Liza could never handle 8 shows a week. And I doubt her current voice could handle the end of "I'm Still Here."
Has Michele Lee ever done FOLLIES anywhere?
She certainly has the look and the personality for Carlotta.
and now comes the question: Who do you want to play Ben???
My vote: Stokes or George Dvorsky
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/28/09
Boyd Gaines would be perfect!
And, though Liza would certainly be a little shaky, she'd have the right background for the character of Carlotta.
Of course Goldie Hawn would be perfection (I suggested her for Carlotta in one of the movie threads a year or so ago). I don't know, I think Liza might be able to handle the song (yes, the last note might be tricky) and the run of the show. And how great would it be to see her dance in the "Who's That Woman" number?
Wow, Boyd Gaines would be genius! Also, Brent Barrett, Howard McGillin, or James Naughton.
How short is Elaine Paige? Isn't Bernadette Peters fairly short as well? I know Phyllis should be the taller of the two but still.
Bernadette claims to be 5'2" but its a challenge to catch her out of extremely high heels so its hard to confirm.
Isn't Elaine well UNDER 5 feet?
The only roles in Follies I can see Elaine Paige playing is either Sally or Carlotta, and since Bernadette is Sally ...
Phyllis should definitely be the taller one. It adds so much to show the differences between the two. That would be the problem casting Donna Murphy opposite Peters.
How is that a problem? Donna Murphy IS taller than Bernadette.
Oh, Murphy always appeared TINY to me. I guess NOT? I saw her Phyllis, and she appeared very tiny then too.
That's how it SHOULD look.
Updated On: 9/27/10 at 08:25 PM
Who else thinks Elaine Paige looks like Dorothy Collins?
I didn't think Donna Murphy seemed tiny at all when she played Phyllis, she looked statuesque next to Victoria Clark too. There's no "problem" in casting Murphy as Phyllis whatsoever, she's brilliant in the role and there was a general feeling that hers was a Tony-worthy performance. However, I'm more excited about the idea of having her back on Broadway.
I love the idea of Sigourney Weaver as Phyllis, though of course I doubt there's a way she would be part of this production if she turned down an offer to do it on Broadway. Jean Smart sounds interesting though there's many actresses I'd rather see (such a shame it didn't work out with Williams or Cattrall).
And suddenly I stopped caring.
I just got my picture taken with Donna Murphy at the Flea Market and although she was thinner than I had thought, I'd say that she was about 5'6' or so. And she definitely looked taller and more statuesque than Victoria Clark (who is also relatively tall)
I thought Murphy was an amazing Phyllis, but I don't think she appeared statuesque at all.
It look like Clark might actually be a tad taller than Murphy. Though who knows what kind of heels Murphy wore.
Anyway - height isn't the most important thing when casting Follies. But since Peters is so tiny, it's almost inevitable that whoever plays Phyllis will be taller than her. And I love how that looks. Sally is described as "petite" and "little." Peters will have the perfect look.
Updated On: 9/28/10 at 12:00 AM
Height though is an issue in Follies because the audience is being asked to believe this is a reunion of former showgirls - and show girls were hired partly for their height- yes I understand some of the girls were likely novelty acts (Salonge, perhaps Hattie) but a cast of Peters, Paige, Lavin and Damny Burstein would be like Folllies set in the Munchkin City- it's just not really believable or right...
Ah, good point. So it would have been odd for the short Dorothy Collins and Peters to have been show girls? It might not be accurate, but I just adore when Sally is short and petite.
Anyone who doesn't think Donna Murphy looks like a Grecian goddess/statue of a Grecian goddess 100% of the time is sorely mistaken. It's totally her schtick.
stat·u·esque/?staCHo?o?esk/
Adjective: (esp. of a woman) Attractively tall and dignified: "her statuesque beauty".
Yes, Murphy is a beautiful and dignified looking woman. But she's not exceptionally tall.
But there is clearly no arguing with you on this one.
Sadly my opinion of Donna Murphy cannot be swayed by anyone.
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/21/06
"And suddenly I stopped caring."
Yeah, honestly, when I saw Cattrall was longer a part of it, I felt the same. Bernadette is exciting, but it looks like another "What-if" FOLLIES production.
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