Flockhart and Quinto in "Virginia Woolf"- Page 2
Flockhart and Quinto in "Virginia Woolf"
pmensky
Broadway Star Joined: 7/18/11
#25Flockhart and Quinto in
Posted: 11/2/21 at 10:32pm
The Distinctive Baritone said: "Martha is usually played by a curvy woman with a "sexy mama" kind of vibe (she refers to herself as "the earth mother" at least once in the play, and has to believably be able to seduce Nick, who can probably have any girl he wants), and when Amy Morton was announced for the Broadway revival of several years ago, I thought she would be completely miscast. However, Morton was great, and seeing her, Kathleen Turner, and Elizabeth Taylor all play the role has shown me that it doesn't really matter what Martha looks like.
Bill Irwin and Tracy Letts gave completely different interpretations of George and both won Tonys for it, so there is definitely room for invention with that role as well. Zachary Quinto will be fine I'm sure, but he is definitely too young for the part, especially opposite a Martha who is over a decade older than he is."
George is supposed to be 46. Quinto is 44. Martha is supposed to be 52. Flockhart is 57.
#26Flockhart and Quinto in
Posted: 11/2/21 at 11:38pmpmemsky - good point. But George comments on how he looks older than he is, with mostly gray hair, looking more in his fifties. And Quinto looks young for his age. I mean whatever, it’s theatre. I’m just thrilled major companies are still doing this show since it truly is one of the best American plays of the 20th century and has actually aged pretty well IMO. It’s funny and devastating and just a friggin masterpiece.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#27Flockhart and Quinto in
Posted: 11/3/21 at 8:18am
So....................their actual ages mean nothing here.
BrodyFosse123
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/27/06
#28Flockhart and Quinto in
Posted: 11/3/21 at 8:27am
George is supposed to be 46. Quinto is 44. Martha is supposed to be 52. Flockhart is 57.
Elizabeth Taylor was 33 and Richard Burton was 40 when they filmed their roles in the iconic 1966 film adaptation. What’s your point, Peggy Sue?
pmensky
Broadway Star Joined: 7/18/11
#29Flockhart and Quinto in
Posted: 11/3/21 at 9:49am
BrodyFosse123 said: "George is supposed to be 46. Quinto is 44. Martha is supposed to be 52. Flockhart is 57.
Elizabeth Taylor was 33and Richard Burton was 40 when they filmed theirroles in the iconic 1966 film adaptation. What’syour point, Peggy Sue?"
My point is that compared to other actors who have played the roles, Flockhart and Quinto are actually closer than most to the ages that the characters were written. For example:
Elizabeth Taylor was 34. Richard Burton was 41.
Amy Morton was 61. Tracy Letts was 55.
Kathleen Turner was 51. Bill Irwin was 55.
#30Flockhart and Quinto in
Posted: 11/3/21 at 9:55amSo… actors of all different ages have successfully played these roles to great acclaim. Great, now we can stop complaining about the ages of this cast.
pmensky
Broadway Star Joined: 7/18/11
#31Flockhart and Quinto in
Posted: 11/3/21 at 9:59am
Jordan Catalano said: "So… actors of all different ages have successfully played these roles to great acclaim. Great, now we can stop complaining about the ages of this cast."
That was point several posts ago. Apparently some people needed it spelled out for them.
Dollypop
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#32Flockhart and Quinto in
Posted: 11/3/21 at 10:24amCertainly off beat casting. Flockhart was absolutely luminous as Laura in THE GLASS MENAGERIE with Julie Harris, but Martha??? No.
#33Flockhart and Quinto in
Posted: 11/3/21 at 10:28am^ Tell us what exactly it was about her performance as Martha you didn’t like, Dolly. Be specific.
henrikegerman
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/29/05
#34Flockhart and Quinto in
Posted: 11/3/21 at 10:29am
I'm open to it. Love offbeat casting as the payoff can be so exciting.
Having said that and "for what it's worth," Quinto was also far from a natural fit for Harold in Boys in the Band and lo and behold he was the only thing in that otherwise first rate revival that didn't work for me.
Borstalboy
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/9/04
#35Flockhart and Quinto in
Posted: 11/3/21 at 11:04am
Where's the Jeremy Northam/Courtney Love production of my dreams?
Ah, well. Until then: GET CALISTA SOME DONUTS!!
henrikegerman
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/29/05
#36Flockhart and Quinto in
Posted: 11/3/21 at 11:28am
Borstalboy quoted: "Where's the Jeremy Northam/Courtney Love production of my dreams?"
I would so love to see that.
Stage Door Sally
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/4/09
#37Flockhart and Quinto in
Posted: 11/3/21 at 11:30am
Kip4 said: "Calista Flockart is a brilliant actress. I have no doubt she'll be amazing as Martha. If you haven't seen it, check her out in Neil LaBute's "Medea Redux" at about the 33 min mark.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmcCHEb6cc8
Based on his recent performances, I hope Quinto can find a less affected way of acting. To me, he's the odd casting choice."
Thanks for posting that link Kip. I was having trouble seeing Clarista as Martha, but I think she may have the goods. As for Zach, I think he can do it. In my mind, he is a consummate professional and I will happily watch him in anything.
So Jordan, I think I may have to join you on a trip to LA. I have some Skymiles burning a hole in my pocket and can't think of a better way to use them.
I've never been to LA. Was just on the Geffen website. Doesn't appear tickets are on sale yet, so I signed up for notifications. You don't have to be a subscriber to order tickets do you? I really want to see this! Thanks for any tips and info!
#38Flockhart and Quinto in
Posted: 11/3/21 at 11:44amI was thinking this is the perfect excuse to also go to the new Academy Awards Museum, too!
