DROWSY CHAPERONE film: Geoffrey Rush to star with Schepisi directing

[Johnnycantdecide]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 5:33pm

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

[binau]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 5:35pm

I'm surprised the article doesn't mention that he has already played the role on stage in Melbourne.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 5:47pm

I'd like to see Cher as the Chaperone.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 5:59pm

Who would ever put money behind this? I love Rush and all, but this is SUCH a niche audience to cater to. If the show couldn't reach them all on Broadway, there's no reason that the movie would be able to reach enough of them either.

[binau]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 6:01pm

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

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

[showchoirguy]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 6:03pm

Strike that off your lists of Thenardier's....

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 6:11pm

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.)

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

[Shawk]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 6:33pm

I saw the final performance of Drowsy Chaperone with Rush in Australia-- he was quite delightful in the role, so it will be nice to see his performance again (he dances like a drunken spider, though).

I'm not entirely sure how this will translate to a movie, though. Having an outsider on screen seems like it might be really odd with the story, but then, a crazy guy talking to himself might also not work so well. It will be interesting to see what approach they take.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 6:37pm

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.

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 6:44pm

Oh, I've no question it would be an art film. If they could do it on a "Woody Allen" budget, it might make a little money, too.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 6:48pm

"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.

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 7:09pm

Thank God not everything is Transformers 6.

[sabrelady]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 7:10pm

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?)

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 7:14pm

I just hope it's half as good as THE GARBAGE PAIL KIDS MOVIE.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 7:29pm

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

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 7:30pm

That's pretty damn good cast.

[JP2]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 7:44pm

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

[RevolutionaryCostume]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 8:13pm

Maybe they could pull this off like the original vision for the A Chorus Line movie. Instead of the Man listening to a cast album, he could be watching an old movie musical and interacting with the characters on screen.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 8:59pm

LIZA!

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 10:48pm

Man In Chair - Geoffrey Rush
Mrs. Tottendale - Diane Wiest
Janet Van de Graff - Amy Adams
Drowsy Chaperone - Beth Leavel (I changed my mind)
Aldolpho - Danny Burstein (Let two of the OBC reprise their roles!)
Gangsters - Mark and Donny Wahlberg (love that idea)
Robert Martin - James Marsden
Trix - Queen Latifah


EDIT: Although, Robert Downey Jr. would make a hilarious Aldolpho.

Updated On: 9/14/11 at 10:48 PM

[Owen22]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 10:55pm

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.

[SondheimFan5]

Posted: 9/14/11 at 11:39pm

I'm sorry but this show is SO theatrical I really cannot see it working...I've been wrong before...

But just to jump on the bandwagen...

Janet Van de Graff - Anne Hathaway
Drowsy Chaperone - Liza, Bette Middler
Aldolpho - John C. Reilly or Will Ferrell
Mrs. Tottendale - Carol Channing
Underling - Stewie Griffin
Robert Martin - James Marsden
George - Steve Carrell
Feldzeig - Nathan Lane
Kitty - Jane Krakowski
Gangsters - Alec and Stephen Baldwin, OR David & Patrick Cassidy, OR John C. Reilly & Will Ferrell
Trix - Queen Latifah

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 9/15/11 at 12:12am

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.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 9/15/11 at 12:40am

...Why...

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 9/15/11 at 1:12am

Gwyneth Paltrow as Janet

You could cast it with all Academy Award Winners.

Rush, Liza, etc.