DROWSY CHAPERONE film: Geoffrey Rush to star with Schepisi directing

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Geoffrey-Rush-to-Star-in-Film-Version-of-THE-DROWSY-CHAPERONE-20110914

I don't see this ever really happening...

Updated On: 9/16/11 at 05:33 PM

I'd like to see Cher as the Chaperone.

Well I guess they would argue that the reason is Geoffrey Rush...(and whatever other stars they manage to pull)

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Updated On: 9/14/11 at 06:01 PM

Only if their schedules conflict. Les Miz is on a fast track now and Chaperone has a star, a director, and is looking for funding. It may take a while to get that one going.

I would love to see how it works on film. It would depend on the screenplay, but you could go much further than just having him interact with the actors on a proscenium stage. He could flash back with them when he's describing their pasts, he could interact with them backstage, and special effects and editing could really make it interesting.

My choice for the Chaperone: Catherine Zeta-Jones


EDIT: The biggest creative hurdle for a screenplay is "who is he talking to?" There needs to be a device. He can't just speak directly into the camera and talk to "us" in the movie audience. That will kill it faster than anything.

Is he talking to himself? (Kinda nutty, but people do it.) Or could he tell it to someone physically on the screen with him. An outsider.

(I'm reminded of all the monologues in Amadeus that were turned into a "confession" in the movie in front of a priest. There needs to be an on-screen device like that to make it work cinematically.)

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Updated On: 9/14/11 at 06:11 PM

I'm not even concerned about the approach to the narrative. Who knows, maybe the whole thing will be a dream sequence ala Chicago. But who outside the immediate theatre community would go see this? Rush isn't a HUGE star draw, and the jokes in this show- at least a third cater directly to repeat theatre goers, not even the theatre goers who love N2N and BoM and RENT, but the Old Guard theatregoers who can quote High Button Shoes. There aren't many out there to make a strong opening weekend.

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"But who outside the immediate theatre community would go see this?"

People who like movies. People who like whoever will be playing Janet or the Chaperone, or Adolpho or Robert, etc. Or people who like fun movies or musicals. Nobody's saying this has to be as big as STAR WARS or make as much money as TITANIC. Some great movies don't break box office records but are still damn good.

There are some great opportunities in this for some names to do the smaller roles, just to have fun.
Besty you are right about the 4th wall bit- who is he speaking to? Could a letter being read work? Perhaps a diary entry? It worked for Bridget! ( if they want a "modern" take, how about a blog?)

My nominations:

Mrs. Tottendale - Georgia Engel
Janet Van de Graff - Amy Adams
Drowsy Chaperone - Bette Midler
Aldolpho - Kevin Kline
Gangsters - Mark and Donny Wahlberg
Robert Martin - Robert Downey, Jr.
Trix - Queen Latifah

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I don't see this ever happening. Like the Carey/Gylenhaal Damn Yankees! film.

LIZA!

I think the old movie musical DVD is the only way this could work. It actually make more sense than the stage show, as he's only listening to a cast album, there shouldn't be any dialogue or plot.

Besty, I can totally picture Amy Adams completely blowing the audience's mind during "Show Off" and having a ball with it! What a fantastic idea. I'm a fan of Hathaway but even I'm getting tired of her being touted for every single movie musical out there (though I know people do the same with Adams, but here I think it'd work wonders).
Love the idea of Zeta-Jones as the Chaperone as well.

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Gwyneth Paltrow as Janet

You could cast it with all Academy Award Winners.

Rush, Liza, etc.