Cromer to Direct Kidman in Sweet Bird of Youth Revival

[A NIce Macaroon]

Posted: 9/17/10 at 2:16am

Next season in the Fall. Sounds promising.

http://www.nypost.com/p/entertainment/theater/bird_in_the_hand_WW5FC2Doqwcwc7WGw22OxL

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/17/10 at 9:11am

Omigod this made my day!!!!!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 9/17/10 at 9:26am

Kidman was wonderful in THE BLUE ROOM. She has real stage chops - this is a great role for her; thrilled she is committed to coming back to Broadway

[TulitaPepsi]

Posted: 9/17/10 at 9:33am

Wonderful news. Could Cromer get any hotter?

[Brick]

Posted: 9/17/10 at 9:41am

Yes, please!

[zepka102]

Posted: 9/17/10 at 11:01am

I think I wet myself.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 9/17/10 at 11:08am

I think Nicole Kidman looks too good to play the Princess. I always think of Alexandra as just a bit over the hill.

Who would they get to play Chance so as to point up the age difference? Justin Bieber?

Chance needs real star power to make the play work. Chance has to balance ther weight of the Princess.

Just as "Cat" is a play about Brick and not Maggie, "Sweet Bird" is about Chance and not Alexandra del Lago. Granted the women have the showier roles, but both plays are about the men.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 9/17/10 at 11:10am

I really hope this happens. I wasn't sure if she wasn't interested on returning to the stage after she declined to do NIGHT MUSIC but that might have been for different reasons. She is supposed to be really good in RABBIT HOLE (which was picked up by Lionsgate for release this year! ) so it makes perfect sense that she comes back to the stage. I used to be one of her biggest fans circa 2001/2002...then she screwed up her face and gems like THE INVASION, FUR and BEWITCHED came out, but I'm really excited to see her trying to get back in the groove, she truly is insanely talented (which is why I'm so upset she felt the need to mess with her face) and one of the few Hollywood stars who actually takes acting as a craft very seriously. I can't wait to see this, wonder who is on the short list of potential co-stars.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 9/17/10 at 11:27am

Well Geraldine Page was only 35 when she created the role of Alexandra in the original production. There has been a growing tendency in recent revivals to cast Williams' women older than they really should be. Kidman, age wise, is ideal, and I don't think will have a problem de-glaming for the part.

The interesting thing will be to see what version of the script they use -

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 9/17/10 at 12:44pm

The script in all its incarnations is wildly lopsided, but I'm convinced Cromer can do just about anything at this point.


Jeremy Renner as Chance, please?

[elphabelle07]

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

I'm actually kinda excited about this...

[WOSQ]

Posted: 9/17/10 at 3:03pm

With all due respect to Nicole Kidman, Gerry Page and everyone who has posted, put a picture of Gerry Page at 35 next to a current shot of Nicole Kidman. Gerry was never a traditional beauty. She was testament to the saying that talent is beauty. Nicole, even when she plays down her looks, still looks like a million bucks. Part of that is that we look better than the previous generation did at the same age.

To be fair, Irene Worth was 60-62 when she played the Princess and got away with it on sheer willpower. I know. I worked there. I was backstage every night.

Bacall was in her 50s and that production was going to come into NY and didn't for several reasons, some artistic and some were the result of Bacall's behavior backstage especially towards producers and local presenters. This was when her agent fired her. Yes, fired her.

Joanne Woodward did a production in Toronto 20 years or so back that apparently was well-received. Hers' was a gentler Princess; less of a Gorgon.

But in Act Three the Princess reveals that she is no pushover and that she became and then stayed a star for years because she is as ruthless as Boss Finley.

Take a look at Sandra Bullock in that 'other Capote movie' -- I can't remember the title. She is without make-up and not in flattering light. To me that is the Princess in Act One. In her brief appearance in Act two she is loaded, half-dressed and her make-up is askew. Only in Act Three is she sober, dressed and made up, thinking clearly and the true "star" that Alexandra del Lago is.

For Chance, think Tom Cruise 20-25 years ago and six inches taller. Chance needs that kind of wattage of sex and star power that Cruise had for about 5 years after Top Gun.

I just raised another point; Nicole Kidman is nearly six feet tall. This is going to be tough.

Picky though I may be, I think New York is long overdue a production of Sweet Bird.

Updated On: 9/17/10 at 03:03 PM

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 9/17/10 at 3:15pm

I don't necessarily think they absolutely have to cast an actor taller than Kidman as Chance. They aren't a romantic couple, and if anything are ultimately sort of a reverse Blanche and Stanley when it comes to power.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 9/17/10 at 4:29pm

I hope Mr. Cromer has better luck with SWEET BIRD than he did with his unfortunate BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 9/17/10 at 9:01pm

Cromer can do no wrong at this point? He's only had two productions in NYC, ha.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 9/17/10 at 9:06pm

I hope Nicole's face can move by the time she hits Broadway. Last time she was onstage she still had her old, working face. She's never been onstage as the Stepford creation she is now.

I think she's a great actress, but she really needs to stops playing with her face.

[TalkinLoud]

Posted: 9/18/10 at 7:43am

Nicole no longer look like a million bucks, not even close. She is definitely looking a wee bit worse for the wear.

[Kad]

Posted: 9/18/10 at 1:03pm

"Cromer can do no wrong at this point? He's only had two productions in NYC, ha."

He's had four: Orson's Shadow, The Adding Machine, Our Town, and Brighton Beach Memoirs. Not to mention his productions at Steppenwolf. He has built a wonderful reputation for himself.

And based on just The Adding Machine and Our Town alone, I'd let him direct anything.

[OtherDaryl]

Posted: 9/18/10 at 7:06pm

Gosh darn it - I looked at the calendar - it's NOT April 1.

Which came first, do you suppose . . . the chicken or the egg?

My first thought when reading the headline was, "Isn't she a bit old for Heavenly?" Then I read the article. Not my first choice, but it could be a career-changing move if it works.

Updated On: 9/19/10 at 07:06 PM

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/18/10 at 7:53pm

The Princess isn't Norma Desmond. She's a "beat up" actress who could conceivably return to Hollywood to regain her top spot in the movies, if she'd only get her act together. I think Kidman is a great choice and up for the challenge.

As for Chance, I think it would be great if he were shorter than her, and not up to her level, physically or otherwise.

I'd be curious as to who will play Heavenly and her father, too. Great roles.

Updated On: 9/19/10 at 07:53 PM

[Q]

Posted: 9/18/10 at 8:12pm

"For Chance, think Tom Cruise 20-25 years ago'

No, thanks - I'll stick with thinking of Paul Newman.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 9/19/10 at 8:16am

I am a big fan of Cromer, but Kidman is the last person I would want to see in this part or this play. She lacks any of the qualities of this character.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 9/19/10 at 11:15am

...which is why it's called acting.