Christopher Walken out of Mother Courage, Kevin Kline to replace

[FoscasBohemianDream]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 3:35pm

According to playbill.com Kevin Kline is replacing Walken in Mother Courage with Meryl Streep, wonder what happened...

Playbill.com Updated On: 7/13/06 at 03:35 PM

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 3:48pm

Well, I thought Walken was ideal casting for Cook, so I would think that it wasn't an artistic problem (though who knows about these things). On the other hand, it seems odd that there would be a scheduling problem at this late date (I'm sure rehearsals have already begun). Hmmmmmmm.......

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 3:49pm

I'll take Kline over Walken any day.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 3:51pm

Maybe he couldn't sing the new songs?

My guess is that Meryl felt that she would be more comfortable playing opposite Kline. She has always been incredibly nervous and insecure about her male co stars.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 3:51pm

Corine and I will be seeing as many performances as our very busy schedules will allow.

Sophie and Nathan, together again!

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 3:53pm

While Kline is probably the better actor overall, Walken has a quirky, enigmatic and almost sinister quality that would have been fascinating to see in this particular role. I'm sure Kline will fill in nicely though.

[JarNerdAV]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 3:54pm

Yes, I wonder why Christopher is walkin. or why Kline is In & Out is Walken. Maybe CW was just a little bit too alienating even for Brecht. I'll see if I can get the inside scoop from a friend on the crew.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 4:00pm

I'm agreeing with MB. I think Streep's preference was Kline.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 4:09pm

I was very disappointed at first, but incredibly thrilled to learn Kline will be taking over.

Row G, dead center! September 2nd, the second to last performance!

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 4:09pm

Updated On: 7/13/06 at 04:09 PM

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 4:25pm

was Kline in THE SEAGULL also at the Public with Streep? perhaps Walken discovered in rehearsal he didn't still have sufficient stage technique to do the production justice....IBDB says his last show was THE DEAD (2000), but i don't know if the role was that large, i didn't even realize he was in it. Prior to that was the original HURLYBURLY in 84/85.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 4:28pm

"was Kline in THE SEAGULL also at the Public with Streep?"

Yes, but Walken was in that production as well.

[TomMonster]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 4:31pm

Walken is an amazing stage actor. But has strange line readings sometimes. I worked with him on a movie and he was loads of fun, but very difficult to cut in the editing room because he never reads the same line the same way twice. "HOW are you?" How ARE you?" How are YOU?", etc. But he is always deliciously creepy.

Kline will be great, but I was really looking forward to Streep and Walken. We shall see...

And, I can't imagine Meryl ever saying she had a problem with a co-star after they've been cast. She can make it work with anyone!

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 4:35pm

ah, I forgot the Public wasn't considered Broadway for that website. I wish I could have seen that SEAGULL...wasn't John Goodman also in the cast? I didn't realize Walken had done that and THE DEAD. He is a very versatile actor to play roles like that which go beyond "creepy."

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 4:35pm

Kline played Trigorin in that 2001 production of THE SEAGULL and Walken played Sorin in that same production, so he's hardly been away from the stage very long. He also wrote and starred in the play HIM at the Public back in the mid-90s and played Iago opposite Raul Julia's Othello at the Delacorte a few years before that (and did three other plays in the late 80s after doing HURLYBURLY). So, there's no problem with his stage technique these days -- it's still very much first rate, so something else (like the offered explanation of a scheduling conflict) caused him to drop out.

Updated On: 7/13/06 at 04:35 PM

[Gothampc]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 4:35pm

"because he never reads the same line the same way twice."

Which is interesting. He didn't want to be filmed in "The Dead" because he felt that he couldn't commit a definitive performance to film.

[TomMonster]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 4:43pm

Thanks, Margo for filling in the blanks!

I had not heard that, Gotham about The Dead video. But, boy, does it make sense! He is really one of the nicest guys and very committed to his work. Even on set, he knew what would work or not and always made it interesting, but always was aware that a movie performance is made in the editing room and not on set. On stage, I imagine, he would be less willing to commit his performance (EDIT: to film) as it usually is in flux for the moment. (and believe it or not, other performers with him love the challenge he presents--or so I've seen--but they could be lying )

Updated On: 7/13/06 at 04:43 PM

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 4:50pm

Meryl has/is very vocal about what is working and not working for her during the creative process. She has tons of insecurities and neurosis as all genius actors do. She is not nasty, but she is "difficult" to work with from what I've heard. She may be able to "make it work with anyone" but I promise you she doesn't THINK she can "make it work with anyone."

[rflpfl2]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 5:03pm

Meryl is not the reason for Walken leaving. Perhaps that's part of it- but she is not the be all and end all of what goes on on that stage.

Christopher Walken was added to the cast very late- in fact rehearsals began without the role even cast- and from what I've heard- he took forever to confirm whether or not he would do the show. I don't know if this was a bad sign from the beginning of things to come.

Either way- Kevin Kline will be great in this.

[TomMonster]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 5:11pm

Thanks Michael, I agree with you.

But, she's not truly "difficult". She usually makes it clear what she wants/needs or what will work and as you and I both know that that can be perceived as "difficult". But, as I stated before, "after they've been cast", (post creative process--she usually does the creative stuff early and throws it out for performance so she can just be--or so I've been told) she usually can deal. (whether or not she thinks she can--love neurosis! It's what makes her great!)

And like you said, she is NEVER nasty about it. A true professional. Wants the best for everything.

It would be interesting to know what happened with this production, but she's known Christopher for many years and I imagine (IMO) that it was either a scheduling or personal conflict with him that changed the cast.

I can't wait to hear the truth, because we can only wonder what it is...

Unless someone is on this board who's working on the production! Pipe up now, please! I'm dying here...

Updated On: 7/13/06 at 05:11 PM

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 5:14pm

A friend involved with the show just told me the scheduling conflict is more or less true. No real drama about the departure.

[TomMonster]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 5:17pm

Thanks Michael. I hope that's true. Feels right. 'specially since Kevin is stepping in. They are all old friends...

[Mamie]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 5:19pm

I just love Kevin Kline - but I have to admit that I was disappointed to hear this news. I was really looking forward to seeing Christopher Walken in this show. He practically has a patent on that 'quirkiness' and I'm really sorry to be missing him.

[lvpblues]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 6:43pm

Just to interject, Streep and Walken also memorably worked together in "The Deer Hunter" all those years back...

I'm kinda disappointed that Walken won't do it as I'm rabidly curious for the opportunity to see him perform live, but Kline is an outstanding choice for replacement.

~Kev

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 7/13/06 at 8:15pm

I love absolutely definitive statements followed immediately by a contradictory one:

"Meryl is not the reason for Walken leaving. Perhaps that's part of it ... "