David Alan Grier as Pseudolus in Forum? — Page 2

Actually, making judgements based on faulty or sketchy logic and information is extremely common on this board. People are always listening to the cast recording, watching an old kinescope on YouTube, or just stating opinions that flaked off the top of their heads and acting as though this somehow gives their conclusions validity. That's one of the great things about the internet. You can make judgements based on complete ignorance but still get them out into the public.

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NathanLaneStalker asked how he was in the role. He said he had concern because Greer didn't jive with his personal vison of Pseudolus. Thats how I interpreted what he wrote in the initial post. A perfectly valid question.

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Yes seanmartin, you make barely informed conclusions about a legendary Broadway performer based on old kinescopes and expect to be taken seriously. You are exactly who I am referring to.

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A little off topic maybe.....but did anyone see Grier in the LA mounting of the Wiz??????????

>> Yes seanmartin, you make barely informed conclusions about a legendary Broadway performer based on old kinescopes and expect to be taken seriously. You are exactly who I am referring to

Oooo, quel surprise, as the Montrealers would say. Youre easily dismissed, so run along while the adults talk, okay? There's probably an episode of Barney in the VCR, but ask your mommy to turn it on for you.

Now...

My question about Whoopi and Gymnasia comes from the lines in the dialogue about Pseudolus wanting specifically to buy Gymnasia and then getting her at the end of the play. Remember, the whole point of the House of Marcus Lycus number is ML "advertising" his wares because Pseudolus wants to purchase an "extravagance" for himself. How did they handle this with Whoopi? Or did they drop the Pseudolus/Gymnasia bits altogether?

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I saw the production late in previews and then again early in Grier's run. It was mostly an uninspired production both times, but it was better the second time.

I think I slightly preferred Grier to Lane, though neither was a great Pseudolus. Grier did have the advantage of getting to work off of the replacements in the cast, who were better than the originals had been when I saw them late in previews.

In particular, Ross Lehmann was a vastly better Hysterium than Mark Linn-Baker had been and Gina Ferrall was a distinctly better Domina than Mary Testa had been. They were both wonderful, inspired even, and they deserved to be in a better production of the show.

Btw, as MargoChanning said, the role wasn't conceived for a stocky actor, but for Phil Silvers. In addition, even after Mostel, the creators did not seem to think that a stocky actor was necessary. London's first Pseudolus was Frankie Howerd, who was not stocky, and the final Broadway Pseudolus in the original production was Dick Shawn.

Updated On: 1/11/07 at 08:02 PM

When Whoopi did it, the "House of Marcus Lycus" was re-written so that Pseudolus had just bought her freedom with enough left over for a "lovely parting gift" for Hero, so all the courtesans' dances were directed at Hero rather than Pseudolus. The business with Gymnasia was more along the lines of: "What's wrong with you, boy? This girl's not good enough for you?"

If I remember right, with the "morals tomorrow" part at the end, she jumped into Miles' arms rather than Gymnasia's.

One of the funniest ad-libs was the bit during "Comedy Tonight" with the magic box at Lycus' house. When Erroneus popped out, she said "What do I want with some old white man? I have one of those at home." (she was with Frank Langella at the time)

Ah, Pseudolus. One of my dream roles.

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I had much more fun as Hysterium. A big plus: I didn't have to sing "Pretty Little Picture."

I got to see Nathan and Whoopi but missed David.... I think he would have been good. I really enjoyed Whoopi! I mean don't get me wrong Nathan was hysterical but when Whoopi did it-- it had this whole other thing going on. And I love her to begin with so it was very easy for me to laugh along with her sideway glances and her wisecracks.

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WOW! haha. I've been without the internet since my last post.

And singtopher pretty much said what I was thinking.

Another one of Whoopi's ad libs that was hilarious: during Comedy Tonight when Pseudolus throws the baby off stage she said "I don't want no white baby!". haha.

And when Hero says no to Gymnasia she said "Boy are you crazy!? That's my cousin!".

I didn't know Rip Taylor did the tour. How was he?

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"Pretty Little Picture" was cut from the Nathan Lane revival (even though it's on the cast album) and the Phil Silvers revival.

In Lan'e case, it was cut for time reasons. In Silvers' case, it was cut because Silvers couldn't learn the song correctly.