Bobby Cannavale/Nice Work if You Can Get It

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 8/19/11 at 1:25am

Per Riedel. He's taking singing lessons and being encouraged by Foster. Also, they're eyeing The Palace where Priscilla is holding on for dear life...

http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/theater/sing_yes_he_cannavale_dZKYej6wNBDs6nv68UaxLI

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 8/19/11 at 1:32am

If this turns out to be true, I'd definitely want to see it. Cannavale is a very talented actor.

Meanwhile, another interesting bit in this article is that Priscilla is having its book tweaked this late in the run. That's sort of...unusual?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/19/11 at 6:57am

The PALACE? Wow...that sounds like a HUGE mistake.

But Bobby Cannavale? Love him as an actor, but not everyone can sing -- even with lessons.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 8/19/11 at 8:36am

I'd like to think that Foster wouldn't push him if he didn't have some potential.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/19/11 at 8:47am

(I had the same thought, as well.)^

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 8/19/11 at 8:50am

All I can say is...Tommy Tune and Twiggy???

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 8/19/11 at 9:01am

He can't be worse than Matthew Broderick and his squawking. Of course his acting will be miles above the same tired performance that Mannered Blahderick will give yet again.

[AC126748]

Posted: 8/19/11 at 9:06am

Cannavale cannot sing. I've heard him attempt to sing before (this was before his foray at the Tonys), and even if they hired Placido Domingo to be his vocal coach I still don't think there would be much to work with.

And yeah, the Tommy Tune/Twiggy thing made me raise an eyebrow. Tune has been openly gay for decades--it seems like another one of Riedel's inevitable factual errors, unless anyone can shed some light.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 8/19/11 at 12:24pm

As I'm sure many of us know, sexuality is fluid for a lot of people, and a lot of people who identify themselves as "gay" will sometimes have sexual encounters and even relationships with members of the opposite gender--and God knows a lot of "straight" people will get with members of their own gender. I just never thought of Tommy Tune as fluid in that regard Guess I was wrong.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 8/19/11 at 12:39pm

I'm surprised that people don't remember the Tommy Tune/Twiggy My One and Only. It was totally delightful and Twiggy got gypped big time that year at Tony time. It was done in the early '80s. No one on this board saw it? I do remember thinking at the time, well, I never saw Fred Astaire, Gene Kelly or Ray Bolger on stage, but I consider myself blessed that I got to see Tommy Tune that night. Wonderful night at the theatre!

[AC126748]

Posted: 8/19/11 at 12:46pm

I don't think anyone has forgotten about this show--although, if I recall correctly, it had the bad fortune to open not long after CATS. What people were questioning was Michael Riedel's claim in his column today that Tommy and Twiggy were lovers during the run. That is certainly the first claim of its kind I've heard.

[Calvin]

Posted: 8/19/11 at 12:50pm

When I picture him singing, I picture the way Tony Curtis "sang" in the musical "Some Like It Hot." During his solo, I got a case of the giggles I just couldn't shake. I felt bad, as I'm sure I was driving the people around me nuts, but I just couldn't stop.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 8/19/11 at 1:03pm

Really??? The Twiggy/Tune thing is news to people? Wasn't there some sort of really public fall-out when the relationship ended. I don't remember the specifics (I was a wee child back then), but I do remember hearing about it.

[AC126748]

Posted: 8/19/11 at 1:07pm

I really don't remember ever hearing anything about it. I did a quick Internet search and I couldn't find any reference. Of course, those were the days before BWW and the like. Of course, sexuality is fluid and gay men and women have had serious and very real relationships with members of the opposite sex. This one just sort of surprised me.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 8/19/11 at 2:09pm

Michael Bennett and Jenifer Holiday.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 8/19/11 at 2:15pm

This whole show sounds even less appealing now than it did before.

[Sauja]

Posted: 8/19/11 at 3:16pm

I understand the criticisms of Matthew Broderick though I tend not to agree with them. I adored him in How to Succeed and got a great big kick out of him in The Producers. Am I the only one in these parts who still wants to see him in musical comedies?

That's an earnest question, not an indictment of people who don't.

Much as I love Cannavale, I'm not especially excited to see him try musical theater. My fear is that it could go the Oliver Platt route.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 8/19/11 at 3:29pm

My sense is that, should Cannavale not have the vocal chops for the show, he'll figure it out for himself and withdraw before the show goes into rehearsal. He is not a stupid man and I don't think ego would get in the way of his making an objective decision. He proved beyond all doubt this year that he's a brilliant actor and I think, in the long run, would be very careful about his next show. Long shot wishful thinking: Kilroy in Camino Real.

[mc1227]

Posted: 8/19/11 at 11:05pm

I am very excited to see Matthew back in a musical comedy. I think that he has given some really good stage performances and a couple of mediocre ones as well but I don't agree with many on this board that he is one note or untalented. I happen to think he has a good voice with great comedic timing. Cannavale is a terrific actor who may not be the best singer but I'm sure will give a good performance. I saw him and Broderick in an indie movie a few years ago and they had some good scenes together so that is a plus for the show. The rest remains to be seen.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 8/19/11 at 11:24pm

I went to the opening of "My One and Only." I loved the performances, but the sets were weird. They were big geometric shapes - I suppose it was a play on Russian expressionism - and monochromatic (I remember a huge spinning square and a trough for Tune and Twiggy to dance in) and Honey Coles sitting most of the show in a barber chair until he got up and outtapped Tune.

I also remember overhearing two businessmen in the lobby at intermission during a subsequent performance. One asked the other what he thought of the show and his friend replied "That Twiggy is hot, but I could swear I've heard some of that music before. I think they ripped it off."

[whitesnow]

Posted: 8/22/11 at 7:33pm

Bobby is so sexy! I cant wait to see him in LA!

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 8/22/11 at 7:40pm

I saw him last night on Amsterdam Ave, with his arm in a sling, what's up with that?