How to play Daddy Warbucks?

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How to play Daddy Warbucks?

Posted: 12/20/04 at 12:53am

I just got cast in the role of Daddy Warbucks from the musical Annie and I've been wondering how I should play him. I know that out of most of the charaters in Annie, he probably has the most development , but I'm not just sure how to make that transition from hardened business man to fatherly firgure. For example I don't want to be too booming and angry in the first scene I'm in, but I also don't want to come off as too soft. I'm also not sure on how to handle the relationship with Grace, even though its only hinted at. Any advice would be very helpful. Thanks in advance!

Updated On: 12/20/04 at 12:53 AM

re: How to play Daddy Warbucks?

Posted: 12/20/04 at 1:06am

Rather than booming and angry, think of him as too busy, harried, overworked, driven to succeed. He is used to bossing people around and doesn't realize his effect on other people. I don't think he's angry, he's more focused on his business than anything else. Perhaps he's a bit gruff, but it's from him having a one track business mind.

If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.

re: How to play Daddy Warbucks?

Posted: 12/20/04 at 1:18am

gothampc is right, but i think it also depends on your age- especially if you're playing up in years

re: How to play Daddy Warbucks?

Posted: 12/20/04 at 1:30am

vitor garber. rent it. study it. interpret. succeed.

re: How to play Daddy Warbucks?

Posted: 12/20/04 at 1:35am

I'm only 16, so that's where a lot of my confusion is stemming from. I don't want to overdue the gruffness, but at the same time I want to avoid seeming too "nice", at the very least create an some kind of illision of age.

Our Annie is short enough and is able to act young enough to seem approriate, but songs like Something is Missing are still difficult to pull ofe becuase of my own age.

re: How to play Daddy Warbucks?

Posted: 12/20/04 at 5:18am

Daddy Warbucks is a "larger than life" character. Although fictional, think of him as the Donald Trump of his day. He can be "booming" at times (not all the time) but doesn't need to be angry. He is a no-nonsense kind of guy. Take your cue from the way the President of the United States treats him. They are "power" equals... FDR in the political world... Warbucks in the business world. Annie is the one person who treats Warbucks as an "equal" human being. It unnerves him, and he is not always sure how to respond to her. As to the relationship with Grace, Warbucks barely seems to notice her (in "relationship" terms) until Annie has captured his heart. Hope this helps.

Ray is the author of the Brad Frame mystery series, and two suspense novels. He is also the author of a one man play based on Ben Franklin. http://www.rayflynt.com

re: How to play Daddy Warbucks?

Posted: 12/20/04 at 5:29am

don't watch Garber - Disney turned he and Bates into WEAK characters. Watch Albert Finney if you wanna see a true performance. He remains the focused, hard-nosed, business man but finds his true soft spot with Annie in his life. Finney's performance is wonderful. (IMHO) Garber's Warbucks wasn't detached enough in the beginning to grow enough with the role and become touched by Annie's charm and idealism - Finney was, and it shows.

But I won't live alone in a house of regret.

re: How to play Daddy Warbucks?

Posted: 12/20/04 at 7:50am

The Donald Trump comparison is a pretty good one

re: How to play Daddy Warbucks?

Posted: 12/20/04 at 8:19am

I agree that Albert Finney would be a better role model to study for Warbucks than Victor Garber. Though I could never figure out why they decided to end that movie at the Fourth of July rather than Christmas?!?!? NOTE: I read once that in creating Warbucks, Finney who is British, emulated the voice of John Huston (who directed the 1982 movie).

Ray is the author of the Brad Frame mystery series, and two suspense novels. He is also the author of a one man play based on Ben Franklin. http://www.rayflynt.com

#10

re: How to play Daddy Warbucks?

Posted: 12/20/04 at 8:23am

The movie ended with July 4th because they knew it would be released in the summer, and they didn't want it to be thought of as a "Christmas movie".

That's just one of many stupid decisions involving that film, the first being the hiring of John Houston to direct it.

#11

re: How to play Daddy Warbucks?

Posted: 12/20/04 at 9:49am

I played Daddy Warbucks about 15 years ago and hated it. Yeah, it was a plum role, but I was surrounded by little girls (and their mothers) and a dog that liked to pee all over the place. Besides, my one solo number wasn't a very good one. It wasn't a happy experience.

BTW: If you're planning to shave your head for the role, it takes a full 6 months before it grows back completely.

"Long live God!" (GODSPELL)

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