Can Robert Goulet Save La Cage?- Page 2

[WISHIHADATONY]

Posted: 4/19/05 at 2:44pm

Mamie, you know I agree with you. I am still stunned at how the "firing" was announced. Certainly not in the tradition of the theater or in most professional businesses.
Dollypop, of course, you too are right about Naughton...and he went on to win a (generous) Tony for the CHICAGO revival.

Junglered, I am pleased you enjoyed the show so much. LA CAGE was never my favorite Jerry Herman show (ironically I did enjoy it much more the second time I saw it at the Palace theater--perhaps it was because the second time I had much better seats?)but its original production was certainly always a delightful evening in the theater. I always thought some of les cagelles numbers were a bit too long and that the "book" of the show was pretty bad. However, it was still a sublime way to spend an evening among some gorgeous music, sets, sounds, dancing and some lovely performances. (I expected George Hearn to be great when I saw the show, I was surprised at how much I also enjoyed Gene Barry--Keene Curtis and Peter Marshall were an excellent pair too......Curtis could not sing the way Hearn could (who else can?) but he was excellent and I recall Peter Marshall's acting being very touching and sensitive.

[junglered]

Posted: 4/19/05 at 3:35pm

Wish - Yes, I did have fun at La Cage...and it was the one show of the four that I saw this weekend that I was most apprehensive about. Truth be told, "Hello, Dolly!" is the Herman revival that I am most looking forward to..with "Mame" right behind. This "La Cage" was tons of fun and I hope that it brings in a good audience this summer with the arrival of Mr. Goulet.

Posted: 4/19/05 at 3:37pm

Hey, Jungle What else did you see?

[junglered]

Posted: 4/19/05 at 3:57pm

Hi DGrant!

I hope that all is well with you! On this trip, I saw "Steel Magnolias", "Sweet Charity", and "Dame Edna: Back With a Vengeance". I loved Steel Magnolias - especially Frances Sternhagen's performance as Claree. She is such a wonderful actress!Her delivery of zingers was spot-on! Dame Edna was hilarious! I've seen her once before and some of the material is recycled...but I didn't stop laughing the whole show. I'm glad that I got to see her perform before the show takes it final Broadway bow. Sweet Charity (with Charlotte) was fun. They have some tightening to do, but I'm sure they will get there with Ms. Applegate.

"Light in the Piazza", "Spamalot", "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels", "Little Women" and "Chitty" are the 5 shows will probably be part of my next excursion to NYC. Which shows did you enjoy the most on your recent vacation to New York???

Jungle

[Feodor Sverdlov]

Posted: 4/19/05 at 4:48pm

I just don't understand why Goulet? There are so many talented middle-aged actor: Brian Stokes Mitchell or Terence Mann. They could do better. I don't even think there will be a CD from this show within two month. Sadly.

[mirramar]

Posted: 4/19/05 at 4:51pm

La Cage isn't a great show. I don't think changing one actor will make a difference.

[Luke0827]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 10:33am

I would think Terrence Mann as Georges and Douglas Sills as Albin would inject much needed life, humor, and energy into the show. They were so good as enemies in Pimpernel; imagine them as a couple!

[twogaab2]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 11:17am

People from out of town(who buy the largest percentage of the tickets) LOVE Robert Goulet and have NEVER heard of those other people you have mentioned (as good as they may be). I personally think Goulet will be fine and will sing it a great deal more than fine.

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 12:58pm

Updated On: 5/27/05 at 12:58 PM

[twogaab2]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 1:33pm

In spite of this last little valintine to ageism, I think we should consider that just because a performer has reached a certain amount of years, that he or she has nothing to offer.(i.e. Tony Bennett, Cleo Lane, Eartha Kitt, Barbra Cook--all have much to offer).

Updated On: 4/20/05 at 01:33 PM

[BoxFive]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 1:48pm

This revival was stillborn upon it's miscasting of Beach, bland and obivious at every turn.