Dollypop
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#39Flockhart and Quinto in
Posted: 11/3/21 at 4:06pm
Jordan, perhaps my posting wasn't clear. I said she was "luminous" as Laura but couldn't imagine her as Martha.
Maybe I'll be proven wrong.
Owen22
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/24/11
Georgeanddot2
Broadway Star Joined: 2/20/20
#42Flockhart and Quinto in
Posted: 11/3/21 at 11:15pm
pmensky said: "Quinto and Flockhart are each only two and five years younger than their characters, so I don’t see age being an issue. Quinto has played characters similar to George, and he seems like an ideal choice. I’m concerned about Flockhart, only because I’ve never seen her play anything close to Martha. It will be exciting to see if she has a non traditional take on the role."
I’ve read this was the line of thinking when Elizabeth Taylor was cast for the movie….and we all know how that turned out….
#43Flockhart and Quinto in
Posted: 11/3/21 at 11:15pm
pmensky said: "Quinto and Flockhart are each only two and five years younger than their characters, so I don’t see age being an issue. Quinto has played characters similar to George, and he seems like an ideal choice. I’m concerned about Flockhart, only because I’ve never seen her play anything close to Martha. It will be exciting to see if she has a non traditional take on the role."
I’ve read this was the line of thinking when Elizabeth Taylor was cast for the movie….and we all know how that turned out….
goodlead
Stand-by Joined: 3/30/18
#44Flockhart and Quinto in
Posted: 11/4/21 at 1:31pm
Yes, Elizabeth Taylor won the Oscar, but she screeched her way throughout the film. If you can find the original cast recording with Uta Hagen, you can hear a much more convincing approach to the role.
KFC1991
Stand-by Joined: 7/10/18
#45Flockhart and Quinto in
Posted: 11/4/21 at 2:58pm
goodlead said: "Yes, Elizabeth Taylor won the Oscar, but she screeched her way throughout the film. If you can find the original cast recording with Uta Hagen, you can hear a much more convincing approach to the role."
Taylor was great in the film and I've never seen anyone say otherwise. Her grating voice (which she hated) was suited for nagging Martha.
Ravenclaw
Leading Actor Joined: 9/16/17
#46Flockhart and Quinto in
Posted: 11/4/21 at 3:00pm
pmensky said: "My point is that compared to other actors who have played the roles, Flockhart and Quinto are actually closer than most to the ages that the characters were written. For example:
Elizabeth Taylor was 34. Richard Burton was 41.
Amy Morton was 61. Tracy Letts was 55.
Kathleen Turner was 51.Bill Irwin was 55."
Letts was actually 47 and Morton was 53 back in 2012 when they played the roles on Broadway (the production began two years earlier in Chicago), so I don't know where you got those ages from. Nothing at all off about their ages in that production. In fact, when George described himself as a forty-something who looks fifty-something, it felt like a terribly accurate self-read. Quinto may be forty-something, but he doesn't look fifty-something. But maybe the casting will uncover new resonances in the text. Much of the power from the Steppenwolf revival came from how "against type" Lett's George seemed in that he was much more powerful than the quiet resentment we usually see in that role.
pmensky
Broadway Star Joined: 7/18/11
#47Flockhart and Quinto in
Posted: 11/4/21 at 3:21pm
Ravenclaw said: "pmensky said: "My point is that compared to other actors who have played the roles, Flockhart and Quinto are actually closer than most to the ages that the characters were written. For example:
Elizabeth Taylor was 34. Richard Burton was 41.
Amy Morton was 61. Tracy Letts was 55.
Kathleen Turner was 51.Bill Irwin was 55."
Letts was actually 47 and Morton was 53 back in 2012 when they played the roles on Broadway (the production began two years earlier in Chicago), so I don't know where you got those ages from. Nothing at all off about their ages in that production. In fact, when George described himself as a forty-something who looks fifty-something, it felt like a terribly accurate self-read. Quinto may be forty-something, but he doesn't look fifty-something. But maybe the casting will uncover new resonances in the text. Much of the power from the Steppenwolf revival came from how "against type" Lett's George seemed in that he was much more powerful than the quiet resentment we usually see in that role."
My apologies, I had placed Morton and Letts in the 2020 production which would have placed them at those ages. The actors in that production were actually Laurie Metcalf, who was 65, and Rupert Everett who was 61. There are two more actors who exhibit my point that the age of the actors hasn’t historically matched the age of the characters. Thanks!
Stage Door Sally
Broadway Legend Joined: 6/4/09
#48Flockhart and Quinto in
Posted: 11/4/21 at 8:10pm
With the film as precedent, actual age doesn't matter, as long as the actor can act the part. Makeup is a beautiful thing.
That said, I loved the Colleen Dewhurst/Ben Gazzara Broadway production, directed by Albee. They were similar in age to Morton and Letts.
Woolf is my favorite modern play, and with each production I find it fascinating to see what the actors bring to the table. Do they emphasize the love story, is there true hope at the end, do they bring the humor? Or not?
I'm very curious what Flockhart and Quinto do with these characters.
Letts is my all-time favorite George, he just wowed me with the depth he brought to the role. I was interested in what Eddie Izzard's take would be. Rupert Everett, not so much.
I'd love to see what J. Smith-Cameron could do with Martha.
robbie25
Swing Joined: 5/1/15
#49Flockhart and Quinto in
Posted: 11/4/21 at 9:49pm
goodlead said: "Yes, Elizabeth Taylor won the Oscar, but she screeched her way throughout the film. If you can find the original cast recording with Uta Hagen, you can hear a much more convincing approach to the role."
Screeched that's the 1st time hearing that one!? LoL- Flockhart's more of a Honey than a Martha - 30 years ago she would have been amazing in that role but just don't see her as Martha now!
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