How old does the Drowsy Chaperone have to be?

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How old does the Drowsy Chaperone have to be?

Posted: 1/24/07 at 12:40pm

When thinking about people who could possibly take over for Beth Leavel in THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, I couldn't get over how I would love to see a woman like Stritch sink her teeth into that role.

But, the question is, is she a bit too old? Does the chaperone have to be slightly over the hill or can she be a much older woman?

In all honesty I think it would make the romance between her and Adolpho even funnier if she were a much older woman. Sort of a widow/poolboy kind of thing, for lack of a better example.

"I love talking about nothing. It is the only thing I know anything about." - Oscar Wilde

re: How old does the Drowsy Chaperone have to be?

Posted: 1/24/07 at 12:41pm

Stritch for obvious reasons would be great.

But would she be able to handle the singing?? I'm sure keys would have to be lowered. And you know for the higher notes she will just shout them, ala her ending of "I'm Still Here."

re: How old does the Drowsy Chaperone have to be?

Posted: 1/24/07 at 12:45pm

True...but I think her acting more than makes up for it.

Just like Verdon. Not the best singer...but her performances were so great that it wasn't even noticed.

I feel with Stritch it would be the same way. I'll take an actor/singer before a singer/actor.

"I love talking about nothing. It is the only thing I know anything about." - Oscar Wilde

re: How old does the Drowsy Chaperone have to be?

Posted: 1/24/07 at 12:52pm

"Maid of honor, friend, and confidant."

I'd say Stritch is too old. I think the Chaperone needs to be a fading queen (much like Dorothy Brock in 42ND STREET) but not as old as Stritch. And I agree that as much as the audience would love any and everything she does, she would vomit that song onto the stage.

"Winning a Tony this year is like winning Best Attendance in third grade: no one will care but the winner and their mom."
-Kad

"I have also met him in person, and I find him to be quite funny actually. Arrogant and often misinformed, but still funny."
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re: How old does the Drowsy Chaperone have to be?

Posted: 1/24/07 at 12:54pm

I guess it's just me, but I would find it even funnier if this woman in her twilight years was Janet's maid of honor.

And we all know how Stritch would handle the alcohol humor.

I don't know. I think, with a little tweaking, I Stritch would absolutely dominate both song and script.

"I love talking about nothing. It is the only thing I know anything about." - Oscar Wilde

Updated On: 1/24/07 at 12:54 PM

re: How old does the Drowsy Chaperone have to be?

Posted: 1/24/07 at 12:58pm

i think someone just over the hill would be best for this role. she is supposed to be the legendary star who still has the power to demand a "rousing anthem" in every show she does. :) i think if the actress was too old it wouldn't work as well, although it would be funny.

LET OTHERS RISE TO TAKE OUR PLACE UNTIL THE EARTH IS FREE!

re: How old does the Drowsy Chaperone have to be?

Posted: 1/24/07 at 1:00pm

I would be shocked if they get a replacement anytime soon... I think Beth will stay in it for a good while... I agree, I think Stritch is too old however, I can see it being funny as well...

re: How old does the Drowsy Chaperone have to be?

Posted: 1/24/07 at 1:01pm

I think it's an awful idea. It would completely remove all the humor from Adolpho. He's actually supposed to think that Stritch is the bride?

Not in a zillion years.

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re: How old does the Drowsy Chaperone have to be?

Posted: 1/24/07 at 1:04pm

Yes. But when he walks into the bridal suite...think of how his reaction would be when he first saw her. Sort of a "This is the bride?!?!?!" double-take.

It would make putting the moves on her all the funnier.

But, again, that's just me.

"I love talking about nothing. It is the only thing I know anything about." - Oscar Wilde

#10

re: How old does the Drowsy Chaperone have to be?

Posted: 1/24/07 at 1:35pm

Megan Mullaly would be great.

"Y'all have a GRAND day now"

#11

re: How old does the Drowsy Chaperone have to be?

Posted: 1/24/07 at 2:19pm

I'd love to see Rachel York or Marin Mazzie in the role.

