I want an August Osage County revival.

[jvoom]

Posted: 12/16/19 at 5:23pm

I just finished reading August Osage County for perhaps the tenth time and I really do believe it to be a modern masterpiece. Is a revival due? Maybe give Laurie Metcalf a few years and she can play Violet?

[Alex Kulak2]

Posted: 12/16/19 at 5:44pm

Laurie is currently only one year younger (64) than Violet is written in the script.

August: Osage County is also one of my favorite plays, and I'd love to see it on stage at some point, but the original production closed on Broadway only 10 years ago. I don't know if a Broadway production of it would be justified just yet, but if a director had a great concept for it, then maybe.

As much as I love it, the script also has a problem I see with a lot of newer plays I read: it's too complete. The characters are so fleshed out and the setting is so defined to give the piece any malleability in terms of productions. Again, this is still a relatively new play, and I could be proven wrong, but I don't know what a director could do with it that wasn't done in the original production. Is this a show that could have a complete reinterpretation of the material, a la Oklahoma or A View From the Bridge, or is it going to be like Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, where every once in a while we just get some great actors together and just let it run?

[UncleCharlie]

Posted: 12/16/19 at 5:57pm

Alex Kulak2 said: "August: Osage County is also one of my favorite plays, and I'd love to see it on stage at some point, but the original production closed on Broadway only 10 years ago. I don't know if a Broadway production of it would be justified just yet, but if a director had a great concept for it, then maybe."

This was my first reaction as well. A bit soon for a revival. And given the fact that Letts has been fairly prolific the last few years and will have had 2 new plays on Broadway this season, I can't see mounting a revival of this anytime soon especially if there are new, fresh Letts works they can be bringing to Broadway instead.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 12/16/19 at 6:05pm

I truly wish we could see Laurie play both Barbara and Violet. She would be simply perfect.

Heck, she’d even be great as Aunt Mattie Fae.

Why don’t we do a one-woman production and Laurie can play every role?

[JSquared2]

Posted: 12/16/19 at 6:07pm

Alex Kulak2 said: "Laurie is currently only one year younger (64) than Violet is written in the script.

August: Osage County is also one of my favorite plays, and I'd love to see it on stage at some point, but the original production closed on Broadway only 10 years ago. I don't know if a Broadway production of it would be justified just yet, but if a director had a great concept for it, then maybe.

As much as I love it, the script also has a problem I see with a lot of newer plays I read: it's too complete. The characters are so fleshed out and the setting is so defined to give the piece any malleability in terms of productions. Again, this is still a relatively new play, and I could be proven wrong, but I don't know what a director could do with it that wasn't done in the original production. Is this a show that could have a complete reinterpretation of the material, a la Oklahoma or A View From the Bridge, or is it going to be like Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, where every once in a while we just get some great actors together and just let it run?"

 

Why does it need to be "reinterpreted"?  A replica production would be just great, too.

 

[quizking101]

Posted: 12/16/19 at 6:15pm

I feel like my brain has been programmed to cast Laurie Metcalf in literally everything lately. My brain immediately thought of her first when I saw this thread.

Can we just create a separate thread for Laurie Metcalf dream casting?

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 12/16/19 at 6:18pm

It’s such a shame the movie was so incredibly bad. I do miss this show...absolutely delicious drama.

Amy Morton gave one of the best performances I have ever seen in my life.

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/16/19 at 6:53pm

I would love to see LuPone as Violet. She does boast about being a dramatically trained actress, and I think it would be a great fit for her to show off her chops.

[binau]

Posted: 12/16/19 at 7:02pm

Laurie Metcalf is quickly becoming the Meryl Streep of Broadway. Yes those roles sound absolutely perfect for her and she’d be amazing but it’s almost TOO obvious and TOO perfect. LuPone playing Violet is not something I’d ever have thought of in a million years, and I’m sure it won’t be as ‘good’ - but at least it would be surprising and interesting. It’s not an obvious choice. I’d see it.

Or what if Bernadette plays Violet and LuPone plays Amy Morton’s character? (I forget the name, sorry). That would be a camp night at the theatre. 

Bernadette sounds like she could be addicted to pain killers sometimes. 

Updated On: 12/16/19 at 07:02 PM

[WayTooBroadway]

Posted: 12/16/19 at 7:10pm

Sally Field as Violet Weston, please.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 12/16/19 at 7:57pm

qolbinau said: "Laurie Metcalf is quickly becoming the Meryl Streep of Broadway. Yes those roles sound absolutely perfect for her and she’d be amazing but it’s almost TOO obvious and TOO perfect. LuPone playing Violet is not something I’d ever have thought of in a million years, and I’m sure it won’t be as ‘good’ - but at least it would be surprising and interesting. It’s not an obvious choice. I’d see it.

Or what if Bernadette plays Violet and LuPone plays Amy Morton’s character? (I forget the name, sorry). That would be a camp night at the theatre.

