Brian Stokes Mitchell as Fagin in Oliver! - WTF????

[Musicaldudepeter]

Brian Stokes Mitchell as Fagin in Oliver! - WTF????#1

Posted: 4/24/12 at 5:48pm

This is beyond the worst casting decision ever made. Who the hell said 'This would be a great idea'... This is worse than casting Ellen DeGeneres as Fantine.

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Brian Stokes Mitchell as Fagin in Oliver! - WTF????#2

Posted: 4/24/12 at 5:51pm

What's so objectionable? The man can sing, and act - he can fit the role, the role doesn't have to fit him.

Beyoncé is not an ally. Actions speak louder than words, Mrs. Carter. #Dubai #$$$

[Musicaldudepeter]

Brian Stokes Mitchell as Fagin in Oliver! - WTF????#2

Posted: 4/24/12 at 5:53pm

He doesn't fit the role, I'm sorry - no one can deny this

[Justin D]

Brian Stokes Mitchell as Fagin in Oliver! - WTF????#3

Posted: 4/24/12 at 5:53pm

I know right, that's why it's called acting

http://www.flickr.com/photos/27199361@N08/ Phantom at the Royal Empire Theatre

[LALALand]

Brian Stokes Mitchell as Fagin in Oliver! - WTF????#4

Posted: 4/24/12 at 5:56pm

Isn't this a concert? Why all the vitriol? He can certainly sing it.

[Musicaldudepeter]

Brian Stokes Mitchell as Fagin in Oliver! - WTF????#5

Posted: 4/24/12 at 5:58pm

SING WHAT? Fagin has Pick a Pocket, a bit of I'd do Anything and Reviewing the Situation which is a comedic number not a ****ing aria!!! It's like saying Brian Stokes Mitchell is going to play Henry Higgins [albeit in the ORIGINAL Rex Harrison-style]

[egghumor]

Brian Stokes Mitchell as Fagin in Oliver! - WTF????#6

Posted: 4/24/12 at 6:01pm

Good lord! Brian Stokes Mitchell is one, great talented man! As other have already pointed out, it's a concert version for G's sake, and even if it weren't, Fagin must possess a high level of charm which Mr. Mitchell has in abundance.

I'm truly surprised by the OP's reaction. Would LOVE to hear Melissa Errico sing those songs as well!

[Patash]

Brian Stokes Mitchell as Fagin in Oliver! - WTF????#7

Posted: 4/24/12 at 6:27pm

Since when can't BSM do comedy? I think he does it very well. When does a concert version require physical attributes to be particularly appropriate for a role -- I guess that's what you're talking about, because he certainly has enough acting and singing talents to do the role. Why not spend your time complaining about Meryl Streep and Kevin Kline doing a reading of Romeo and Juliet if you want to talk about miscasting? (Another thing I'd love to see).

[tazber]

Brian Stokes Mitchell as Fagin in Oliver! - WTF????#8

Posted: 4/24/12 at 6:36pm

I think it's genius. It's not even as big a stretch as Nathan Lane doing Iceman.

I'm sure he's going to be incredible.

....but the world goes 'round

[Gaveston2]

Brian Stokes Mitchell as Fagin in Oliver! - WTF????#9

Posted: 4/24/12 at 7:29pm

I'm very confused here. Unless the OP is talking about Mitchell's race, I don't understand the outrage.

And if the OP IS talking about Mitchell's race, who's to say it's wrong? In addition to being a nasty Jewish stereotype (which we politely overlook nowadays), why can't Fagin be the same racial mix as Mitchell? There were people of African descent in London long before Dickens' time.

[Jon]

Brian Stokes Mitchell as Fagin in Oliver! - WTF????#10

Posted: 4/24/12 at 7:50pm

Half the folks who saw BSM in Kiss Me Kate and Man of La Mancha had no idea he was African-American.

[Oldschool]

Brian Stokes Mitchell as Fagin in Oliver! - WTF????#11

Posted: 4/24/12 at 8:06pm

Stokes has pipes to spare, but act? No, I'm afraid he needs directions out of that paper bag.

[Gaveston2]

Brian Stokes Mitchell as Fagin in Oliver! - WTF????#12

Posted: 4/24/12 at 9:48pm

Stokes has pipes to spare, but act? No, I'm afraid he needs directions out of that paper bag.

He was no slouch in RAGTIME.

[dramamama611]

Brian Stokes Mitchell as Fagin in Oliver! - WTF????#13

Posted: 4/24/12 at 9:50pm

Might not be the name that would spring to my mind, but I like the idea.

If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it? These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.

[CATSNYrevival]

Brian Stokes Mitchell as Fagin in Oliver! - WTF????#14

Posted: 4/24/12 at 10:29pm

He is an actor. He's played several movie and television roles that required no singing at all and no one complained then. This role doesn't necessarily require a singer as strong as Mitchell, but it certainly isn't going to hurt anyone to hear the role actually sung for a change. What's the big deal?

[PalJoey]

Brian Stokes Mitchell as Fagin in Oliver! - WTF????#15

Posted: 4/24/12 at 11:49pm

Great casting. Looking forward to seeing it.

OP--STFU. OKTHXBYE.

[Leadingplayer]

Brian Stokes Mitchell as Fagin in Oliver! - WTF????#16

Posted: 4/25/12 at 12:17am

Where?

[jimmycurry01]

Brian Stokes Mitchell as Fagin in Oliver! - WTF????#17

Posted: 4/25/12 at 1:45am

Is the OP just trolling here, or what?

[Oldschool]

Brian Stokes Mitchell as Fagin in Oliver! - WTF????#18

Posted: 4/25/12 at 5:55am

"He was no slouch in RAGTIME."

And yet he was well out gunned by Mary Elizabeth Mastriantonio in Man of La Mancha.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Brian Stokes Mitchell as Fagin in Oliver! - WTF????#19

Posted: 4/25/12 at 9:52am

^ Not when I saw it. She was too busy trying to get through a score she couldn't really sing to do much in the way of acting (and I'm an admirer of hers, generally).

I think he's a fine choice, though as others have said, he wouldn't be my first.

[wonkit]

Brian Stokes Mitchell as Fagin in Oliver! - WTF????#20

Posted: 4/25/12 at 10:02am

Wow - this board has been taken over lately by people who post unsupported emotional reactions to every production and casting choice. I don't see anything wrong with BSM as Fagin. Now if it was Ellen DeGeneres as Fagin, I can see the outrage.

[madbrian]

Brian Stokes Mitchell as Fagin in Oliver! - WTF????#21

Posted: 4/25/12 at 10:13am

I have no problem with BSM as Fagin, but I would have cast him as Bill Sykes.

"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg." -- Thomas Jefferson

[wonkit]

Brian Stokes Mitchell as Fagin in Oliver! - WTF????#22

Posted: 4/25/12 at 10:42am

Does Sykes have any singing? I can't recall.

[madbrian]

Brian Stokes Mitchell as Fagin in Oliver! - WTF????#23

Posted: 4/25/12 at 10:57am

Sykes only has one number, My Name, which was not used in the movie. He's also in the reprise of A Fine Life. So, it's clearly a much smaller singing role, but I think it's well suited to him. That said, I'll reiterate what I said earlier that he'll be fine as Fagin.

"It does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are 20 gods or no god. It neither picks my pocket, nor breaks my leg." -- Thomas Jefferson

[CurtainPullDowner]

Brian Stokes Mitchell as Fagin in Oliver! - WTF????#24

Posted: 4/25/12 at 11:13am

Barbour in a show with minors?
I'm outraged!