"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe." -John Guare, Landscape of the Body

#12

re: How old does the Drowsy Chaperone have to be?

Posted: 1/24/07 at 2:24pm

Marin would be fantastic and while Rachel has the comedic chops and vocal range, she appears much too young for the role visually. She could practically be Janet for goodness sake!

Happy...Everything! Kaye Thompson

#13

re: How old does the Drowsy Chaperone have to be?

Posted: 1/24/07 at 2:40pm

I personally think Rachel is better suited for Drowsy than Janet because I don't see her as an ingenue at all. She's more urbane and sophisticated. She can also play older.

#14

re: How old does the Drowsy Chaperone have to be?

Posted: 1/24/07 at 2:53pm

I think it is so funny that some people in another thread view Rachel as too old for Eliza Doolittle in "My Fair Lady" while others view her as too young for the title role in "The Drowsy Chaperone." I wonder if it has to do with what roles they've seen her play. IMO, she is one of those rare actresses who can handle both ends of the spectrum. In "Lucy" alone she went from 21 to 50 and was totally believable at both ages. In "Dessa Rose" she went from 20 to 84 and back again. In "Summer of '42" she played a 25-year-old Dorothy, in "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels" she was a 29-year-old Christine, in "Kiss Me, Kate" she was a 40ish diva, and now she is playing Guenevere in the "Camelot" tour and ages from early 20's to mid 30's or thereabouts.

I think she'd be a great Chaperone. I agree with AC126748. I like the idea of Marin Mazzie, too.

lc

#15

re: How old does the Drowsy Chaperone have to be?

Posted: 1/24/07 at 6:19pm

Remember Man In Chair talks about her going on and singing the anthems later in her life when they no longer roused, but stupified.

"If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn't help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus was just as selfish as we are, or we've got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don't want to do it." -Stephen Colbert

#16

re: How old does the Drowsy Chaperone have to be?

Posted: 1/24/07 at 6:37pm

Remember, Elaine Paige has just been announced as THE DROWSY CHAPERONE in the upcoming London production. She is no spring chicken - she played Norma Desmond 10 years ago, and Evita nearly 30 years ago.

Cheyenne Jackson tickled me. AFTER ordering SoMMS a drink but NOT tickling him, and hanging out with Girly in his dressing room (where he DIDN'T tickle her) but BEFORE we got married. To others. And then he tweeted Boobs. He also tweeted he's good friends with some chick on "The Voice" who just happens to be good friends with Tink's ex. And I'm still married. Oh, and this just in: "Pettiness, spite, malice ....Such ugly emotions... So sad." - After Eight, talking about MEEEEEEEE!!! I'm so honored! :-)

#17

re: How old does the Drowsy Chaperone have to be?

Posted: 1/24/07 at 9:15pm

I think Blair Ross (who took over the role of Dorothy Brock after Shirley Joins left "42nd Street") would be a great 'chaperone' successor if/when Beth leaves the show.

#18

re: How old does the Drowsy Chaperone have to be?

Posted: 1/24/07 at 11:47pm

Remember, Elaine Paige has just been announced as THE DROWSY CHAPERONE in the upcoming London production. She is no spring chicken

That just gave me a good laugh!

#19

re: How old does the Drowsy Chaperone have to be?

Posted: 1/25/07 at 1:04am

This would have been great for Liza Minnelli to do 10 years ago- minus the drugs of course.

Other than that, did you enjoy the play Mrs Lincoln?

#20

re: How old does the Drowsy Chaperone have to be?

Posted: 1/25/07 at 1:27am

Beth is perfection in the role.
I do wonder how Jackie Hoffman would be in that role. God, it would be funny!
I think the DC could be any age. Jackie Hoffman makes a lot of sense. 31-55 FOR THE DC.
What a juicy role. What about HARVEY FIERSTEIN or Charles Busch in drag. God, that would be great. Brian Charles ROONEY. OMG!

Updated On: 1/25/07 at 01:27 AM

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