Fierstein Accepts Offer For Tevye - Begins Performances in January- Page 2

[broadway86]

Posted: 11/10/04 at 3:02pm

Harvey was a good Edna, but this is a joke. Emotionally and vocally, he's not right for the role. At all. At least, I don't think he is.

[SamIAm]

Posted: 11/10/04 at 3:08pm

I doubt Fierstein will be playing this for laughs. He is fully capable of doing this role as an actor...but NOT as a singer. How on earth do they think he's going to sing this music and make it something an audience will listen to for 2 hrs?

[robbiej]

Posted: 11/10/04 at 3:14pm

By sheer force of will.

My senior year of college, Harvey came and performed his one-person show (I think it was called THIS ISN'T GOING TO BE PRETTY). He sang quite a bit in it. Now...he's no Domingo...but something about him and his absolute commitment and sheer force of personality not only made it palatable, but it was thrilling and emotionally fulfilling.

I'm very excited to see him in this!

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/10/04 at 3:20pm

I have the CD for THIS IS NOT GOING TO BE PRETTY. Very funny.

I personally can't wait to see his Tevye -- he's a great actor and comedian and will bring some of the laughs back to the show that Molina lost, but also be dramatically credible and poignant in the serious scenes. I had no interest in seeing this revival with Molina, but I'll definitely go to see Harvey do it.

Updated On: 11/10/04 at 03:20 PM

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 11/10/04 at 3:30pm

I am happy for him. Although the role does require great singing ability, he is a truly dedicated performer (missing only 1/2 of a performance as Edna, not sure if he had a vacation) and he enjoys what he is doing.

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 11/10/04 at 3:43pm

If you do remember everyone hated Molina for his singing but loved his acting, same with Mostel. Tevye is not a singing role with a little acting, it is an acting role with a little singing.

[SamIAm]

Posted: 11/10/04 at 3:43pm

I too love Harvey but this role is SO wrong for him. Makes me think of the Henry Goodman debacle over at the St James...very talented actor but SO wrong for that role.

I, for one, do not think I could go sit through 2 hrs of Harvey's voice singing that beautiful score.

[LittleFish8386]

Posted: 11/10/04 at 3:44pm

Oh god help us all.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 11/10/04 at 3:45pm

Great singing ability? Last I checked, Molina is no singer and can do little better than carry a tune (he'd never sung before doing this role, did he?). Same is true of several Tevyes during the original run during the '60s and 70s -- several were primarily actors, who also sang a little bit. Fierstein will be fine.

[Chrysanthemum62001]

Posted: 11/10/04 at 3:45pm

I just don't understand this.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 11/10/04 at 3:49pm

I think so.

[robbiej]

Posted: 11/10/04 at 3:56pm

I feel so sorry for people who are held prisoner by their notions of gender roles that they just can't see how this is a thrilling bit of casting.

Could it go wrong? Sure...anything could go wrong.

And it also kills me how everyone thinks this role needs great singing ability. Like it's Rigoletto.

[MasterLcZ]

Posted: 11/10/04 at 3:58pm

Oh, he'll act it just fine.

But his croaking of the score will be unendurable.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/10/04 at 4:05pm

All of you people who are convinced that singing is so important obviously did not see Tyne Daly's tour-de-force, critically and publically-lauded, Tony-winning Rose. Her singing voice was flat, dimensionless, and unpleasant. Acting is more important - it just is. A good actor can put over a song even if their voice isn't great.

I'm with Margo - I wasn't interested in this production before, but I am now!

Updated On: 11/10/04 at 04:05 PM

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 11/10/04 at 4:12pm

I'm buying tickets, and I said I never wanted to see Fidler on the Roof again.
To all those who say he can't do it - he hasn't even started rehearsal, give him a break. The man is a star and has the kind of personality that commands attention when he is on stage. I think it will be a performance not to be missed.

[midtowngym]

Posted: 11/10/04 at 4:13pm

The birds won't miss it either. They'll be nesting under the ceiling, summoned by that croaking voice of his!

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 11/10/04 at 4:16pm

Well, if you say so, but are you sure he's even capable of carrying a tune? "But his croaking of the score will be unendurable..."

[Amneris]

Posted: 11/10/04 at 4:29pm

now all those producers need to do is get Mario Cantone for Golde... THEN YA HAVE A SHOW!!! I'm grateful the show isn't closing but, I'm not sure which cast to see now.. Molina or Harvey..

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 11/10/04 at 4:29pm

"but are you sure he's even capable of carrying a tune"

He sang every single note in Hairspray (just in his own unique way)

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 11/10/04 at 4:34pm

This is so depressing. How can anyone take Broadway seriously anymore? I can't believe this is my chosen profession.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/10/04 at 4:38pm

Then find another profession, Baritone. If you can't see that Harvey has great potential as Tevye, perhaps you should rethink things for yourself.

[midtowngym]

Posted: 11/10/04 at 4:51pm

My day isn't complete unless Rath is giving a come-uppance to someone on BWW!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 11/10/04 at 4:54pm

[M J R]

Posted: 11/10/04 at 5:26pm

"This is so depressing. How can anyone take Broadway seriously anymore? I can't believe this is my chosen profession."

I can't believe it's your profession either, if you're so close-minded to judge someone without giving them a chance in the role. I think he'll be fantastic for this production.

Updated On: 11/10/04 at 05:26 PM

[SamIAm]

Posted: 11/10/04 at 5:54pm

MJR: Having an opinion about whether someone fits a role is not a symptom of what Broadway has come to or even how the profession has changed...this has gone on for eons. And it is exactly what producers think about when they try to figure out if this person will sell tickets or if people will not even bother to go to the box office.

In Fierstein's case, I think many people are judging the outcome based on his long and rich career AND on what they know of the show as a revival (neither are unknowns). I have the greatest respect for Harvey but he can't sing this score. Sorry. It has nothing to do with being judgemental...just realistic.

To use another example, you can't tell me you didn't raise an eyebrow when they announced Dreyfuss was doing Max B in London? And look how well THAT little casting decision turned out. There are just some things that scream 'STOP NOW'