Boy Tarzan Banned From New Musical By Equity- Page 2

[Gothampc]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 2:19pm

"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.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 2:22pm

Yes.

I have not seen the film because it annoyed me that Blethyn was hired because of her then-recent American success to replace Steadman who was so brilliant in the role.

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 2:26pm

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.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 2:27pm

I will see it at some point now - Blethyn did a yeoman's job of winning me over in 'NIGHT, MOTHER.

[TennesseeTwang]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 2:31pm

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.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 2:34pm

I don't think anyone else sees it that way either. He auditioned and was chosed by the creative team as the best person for the role. His age is not an issue in this discussion.

Updated On: 10/14/05 at 02:34 PM

[Hanna from Hamburg]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 2:39pm

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.

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

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 2:48pm

Hanna, who says the casting directors had any idea until they tried to hire him that he wasn't an American citizen? Unless the kid or his mother volunteered that info beforehand, they would not know. Believe me, the producers don't want to hire someone who's going to be a big Equity hassle if they don't have to.

[lildogs]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 2:56pm

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...

[ken8631]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 2:58pm

Didn't he also audition in NYC?

[paradox_error]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 3:29pm

Personally, I think it SUCKS!

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

[JohnnyJune]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 3:32pm

Actually I agree with this. After reading this they really should allow a child whos american do the role, considering that we don't want to have them start importing europeans to do all the roles on broadway. Though I do feel bad for the kid.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 3:37pm

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....

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

[Fosse76]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 3:49pm

"It wasn't JUST Hugh Jackman for that production. I seem to recall they wanted to bring everyone over and it caused protracted negotiations with Equity and in the end the only holdover was Shuler Hensley. I think."

Yes and No. It's true that they wanted to bring the entire cast over, but that failure had nothing to do with negotiations. Equity balked at a Broadway revival of the very-American "Oklahoma!" starring an entirely British cast (essentially, since neither Hensley nor Jackman are British). The reason they wanted to transfer that cast is that Nunn said he was too busy to cast and rehearse an all new cast. Equity was not about to allow that to happen. By the time it was able to transfer Jackman was filming Van Helsing, I believe.

[lildogs]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 3:49pm

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.

[WindyCityActor]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 3:54pm

"EDIT: Wow, I even remember (through close friends) that Patti Cohenour was told she had the part, at first. Then Sarah announced that she wanted to play the role in America. Patti was crushed, but agreed to stay on as the "matinee Christine." Oh, the drama."

Yeah, I heard all about this regarding Patti....who incidentally in one of the most gracious and unpretentious people I've ever met. She is a lady in true sense of the word.

[robbiej]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 3:59pm

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

[brdwaybaby17]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 4:02pm

Ummm... well, why do we have so many Canadian actors on the stage in New York if the foreign policy is so important?

Jessica-Snow Wilson, Cary Sheilds, Steven Sutcliffe...

[blaxx]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 4:07pm

What was wrong with Josefina Gabrielle???

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 4:10pm

Josefina can't sing. High, thin and screechy.

Gad I wished for Rebecca Luker as Laurie, playing against Patrick Wilson.

You notice there was no cast recording of that revival here. I can't help wondering if there would have been had Luker played the role.
Updated On: 10/14/05 at 04:10 PM

[Hanna from Hamburg]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 4:12pm

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.

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

[robbiej]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 4:14pm

Don't forget the LIE that she was the first woman to sing, dance and act Laurey.

As if Susan Watson never EXISTED!

Bastards.

[blaxx]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 4:32pm

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!)

[erinrebecca]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 4:47pm

I think this is a little crazy myself. As someone else mentioned, why isn't this policy applied to the many Canadians who are working, and have worked, in the city? Anyone know?

[TennesseeTwang]

Posted: 10/14/05 at 6:06pm

"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