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 3:44pm

Updated On: 5/27/05 at 03:44 PM

[cserannie]

Posted: 4/20/05 at 4:49pm

I am one of the people out of town and I don't think that nowadays Goulet would be a familiar name than Terrence Mann or Douglas on Broadway. They had several performances in the past five-seven years. How many shows involved Goulet in tha past 20 years?

Updated On: 4/22/05 at 04:49 PM

[Luke0827]

Posted: 4/21/05 at 11:27am

This isn't about ageism, it's reality. At 71, Goulet simply looks too old to be believable in the role of Georges. Perhaps he would have been appropriate for the role 20 years ago, but not now. Would it be racist to say Lea Salonga would not be a wise casting choice for the role of Mrs. Anna in "The King and I" or that Audra McDonald as "Mother" in Ragtime would be ridiculos? Heck, why not revive "My Fair Lady" and let Julie Andrews talk-sing "I Could Have Danced All Night"? I'm all for reconceiving roles in a non traditional way. Sometimes it is done with terrific results (e.g., McDonald in "Carousel," Alfred Molina in "Fiddler," Bernadette Peters in "Gypsy," et. al.) But when non-traditional casting causes the integrity of the piece to be sacrificed, it is a mistake. I feel that is exactly what has happened in "La Cage."

[magicmanst]

Posted: 4/21/05 at 11:56am

They should have gotten either Harvey or Nathan Lane for Georges. The fact that they staged this revival with no big star spelled disaster from the start. I thought the direction in this revival was particularly clumsy and straight forward as well, not to mention the terrible set pieces. Boo

[bonna]

Posted: 4/21/05 at 1:07pm

I loved Harvey in Hairspray and I'm sure he's great in Fiddler, but I don't think my eardrums are ready for his rendition of "Song on the Sand."

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 4/21/05 at 1:44pm

At least with Harvey it would have been heartfelt instead of the plastic lounge lizard singing that Mr. Goulet has become famous for.

I still think that Daniel Davis's rendition of "Song on the Sand" is the best I've ever heard - direct and very touching, I'm sorry I won't have a chance to see his performance again.

[Mamie]

Posted: 4/21/05 at 2:50pm

I agree Marc. I'm so glad I got to see him in it at least twice. I won't be going back now.

And La Cage fan - I appreciate your continued efforts to get this recorded but I lost all interest when RG replaced DD. I'm sorry but Davis sounded beautiful and Goulet is just awful.

[LaCageAuxFollesFan2]

Posted: 4/21/05 at 3:11pm

Thanks Mamie, I started this campaign and the recording producer plans to see it through. We continue to look for more investors and the producers are reconsidering there stance now. I havent seen Goulet yet and am not going to until May-just to give him some time, I feel its only right. But I do agree that Davis was one of the MAJOR reasons I wanted this album to happen, that SONG ON THE SAND was better than lovely! But, a full American version recording of this show NEEDS to be made, and of this production!

[H.Higgins]

Posted: 4/21/05 at 4:40pm

South Fl Marc, check your PM's.

[ahimsa]

Posted: 4/21/05 at 5:42pm

Broadway is always at its best when you find yourself touched deeply, and Daniel provided that for me during his rendition of Song on the Sand. Can Mr. Goulet do the same for me next month when I go? I can only hope so, but you have to admit, that his age for the role, his orientation, and any tarnish to his voice will get in the way. I think Mr. Goulet will rise to the occasion and his attitude about the show seems very progressive and upbeat. Kiss a guy, big deal. It seems like young straight men are into that right now anyway, so maybe he's more contemporary than he's being given credit. Most posts seem only speculative, so I guess we will have to be our own judges.

We came away nickpicking the preview show we saw, but overall and months later, the memory of it remains very endearing and worthy of its lights on broadway. I hope it continues to shine.

By the way, seeing the show from the front row of the balcony was a real treat. It gives you a chance to see just how hard those Cagelles work each performance. My hat remains off to them!