Bernadette sounds like she could be addicted to pain killers sometimes."


Let us all take a moment to say a prayer of thanks to Jesus Christ and all the angels in Heaven that you are not a casting director.

[UncleCharlie]

Posted: 12/16/19 at 9:54pm

TotallyEffed said: "It’s such a shame the movie was so incredibly bad. I do miss this show...absolutely delicious drama.

Amy Morton gave one of the best performances I have ever seen in my life."

Are we sure it wasn't actually Laurie Metcalf made up to look like Amy Morton?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 12/16/19 at 10:02pm

I still need to see Ellen Burstyn as Violet.

[ColorTheHours048]

Posted: 12/16/19 at 10:36pm

My absolute dream back in 2008 was that Laurie would play Barb opposite Estelle Parsons. It would have been a nice bit of nostalgia on top of being inspired casting. But I will not be able to go to my grave peacefully without seeing her as Violet someday.

Also, cast Laurie Metcalf in everything, as far as I’m concerned. She may be the Meryl Streep of Broadway, but Meryl only wishes she could be this consistently great nowadays. And I’m a Meryl fanboy.

[Valentina3]

Posted: 12/16/19 at 11:00pm

I am okay waiting till Nina Arianda is old enough to play Barbara.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 12/16/19 at 11:16pm

Valentina3 said: "I am okay waiting till Nina Arianda is old enough to play Barbara."

Omg!

And to Uncle Charlie: we may never know the truth!

[binau]

Posted: 12/17/19 at 4:47am

TotallyEffed said: "qolbinau said: "Laurie Metcalf is quickly becoming the Meryl Streep of Broadway. Yes those roles sound absolutely perfect for her and she’d be amazing but it’s almost TOO obvious and TOO perfect. LuPone playing Violet is not something I’d ever have thought of in a million years, and I’m sure it won’t be as ‘good’ - but at least it would be surprising and interesting. It’s not an obvious choice. I’d see it.

Or what if Bernadette plays Violet and LuPone plays Amy Morton’s character? (I forget the name, sorry). That would be a camp night at the theatre.

Bernadette sounds like she could be addicted to pain killers sometimes."


Let us all take a moment to say a prayer of thanks to Jesus Christ and all the angels in Heaven that you are not a casting director."

Can Bernadette play the daughter who gets creeped on or perhaps the guy at the beginning who kills himself (I seem to remember the name Beverly). That would be inspired unusual casting. 

[Stephen75]

Posted: 12/17/19 at 1:19pm

That Arianda idea is so inspired. WHERE is she? Why is every Broadway producer not clammering to get her into their shows? She is one of the finest actresses of her time, and she hasn't been on stage in close to 5 years. 

Metcalf is the most obvious Violet, and she would kill it. Carrie Coon would be a wonderful Barbara. Someone on here once mentioned Keri Russell as Barbara opposite Metcalf's Violet. I know Russell's performance in Burn This got a mixed reception, but I am in the minority who loved it, so I would not be opposed to seeing what she would do with it. 

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 12/17/19 at 1:37pm

Stephen75 said: "That Arianda idea is so inspired. WHERE is she? Why is every Broadway producer not clammering to get her into their shows? She is one of the finest actresses of her time, and she hasn't been on stage in close to 5 years.

Metcalf is the most obvious Violet, and she would kill it. Carrie Coon would be a wonderful Barbara. Someone on here once mentioned Keri Russell as Barbara opposite Metcalf's Violet. I know Russell's performance in Burn This got a mixed reception, but I am in the minority who loved it, so I would not be opposed to seeing what she would do with it."

Isn't Russell very recently on record saying she'd most likely never do theatre again because it was tougher than she thought? 

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 12/17/19 at 1:47pm

Stephen75 said: "That Arianda idea is so inspired. WHERE is she? Why is every Broadway producer not clammering to get her into their shows? She is one of the finest actresses of her time, and she hasn't been on stage in close to 5 years."

A friend told me that she was brought in to audition for The Band's Visit (possibly while it was being workshopped), but otherwise she's been doing film and TV. I'd love to see her back onstage!

[Stephen75]

Posted: 12/17/19 at 2:40pm

I think she was Dina in a reading/workshop.

[Valentina3]

Posted: 12/17/19 at 5:24pm

TotallyEffed said: "Valentina3 said: "I am okay waiting till Nina Arianda is old enough to play Barbara."

Omg!

And to Uncle Charlie: we may never know the truth!"

Right? She'd make a meal out of that part and then some.

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 12/17/19 at 7:28pm

I saw her do Venus in Fur four times and I’ve been obsessed with her ever since. She would be amazing in August.

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 12/17/19 at 8:25pm

I could see Lily Rabe biting her teeth into this too.

[Globefan]

Posted: 12/17/19 at 8:27pm

Maybe Ivo van Hove can do it.