Cynthia Erivo in Man Of La Mancha?

[brettcx5]

Posted: 12/28/16 at 12:48pm

 Cynthia performed "The Impossible Dream" at the Kennedy Center Honors last night. She was spectacular as usual, but it had me thinking that she would be a great female Don Quixote in a production. I don't know how that would work or if it would work. But its a good "dream" role that I would like to see her play...

[Theater_Nerd]

Posted: 12/28/16 at 1:00pm

No. The show is called MAN of la Mancha and this particular classic isn't begging for a gender-bending revisal. Some things should just be left alone.

 

Updated On: 12/28/16 at 01:00 PM

[brettcx5]

Posted: 12/28/16 at 1:02pm

double post

 

Updated On: 12/28/16 at 01:02 PM

[Kad]

Posted: 12/28/16 at 1:03pm

I don't see how a hypothetical all-female production would upend the apple cart.

Updated On: 12/28/16 at 01:03 PM

[Jallenc32]

Posted: 12/28/16 at 1:08pm

Theater_Nerd said: "No. The show is called MAN of la Mancha and this particular classic isn't begging for a gender-bending revisal. Some things should just be left alone."

But the MAN of the title is Cervantes not Quixote. So it's not a crazy idea that you could have a male Cervantes who enlists a female prisoner to play Quixote in the play within the play. Cervantes could still function as narrator and perhaps even take on the role of Aldonza.

Come to think of it, splitting Cervantes & Quixote could be a phenomenal option for Deaf West if they ever want to do Man of La Mancha

[cardamon]

Posted: 12/28/16 at 1:27pm

There was actually a workshop of an all-female production in Toronto last month, starring Louise Pitre.

http://www.playbill.com/article/all-female-la-mancha-set-in-womens-prison-gets-staged-presentation-today

[AC126748]

Posted: 12/28/16 at 1:31pm

brettcx5 said: "Theater_Nerd said: "No. The show is called MAN of la Mancha and this particular classic isn't begging for a gender-bending revisal. Some things should just be left alone.

 

 

"that is a good point...

 

 

"

No it's not.

[brettcx5]

Posted: 12/28/16 at 1:44pm

cardamon said: "There was actually a workshop of an all-female production in Toronto last month, starring Louise Pitre.

http://www.playbill.com/article/all-female-la-mancha-set-in-womens-prison-gets-staged-presentation-today

 

"Yeah, I thought I remembered hearing about an all female production. That's what sparked the idea

 

Updated On: 12/28/16 at 01:44 PM

[brettcx5]

Posted: 12/28/16 at 1:55pm

Jallenc32 said: "Theater_Nerd said: "No. The show is called MAN of la Mancha and this particular classic isn't begging for a gender-bending revisal. Some things should just be left alone."

But the MAN of the title is Cervantes not Quixote. So it's not a crazy idea that you could have a male Cervantes who enlists a female prisoner to play Quixote in the play within the play. Cervantes could still function as narrator and perhaps even take on the role of Aldonza.

Come to think of it, splitting Cervantes & Quixote could be a phenomenal option for Deaf West if they ever want to do Man of La Mancha

 

"Great idea!!

 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 12/28/16 at 4:27pm

To answer the question: no. However, does anyone if a video is out there of Erivo's performance?

[Mr. Nowack]

Posted: 12/28/16 at 6:57pm

Does she have the right vocal range for Aldonza? (sorry I'm not super familiar with her)

[RW3]

Posted: 12/29/16 at 11:18pm

Here is the full video: https://www.facebook.com/cynthiaerivo/

[adamgreer]

Posted: 12/30/16 at 1:08am

Mr. Nowack said: "Does she have the right vocal range for Aldonza? (sorry I'm not super familiar with her)

 

Erivo? Absolutely. Aldonza would be a walk in the park for her vocally.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 12/30/16 at 6:54am

RW3 said: "Here is the full video: https://www.facebook.com/cynthiaerivo/

 

"

Damn, she can sing anything. So powerful.

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

Posted: 12/30/16 at 8:51am

I chuckled a bit when I first saw this thread. I'm imagining a BWW where half the topics are "Cynthia Erivo should play [every role in the musical canon]."

All joking aside, I look forward to seeing what she'll do post-Celie.

[ukpuppetboy]

Posted: 12/30/16 at 1:15pm

Or if you want to see one of the things she did BEFORE The Color Purple then her performance in Lift is available on Digital Theatre's website:

Cynthia Erivo in Lift as the Soho Theatre

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 12/30/16 at 1:20pm

Why not have a gender-bending "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Jonathan Groff while we're at it.

[newintown]

Posted: 12/30/16 at 1:23pm

"Why not have a gender-bending "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Jonathan Groff while we're at it."

That would be Ladies Prefer Prettyboys.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 12/30/16 at 1:24pm

This is the stupidest thread here in quite a while. 

[Valentina3]

Posted: 12/30/16 at 1:25pm

Why not have a gender-bending "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Jonathan Groff while we're at it.

 

This is no joking matter. Now I really want this, with Jay Armstrong Johnson in featured role, perhaps?

[green waver]

Posted: 12/31/16 at 1:16pm

Hey Jallenc32, if you split the role into Cervantes(the writer) and Quixote(the protagonist), they could sing "You're Nothing  Without Me" from City of Angels! A perfect interpolation...

[SweetLips]

Posted: 12/31/16 at 3:50pm

Nice voice but why oh why does she have to play around so much with the melody. I suppose it is called 'interpretation' but to my ears it is just so messy---a case of where is she going with it now?

[Mike66]

Posted: 12/31/16 at 6:57pm

I loved how she performed this.

AND I love that the Kennedy Center chose to make a not-so-subtle comment on what our country is facing right around the corner.

BUT the sad look on my President's face was almost too much to bear.