as the beggar woman though.
#143Bernadette Peters agenda
Posted: 7/8/13 at 8:23pmTwo words: Tracey Ullman.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
#145Bernadette Peters agenda
Posted: 7/8/13 at 9:56pm
I adore this woman, but Mrs. L. is not a role that instantly comes to mind with her. I also find her "English" accent painfully bad -- even by the broad music hall standards of Sweeney Todd. That didn't stop LuPone, though. And, frankly, I have to say defying expectations was part of what made BP's performance in Gypsy so thrilling for me. It certainly would sell tickets.
Are there any major musical theatre roles left for BP at this time or will she have to focus on tv and film until it's time to transition into older supporting roles on Broadway?
I know this is self-indulgent and it will never happen but it would be so thrilling to see Bernadette do a limited run of Into the Woods somewhere. She did a brief encore of the Witch at a recent Broadway Barks concert and she could still make that role work.
#146Bernadette Peters agenda
Posted: 7/8/13 at 10:42pm
As long as she promises not to cry-too-much through "Not While I'm Around" the way she cried-too-much through "Send in the Clowns" and the way she cried-too-much through "Losing My Mind."
She cries-too-much.
#147Bernadette Peters agenda
Posted: 7/8/13 at 10:52pm
"I... don't-want-to fight. With you... Phyl. I don't... have-to."
Her line readings have often been a bit stagey and self-indulgent for my taste, but it seems to be more and more of an issue as she ages. I cringe to think of what that sort of acting might do to Mrs. Lovett, but then again, sometimes the most cringeworthy casting ideas turn out brilliantly.
#148Bernadette Peters agenda
Posted: 7/8/13 at 10:52pmThe only person crying more than Bernadette will be me...this topic is over 4 years old now. It'll be a dream come true.
NYC4Life
Broadway Star Joined: 1/23/06
#149Bernadette Peters agenda
Posted: 7/9/13 at 1:30amSorry but Bernadette Peters voice next to Bryn Terfel, who has now started singing Wagner hero roles, would be extremely embarrassing. This is a man that can sing the heaviest opera repertoire un miced in the proper auditoriums. I know everyone is going to say "she isn't old enough" "she isn't right for the role" and "Blah, blah, blah" but I say Audra Mcdonld.
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