Bewitched, Bothered and really Bewildered

[Gothampc]

Posted: 10/30/03 at 11:58pm

The Weisslers are thinking about optioning Pal Joey and letting Robert Altman direct? What in the world will that show be like?

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 10/31/03 at 12:03am

Everybody singing all the different songs at once.

Plus nudity.

In a word: fab-u-lous!

[Gothampc]

Posted: 10/31/03 at 12:06am

Oh nudity. Gives the song Zip a new meaning.

[TEACHEROFTHEATER]

Posted: 10/31/03 at 8:50am

I don't think Pal Joey was ever considered a particularly good musical.

I saw a "black revisal" years ago, I believe it was called Pal Joey '78 (ugh!) that starred Lena Horne and Clifton Davis.

What a dreadful bore it was.

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 10/31/03 at 11:30am

PAL JOEY is a terrific musical. As the story of an amoral male huster, it was very dark for its time. It was the show that one NY critic (I forget who it was) bemoaned as "is it not possible to draw sweet water from a foul well" (I'm paraphrasing). But it has a gorgeous score. The problem is it is not all that well-remembered as 1) the 1957 Sinatra-Hayworth-Novak film is a travesty of the show and 2) it has not had a good revival in MANY years. It is long overdue for one.

Speaking of amoral male hustlers, I think Gene Kelly was hustling Larry Hart to get the part. What do you tink, Miriam?

Updated On: 10/31/03 at 11:30 AM

[Victoria Grant]

Posted: 10/31/03 at 11:41am

I thought that Pal Joey was already revised in the 80's with Peter Gallagher and Patti Lupone?

It's a great show with great music so I guess another revival will be refreshing.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 10/31/03 at 11:48am

Productions I have seen of Pal Joey (Circle/Square circa 76 or 77 and Encores) do have book problems. Its just not racy or sophisticated any longer to have a heel and an older rich woman use each other. Scandalous in 1940 and 1952, passe in 1976. The Lena Horne-Clifton Davis production was supposed to be almost unwatchable. A production that took these two wonderful talents and made them unlikeable.

But oh that score. Wow is a such a tiny word sometimes.

And there will be a production of Pal Joey at the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario during their 2004 season. Don't have exact dates yet. Check Shawfest.com in January.

[robbiej]

Posted: 10/31/03 at 12:00pm

Wasn't the Gallagher/Lupone version a one-night (or few-night) concert version?

Although it sounds bizarre, perhaps Altman can convince one of the stars of his earlier Broadway opus, the lovely Cherilyn Sarkisian LaPierre, to play Vera.

WOULDN'T THAT BE A DREAM???

Updated On: 10/31/03 at 12:00 PM

[onceadancer2]

Posted: 10/31/03 at 12:02pm

Dear Master LCZ:

Pal Joey, how interesting. It seems as if it were just yesterday when I sat down with Dick and Larry to discuss the play. They said, "you're going to play an older woman who underwrites a younger guy." I was interested!

And remember the announcement that Robert Alton put in the Broadway trade papers: "fat girls who can tap and do pointe should apply." Bob wanted the chorus line to look as if they were bedraggled, besmirched and bent out of shape. Did we ever have a strange group of dancers!

Oh yes, the libretto. The culprit is George Abbot. I mean, every time in rehearsal that I put my arm around Gene he shrieks, "get those hands off!" I ask: "what the **** am I supposed to be? His mother?" Mr. Abbott seems to undermine the very basic structure of the show because he does not want it to be overtly about smut and sexuality. But isn't that the point? Even with his tinkerings, the critics find it too racy. It could have been better, but our Mr. A says no. And to think that he boasts about his conquests with women! But the libretto does need improvement. Who would you suggest?

Oh, about Gene and Larry, I haven't seen anything yet between the two of them, And I would know since Larry tells me everything!

Love,

Viv

Updated On: 10/31/03 at 12:02 PM

[magruder]

Posted: 10/31/03 at 12:03pm

The Lupone-Gallagher Pal Joey was at Encores. And it was La Lupone's first appearance in New York after the Sunset Blvd. debacle.

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 10/31/03 at 12:19pm

there's been several regional productions; i seem to recall Dixie Carter in one, perhaps West Coast. i think finding a Gene Kelly type is part of the problem...after a slate of bankable movies, maybe a return vehicle for Hugh Jackman?

[robbiej]

Posted: 10/31/03 at 12:25pm

Now, I'm not necessarily a fan of stunt casting. But is there possibly a young music/film star that might be able to fill Joey's shoes? Jackman seems unlikely to do another musical after OZ (at least for some time), and, forgive me all you worshippers of very talented chorus boys, but I really don't want to see some able dancer who has low star-wattage.

So...go ahead. Throw the names out there. Harry Conick? Justin Timberlake?

How bout we get a little non-traditional. Isn't Joey a dancing role? Well, one of the most seductive, beautiful dances I've ever seen was as a freshman in college when a gorgeous black man got up on stage shirtless and danced a piece he choreographed himself. Not only were we all turned on by his sex appeal, but his grace and technical proficiency were just astounding.

His name? Taye Diggs.

BRING ON MR. DIGGS AND CHER!!!

[magruder]

Posted: 10/31/03 at 12:25pm

Michael Beresse as Joey seems like a good idea... He has an affinity for Harold Lang vehicles.

[robbiej]

Posted: 10/31/03 at 12:31pm

I was thinking Berresse, but don't know enough of his work. I found his acrobatics in KMK far more compelling than his characterization. HOWEVER, I did not like the revival of KMK (nor, really, anyone in it) and so I should not judge him based on that solely.

Updated On: 10/31/03 at 12:31 PM

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 10/31/03 at 12:34pm

exactly, ROBBIE, which is why i said for Jackman "after a slew of bankable movies"...but i do want to see Diggs on B'way again. i think he could do that role very well.

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 10/31/03 at 12:44pm

I gotta say, A Daye-Cher combo wuld have one serious problem.

The stage might be danger of spontaneous combustion. Whoa!!!

(Has anyone ever seen Cher's version of "My Heart Belongs to Daddy" at a long-ago Tonys...forgot the year...She completely devoured it!)

Updated On: 10/31/03 at 12:44 PM

[robbiej]

Posted: 10/31/03 at 12:57pm

I don't know how well Cher's acting would transfer to the stage in a big musical, but her film performances ALWAYS surprise me. Tea w/ Mousselini (sp???) had all these remarkable British actresses, but the soul of that film was Cher.