For Patti LuPone and "Hello, Dolly!" fans only! — Page 3

Patti would make a great Vera...but I don't know if she'd be willing (or able) to take back seat to someone else.

I'm not sure I think she wants to play Vera, but I do think she'd be willing to take a back seat to someone else. I think Patti still thinks of herself as the girl from Juilliard and the Acting Company who did repertory, with an ensemble of actors. plus, she's done smaller roles before (Fantine, Yvonne in Ravinia's Sunday..., the Scenery Chewing Old Lady in Candide)

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I have to agree with husk. She took Fantine because it was a London credit in a brand new musical. If she wanted ensemble work, I'm sure she could have grabbed Joanne in the recent production of Company.

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Mitzi Gaynor would be frightening as Dolly.

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Patti LuPone obviously will get a well deserved rest before her series of concerts with Mandy Patinkin and her other shows. Who knows how long it will be before she goes back onstage on Broadway? Maybe...... with "Call Me Madam"? from RC in austin, texas

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Since she was brought up, can we throw Bette Midler into the mix of Dolly ideas? You know she'd at least be exciting.

Also, Victoria Clark did a production of it here in Pittsburgh. I didn't see it, but I know some loved it and some thought she was too cold.

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I listened to an audio from the Ravinia production of Night Music that Patti did and while I really liked her Desiree, I can imagine a lot of people...wouldn't. I'd love to actually see her as Desiree, but I've a feeling she's getting too old now.

I still vote for an original role. and what did happen to A Waitress in Yellowstone? perhaps this is the role Mamet was talking about?

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I'm having trouble putting my finger on why Ms. LuPone would not make an ideal Dolly. LuPone is doing some of her best work at the moment. She's taking risks and stretching herself. But her Dolly would lack a natural warmth that I don't think LuPone possesses. I'm not saying she's an uncaring, cold performer, far from it, but I fear she's play Dolly'd mistake Dolly's assertiveness for aggressiveness. Dolly is a firm, strong woman, who knows who she is, but there is nothing pushy about her. I'm in agreement that LuPone needs to do an original play or musical as her next project.

Jenifer Lewis is playing Dolly in Seattle in March. I'm looking forward to seeing what she does with the role. We had a lackluster revival hear only a few season back with a local actress who was great (very Mary Martin in her vocals but I found the overall production lacking in style and substance (sans the Dolly, whose name I'm blanking on).

I an intrigued that Queen Latifah was sought after for the role. She's an interesting choice who would make this Dolly revival an event. Peters would be ideal as well. I've heard she's still searching for an original musical for her Broadway return. And it was a shame to hear Herman remark that he and Peters are no longer close.

She wouldn't be the name the show needs but how about Jan Maxwell?

EDIT: Actually, Maxwell would make a better Mame

Updated On: 1/16/09 at 02:37 AM

I know no one in the thread said this, but I was thinking today, about why Patti hasn't originated roles. and I wanted to say that I don't think her lack of original roles devalues her as a performer. I don't think originating tons of roles makes you an inherently better performer than someone who hasn't. I think it means that you're luckier, in some ways.

Patti has said herself that it would have been easier for her if she had been born earlier. I have a very difficult time thinking of roles written in the past few years that would have worked for her. Broadway Baby, it's not necessarily that people haven't been writing good roles, it's just that the roles haven't been a good fit. Thinking back to some of the original roles for women around her age, I think of roles like Margaret Johnson, which is a GREAT role, but terribly wrong for Patti.

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I would like to see Faith Prince revive the role!

Dollypop, did he express an opinion about LuPone in the role? He seemed to be somewhat enthusiastic in that interview a few months ago.

"Bang up" or "bag up"?

There is a rather big difference, after all.

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"Although our esteemed Pal Joey feels that Mitzi Gaynor would be "frightening" as Dolly, Jerry Herman is nothing short of euphoric about this. We had a long phone conversation this morning (it's HELLO, DOLLY's 45 anniversary, thank you very much) and he said he'd be 'thrilled' to make any adjustments needed so that Matzi would be comfortable."

I have no opinion on whether she'd be frightening, but I gotta disagree with your earlier statement that "she doesn't LOOK a day over 50." Well, maybe she doesn't to you, but she looks a good deal older than 50 to me (and I'm guessing to most people). Look at this interview from a couple of years ago:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEdkm4NOePk

You also wrote that she "has the energy of a 40 year old." I'm sure that in social situations on a daily basis, she's very energetic for a 77-year-old woman. I remain extremely doubtful that she'd have the energy for a long run of eight performances a week in this role.

Anyway, in regard to Mame: It really is integral to the show that Mame seem like a WASP. She's gotta seem upper-class. I think even Patti LuPone's biggest fans have to admit that she doesn't seem remotely like a WASP. Upper-class may be something she can pull off using her skills as an actress. After all, when she was young, she played roles like Lady Teazle. But she's really not right for Mame.

And Bette Midler (suggested by gothampc) would be a good deal less right. I mean you'd have to add a scene in which Claude Upson said to Dwight Babcock, "She seems awfully . . . non-Aryan. Are you sure she's one of us?"