Daniel Davis fired from La Cage — Page 6

I'm curious - does anyone think that if La Cage had been selling out this would have happened? It seems to me that the producers are using Mr. Davis's attitude as an excuse to get a "name" into the show. It's too bad that they had to choose the one actor who was good in his part. I was less than impressed with Mr. Beach and Mr. Creel (though to be fair - Gavin has a terribly written part).

Also was what Mr. Davis did any different than other divas? I've heard horror stories about Patti Lupone, Topol, Betty Buckley, Nicol Williamson among others. Will bad behavior no longer be tolerated or is it only the case when you need a boost in the box office?

Updated On: 3/31/05 at 08:30 AM

I agree that if the show were doing better at the box office, we wouldn't bee seeing Goulet. And maybe if the Albin role were easier to cast with a celebrity, Beach would have been the one they dumped.

I also agree with the person who said Davis must have really pissed off one of the producers. The Post article Monday quoted only anonymous sources but at least one seemed to know that Davis' contract would be paid out. Seems like a producer would be the one to have that information. So I think the article was a backhanded way to get back at Davis without having to go on the record and say anything "official."

tpdc, sorry, but your quote below is simply not correct.

"According to Hal Prince, Mostel was never approached about renewing his FIDDLER contract"

What is the source from which you reaped this piece of information? I have never, ever heard anything like that before, from either those who knew and worked with Zero Mostel or those of us who know and have worked and/or indeed do work with Hal Prince.
Mr. Prince is very much alive and active and accessible. According to the assistant that Mr. Prince has now had for 38 years, the above quote attributed to him is "utterly preposterous."
A producer would want to remove a star from a show who is bringing every performance to over one hundred percent capacity because the producer fears keeping the star who is keeping the show at over one hundred percent capacity, will turn the show into a "star vehicle?" The thought itself is clearly ludicrous.

In fact, Mr. Prince was the "lead negotiator" in trying to get Mr. Mostel to renew his contract, yet again. Alas, they were unable to find a way to work around Mostel's looming lucrative film salaries. But they did come to a gentleman's agreement about Mr. Mostel starring in future stage productions of FIDDLER. In the mid 1970s when Mostel did his legendary revival tour of FIDDLER and its return to Broadway at the Wintergarden Theater, Zero Mostel was then paid an extraordinary $50,000 weekly salary! This was amazing for that time (it would be quite amazing now too) and was "all over the news."

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Demitri2, thank you for your very sweet and kind words. They truly mean a great deal to me. I am so very delighted that you are "here." :)

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