INTO THE WOODS Tony Question- Page 2

[Gothampc]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 12:46am

"it's more about her been very sensual, elegant, and beautiful."

Name one time when LuPone was any of these. LuPone's style is like Merman's loud and brassy.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 12:54am

OK, you got me there, but I think LuPone can be sensual and elegant, and it's not like the Witch is an ingenue, she is sharp and strong which LuPone can do very well especially in a concert production like the Ravinia festival.

[just_me1981]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 1:04am

Marin Mazzie actually discusses her time in ITW very breifly on Jeff Blumenkrantz's podcast. She played Rapunzel and covered Cinderella and the Witch, and did all three in one week as someone else mentioned!

[jewishboy]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 1:22am

"Name one time when LuPone was any of these. LuPone's style is like Merman's loud and brassy."

In the Encores! version of Pal Joey I thought LuPone was very sensual (based on recording). Also, in the Encores! version of Can-Can she was pretty elegant. That being said I don't think the witch is right for Patti. While she can be sensual I don't think it comes across unless she opens her mouth and sings. And all though she is pretty ageless I think that she is a bit too old for it now (the transformation would not be the same). I do think Barabara Walsh would make an excellent witch.

Updated On: 2/4/07 at 01:22 AM

[jewishboy]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 1:26am

double post
Updated On: 2/4/07 at 01:26 AM

[Gothampc]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 1:41am

Let's have some examples:

sensual - Kathleen Turner

elegant - Julie Andrews

beautiful - Natasha Richardson

I'm not saying that these women should play the Witch, but Patti LuPone can't be compared with any of these women.

[kjklo]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 1:43am

Patti LuPone is about as "sensual, elegant and beautiful" as a turnip. She has her talents but none of them lie in that direction. She has an ass the size of Manitoba, a nose only slightly smaller and the speaking voice of a fishwife. Fine for certain parts but hardly for the Witch after her transformation.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 2:02am

I agree she is not right for the witch, but she oozes sensuality through her voice in the Pal Joey concert, and form the pics I've seen she looked pretty good. And if you saw Can-Can she was pretty enticing.

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 2:07am

I think she could play the witch, and I would cast her in a second.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 3:14am

I'd rather see her as the Baker's Wife with Audra as the Witch

[Amneris]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 12:20pm

Oh no you did'ntttt just sat Patti lu couldn't play sexy!!!?! HAAAAA sorry.. She would be a perfect witch. AMAZING at that. So what if her nose is larger then ours... she's one of those people when on stage who can make you think she is the sexiest , most precious lady alive. She would have been WORLDS better than Williams.. the revival was dreadful and embarrassing. I can't even listen to the cd.

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 12:37pm

Patti was pretty sensual in Sweeney Todd.

[Broadwayboy2631]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 1:29pm

Just the thought of either broadway diva in the role gets me way too excited.

[devonian.t]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 2:22pm

In Wonderland, I'd like to see Meryl Streep as the Witch.

[kjklo]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 3:35pm

I think you might be confusing "earthy" or "bawdy" with "sensual"

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 5:40pm

I'm playing Rapunzel in April:)

that's all the input I have...I'm just really effin' excited.


I would LOVE LOVE LOVE to hear Marin do Rapunzel and/or the Witch...love her.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 5:51pm

Listening to my Sweeny Todd CD:

"Yes Mr. Todd, Yes Mr. Todd, Yes All Around!"

from "A Little Priest."

Can't get much more sensual than that.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 7:00pm

bump

[sondheimboy2]

Posted: 2/4/07 at 10:08pm

Can I ask another question?

How was it that James Lapine was nominated for a Tony Award for his direction for both versions?

Did he direct them entirely differently?

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 12:04am

Sondheim boy-
Yes both versions were very different.

I actually went and did some research. Part of the reason Bernadette was chosen, was she was a name, and they weren't sure it would sell without one. This is also probably why Phylicia Rashad took over as her replacement. The role also grew in size drastically from the Globe try-out, and sadly, Ellen Folley was almost impossible to understand as the Witch.

[wonderwaiter]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 12:15am

Sondheim boy-
Yes both versions were very different.

Eh, I didn't feel like they were that different at all. It reminded me of when I was assigned a school paper I really didn't want to do so I just took an encyclopedia entry and used a thesaurus to switch out words and changed up a phrase or two.

The revival was "different", but I felt like they were in essence the same show and could have been completely interchangeable.

Granted- I only know the original through the PBS recording and I only saw the revival in a format that's best not discussed here, so my opinion doesn't come from any kind of true authority. Just how I felt watching them.

[Ourtime992]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 12:49am

There was a time when Patti could play "sensual." My parents speak with a mixture of awe and horror at seeing her (ALL of her) in Washington DC in The Robber Bridegroom in the mid-70's. But maybe I'm just confusing "sensual" with "frighteningly naked," I don't know.

[wonderwaiter]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 12:53am

Ourtime, you might not want to rent Summer Of Sam then.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 10:31am

Question:

Does anyone have pics from the Old Globe production?

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 2/5/07 at 11:07am

Patti playing sensual:


She played sensual in the Lincoln Center concert of Sweeney, moreso than the more bawdy interpretation in the revival...but the way she caressed those dismembering implements during "By the Sea"....