Cattrall and Dossett out of KC FOLLIES

[othell]

Posted: 9/26/10 at 11:50am

Just read this on BWW, and also speculation that Elaine Paige or Linda Lavin are in talks. What do you think?

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 9/26/10 at 12:15pm

From Kim Cattrall to Linda Lavin is quite an upgrade in the acting department... but quite a downgrade in a few other departments.

kmc

[newintown]

Posted: 9/26/10 at 12:19pm

Linda Lavin is 70 at least and looks it. For a character who's supposed to be 48, isn't that a bit ridiculous?

[AC126748]

Posted: 9/26/10 at 12:31pm

I like both women, but neither particularly scream "Phyllis Rogers Stone" to me. And Lavin is too old. Yes, Peters will be 63 by the time the production opens, but she can still easily pass for late forties. The same cannot be said of Lavin.

Also, does it seem weird to anyone else that, forty years into her career, Paige is now vigorously trying to break into the American market, after many years of nearly ignoring it? Have the Brits tired of her?

Updated On: 9/26/10 at 12:31 PM

[Dollypop]

Posted: 9/26/10 at 12:37pm

Elaine Paige is extremely talented but she's also very short. Remember when they had to adjust the banister in SUNSET BOULEVARD so the audience could see her on the staircase? Who would they get to play opposite such a short person? Gary Coleman is no longer with us.

[HistoryBoy2]

Posted: 9/26/10 at 12:46pm

Perhaps Christopher Seiber could go short again?

[Brick]

Posted: 9/26/10 at 12:59pm

Elaine Paige or Linda Lavin? Are you sure they're in talks for Phyllis? I could see Lavin sing Broadway Baby, or...?

But Vanessa Williams to Kim Cattrall, to Elaine Paige?

[BwayLover]

Posted: 9/26/10 at 1:09pm

I'm admittedly biased, but I so wish they would get Donna Murphy to reprise her turn as Phyllis. Can you imagine how divine she would be with Peters?

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/26/10 at 1:28pm

This is a nightmare. I doubt Lavin and Paige are up for Phyllis. It must be for the supporting roles. I assume they will look for another star for Phyllis.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/26/10 at 1:33pm

I agree about Murphy. Her Phyllis was perfection and I would love to see her do it again, especially with Peters.

[AC126748]

Posted: 9/26/10 at 1:58pm

Is Laughing Matters happening in the spring. If so, Murphy would be able to do Phyllis because of the scheduling conflict.

[mallardo]

Posted: 9/26/10 at 2:44pm

Neither Paige nor Lavin can be in consideration for Phyllis. I could see Paige as Carlotta and perhaps Lavin as Stella or Hattie.

[blacktie]

Posted: 9/26/10 at 7:23pm

I'd like to see Valarie Pettiford perform the role of Phyllis.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 9/26/10 at 7:30pm

Paige would be an absolute disaster as Phyllis. I just can't stand her performances, I don't think she's much of an actress. Cattrall would have been ideal, what a shame. Of course Donna Murphy IS Phyllis, but lucky for us she has a new Broadway show lined up (or so the rumor goes) for the spring so she won't be able to be a part of this.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 9/26/10 at 7:54pm

Well to be fair Elaine Paige would be a very viable Carlotta. I would love to hear her sing "I'm Still Here." And I, at least, would love to see her in another Sondheim musical after seeing her in Sweeney Todd. Let's hope they can still persuade someone great to be Phyllis!

[jon2]

Posted: 9/27/10 at 9:12am

Wonder what the story is here. I would have thought this would be a great prestige gig for Cattrall.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 9/27/10 at 9:59am

I think some of the casting (a la Paige) may be for the Nunn London revival - still planned for more or less the same time period. I imagine Lavin is up for Stella which is good casting.

BWW probably deserves a little slap on the wrist for announcing Catrall and Dossett prematurely -- this is certainly not the first time early casting rumours havent panned out for a production eight months away.

I have no doubt KC will find suitable replacements - there is ample, ample time...
Updated On: 9/27/10 at 09:59 AM

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 9/27/10 at 10:18am

I'd actually love to see Lavin as Carlotta.

I imagine she'd deliver a knock out rendition of "I'm Still Here" that would utilize a lot of the "seen-it-all" wisdom that has become her trademark.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 9/27/10 at 10:42am

I just don't really see Lavin as an aging sex symbol. Again it would be fun to hear her do the 'song' but she's not really a fit for the character as written...

I wonder if the production will persue any of the women who turned down Phyllis in the 2001 revival - Jean Smart, and Sigourney Weaver being the two I can remember off the top of my head...

[madbrian]

Posted: 9/27/10 at 10:50am

I know she's not considered a stage person, but I think Goldie Hawn could be terrific as either Carlotta or Phyllis.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 9/27/10 at 10:58am

I think Goldie Hawn could be a really good Carlotta. I also think Lynda Carter, though perhaps not the most exciting choice, would also do well with the role and would certainly be believable as a former sex symbol, still persued by men heading her own television show.

I'm not sure I ultimately see Elaine Page in FOLLIES and I wonder if her height would indeed be an issue for any of the roles.

If they are looking at Broadway legends - I'd love to see Sondra Lee do "Broadway Baby."

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 9/27/10 at 11:03am

Michael Bennett, while I agree about Lavin's believability as a sex symbol, I think plenty of people have been convincing in the role while unconventional in terms of type (Polly Bergen being amongst them, for me.)

Cybill Shepherd was heavily pursued for Carlotta for the Encores! production. I would also be interested to see her take a shot at it.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 9/27/10 at 1:17pm

I think Goldie Hawn is as perfect as you can get for Carlotta, but that's pretty much out of the question. I really hope people are right to say Paige is not being pursued for Phyllis or even for this production (I have zero interest in seeing her take on any of the roles).

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/27/10 at 1:32pm

Would the First Lady of British Musical Theater want to take a supporting role in a show with our First Lady of American Musical Theater as the lead?

Hopefully it is for Nunn's production.

[max2paradise]

Posted: 9/27/10 at 1:38pm

Is it too big of a pipe dream to hope for Liza Minnelli as Carlotta? I think she'd be absolutely perfect.

And if not, maybe they can get Leslie Kritzer as Liza Minnelli as Carlotta...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMeVoZhndnY&feature=player_embedded#!