Boy Tarzan Banned From New Musical By Equity — Page 2

"I saw the brilliant production of THE RISE AND FALL OF LITTLE VOICE in London"

By the way, did the London production have the neighbor throwing up onstage like the NYC version? What was that about? I thought that the neighbor role was a waste onstage. The role was better in the movie version.

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Rath---I understand the rancor you feel, but at some point I hope you see the movie. It's delightful, and Blethyn turned in an outstanding performance (and was Oscar-nominated for it).

Jane and Michael Cain should have been nommed as well.

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I have a hard time seeing this as a case of big, bad, Actor's Equity picking on a poor, defenseless, child. Even though he's a kid, he's also a professional actor. Who said life is supposed to be fair to actors? Besides, as someone said upthread, I find it hard to believe that they couldn't find a single American boy who could shine in the role.

Btw, how does the British stage actor's union handle these things? I suspect that they a have similar policy.

If this was transferring from London (e.g., Billy Elliott) and the child was asking to RECREATE his role, then I might understand, but this is a new production being launched here on Broadway and it should be cast appropriately. Why they (EDIT: the casting directors) were even auditioning a child who probably wouldn't be able to have the role due to Equity is beyond me! That's just cruel to the kid. And I agree that there HAS to be a child who is eligible here who is as good if not better. Just go to a gymnastics camp and see which boys can sing and act and take it from there. This role CAN'T be that large of one, because I'm sure they are taking him to adulthood quickly so they can get into the meat of the story.

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Updated On: 10/14/05 at 02:39 PM

Does anyone think it's odd this kid has been in the arts academy since he was six? Or is it just like a regular school with an arts bent?...runs to google...

Personally, I think it SUCKS!

But then, I'm not an American citizen, so I'm seeing it from a different perspective...

Actors' Equity only permits foreign actors to appear on Broadway if "they are an established star or can do something that an American actor can't do." Actors' Equity spokesperson Maria Somma told the Evening Times, "The rules are there to give our own actors the first shot."



makes sense to me......keeps American Actors working.

same thing Canada did with LOTR

too bad our government doesn't take this view, rather then giving jobs overseas, and keeping Americans unemployed because of it....

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Updated On: 10/14/05 at 03:37 PM

Well, in the case of LOTR, the Ontario government is a backer with an exclusive contract for quite some time--maybe 2007(?), so that's a little bit different...but they should have no problem finding some boy who can swing on a rope.

I saw Patti Cohenour in the role (instead of La Brightman)...she was magnificent.

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What was wrong with Josefina Gabrielle???

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She wasn't good enough in ANY of the individual elements to warrant having this 'groundbreaking' Laurie who also does the dream ballet. She was a good dancer, but not great. She was an okay singer, but for Laurie, you really need a strong, legit singer for the role. Her acting was passable, but nothing to write home about. Her look was too mature for 18. . . need I go on?

EDIT: I don't want this to sound to harsh on Josephina. She was improperly cast. I did see her in the DVD with Hugh and she was better. Across the board, the Broadway cast didn't measure up and I think this might have affected Josephina's skill in the role. Nevertheless, that was a revival that didn't need to transfer. Perhaps an immediate, complete transfer of the West End production. With the time that went by and the changes that were made to the cast, I think Josephina went past the appropriate age to do Laurie and Andrea Martin was too young for Aunt Eller -- they looked more like sisters.

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Updated On: 10/14/05 at 04:12 PM

mmmm, I see. 18 years old though? Who were they kidding?

I saw her as Roxie in London, that's why I was wondering.
She was very good, but she managed to upstage everyone on that stage, including the trumpet (and it's a loud trumpet!)

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"His age is not an issue in this discussion. "

But in the first post someone implied that this was bad because the actor is a child.

Btw, does anyone know if there are similar practices by the stage actors' unions in the UK?

Updated On: 10/14/05 at 06:06 PM