Into the Woods Delacorte Theater Rumors: Meryl Streep as The Witch? - Page 2

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 3/2/12 at 9:13pm

I honestly couldn't imagine Meryl at this point, with her film schedule, going along with the show if it transfered to Broadway, anyway, or it being in her contract. I could imagine her doing the park run though.

[Owen22]

Posted: 3/3/12 at 2:46am

Meryl's film schedule is open, she doesn't star on August: Osage County until the fall.

[TracyLord]

Posted: 3/3/12 at 3:02am

What was so awful about Kerry's performance as the Baker's Wife? I have thoroughly enjoyed her work in the shows that I have seen her in, so it's hard for me to imagine her butchering that role. I have heard it criticized often, but could someone elaborate and explain why?

[adamgreer]

Posted: 3/3/12 at 6:40am

What was so awful about Kerry's performance as the Baker's Wife? I have thoroughly enjoyed her work in the shows that I have seen her in, so it's hard for me to imagine her butchering that role. I have heard it criticized often, but could someone elaborate and explain why?

For the most part, I enjoyed the revival a lot more than most people on the board. However, Kerry O'Malley's performance was definitely not one of the reasons why.

I will give her this...she was faced with an almost impossible task. Joanna Gleason's performance in that role is iconic, and any comparisons to her would not be favorable. That being said, O'Malley simply wasn't very funny. Lines that were once funny went over like lead balloons. I have no idea what she was trying to do, but her comedic timing was horrendous. Her insistence on turning the Baker's Wife's songs into big belty numbers didn't help, either.

[ComingUpRoses2]

Posted: 3/3/12 at 12:52pm

Yes, the revival itself wasn't great, but O'Malley is one of the main things that kept it from being great. She wasn't funny, moving...nothing that makes the role so memorable and fun.

However, Laura Benanti stole the show with her Cinderella. Warm, funny, touching, and beautifully sung. She was terrific!

God, I hope Meryl takes the role. Can you imagine?

[SoCalDirector]

Posted: 3/4/12 at 1:18am

The first time I ever heard of Meryl Streep was in a musical and she sang a lot of songs in it. Elizabeth Swados Alice In Concert. Meryl was Alice, Debbie Allen was the Red Queen and the incomparable Michael Jeter was the Dormouse. It was a New York Shakespeare Festival production in 1982 or so. It was filmed as Alice at the Palace. The dvd is still available.
Meryl in a musical

[devonian.t]

Posted: 3/4/12 at 3:28am

it just feels like one of those things that are meant to be

[NoHSMisNotAMusical]

Posted: 3/4/12 at 11:16am

Nononononono. I'm already gonna have to wait in line 12 hours to get a ticket, I refuse to camp out for 3 days. Theatre is such an expensive addiction.

[Kad]

Posted: 3/4/12 at 11:39am

Although I think Meryl would be wonderful, and she is a possibility, don't hold your breath.

[Brick]

Posted: 3/4/12 at 11:45am

^That's how I feel.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 3/4/12 at 2:00pm

That thud you just heard was me hitting the floor... even though I know it's only possible... very, VERY possible *smirks*

[quitetheatrical23]

Posted: 3/4/12 at 5:23pm

I could see Mamie or Grace Gummer in it as well which could sweeten the deal for her to do it (Baker's Wife, Cinderella), that would really work well for everyone...

[welcometothetheater]

Posted: 3/5/12 at 2:35am

Is there ANY way at all to get tickets for the Delacorte in advance, or are tickets purchased the day of the performance?

[ljay889]

Posted: 3/5/12 at 2:38am

Regular tickets are available for free on the day of. But you can be seats in advance in for $150.00.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/5/12 at 9:07am

Since its Monday, here is a link to a clip of Meryl singing in a 1977 revival of "The Secret Service" (a rather odd turn of the century era thriller). Streep actually has sung in a surprisingly large number of her theatre appearances in New York; including in plays that weren't expressly musicals like this one, and in "Measure for Measure" and more recently in "Mother Courage". She's also sung at a number of benefits in the last few years, and doesn't ever seem vexed to sing live for an audience.

I agree with Henrick that while Streep may have never had an exceptionally unique singing voice, she's always had strong and fairly rangy instrument. I'd actually be a little surprised, should the rumour pan out, if Streep didn't sing the Witch in the original keys.


Streep Sings

[Gaveston2]

Posted: 3/5/12 at 9:11am

And speaking of filmed performances, she is great singing country on "I'm Checking Out" at the end of POSTCARDS FROM THE EDGE, and good, campy fun singing at the beginning of DEATH BECOMES HER.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/5/12 at 9:30am

And one more link to more recent footage of Streep singing, including footage of her performing some of the (very tricky) Brechtian musical material (scored by Jeanine Tesori) in MOTHER COURAGE. I think the Witch is definitely still in her range.


Streep still sings Updated On: 3/5/12 at 09:30 AM

[Gothampc]

Posted: 3/5/12 at 10:19am

Meryl was originally considered for the movie version of Evita. Somewhere out there, there has to be a screen test of her singing one of those songs.

[redmustang]

Posted: 3/7/12 at 11:50pm

If she does the show at Delacorte and it transfers to Broadway, maybe they will just delay Osage County for about 6 months. That way, it will put a little more time between her 3rd and 4th oscars.

[Matt2]

Posted: 3/8/12 at 3:01am

quitetheatrical23, have you seen Grace Gummer act? I hate to be mean but I've caught a few episodes of her TV show "Gigantic" (yes TeenNick is a guilty pleasure of mine) and her scenes were just painful. Living proof that acting ability isn't necessarily inherited.

[Kad]

Posted: 3/8/12 at 10:02am

There is also the very distinct possibility that Streep doesn't WANT to do an extended stage role.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/8/12 at 10:37am

Its been said that Streep has been 'looking' for a script to do on Broadway; I assume for an extended run, though in today's Broadway climate, an extended run for a straight play seems to be 14 weeks.

But regardless of who ends up playing the roles, the Public's first obligation is the production in the Park. They should be lining up the best cast they possibly can for this summer, not casting actors simply because they think they can convince them to transfer to Broadway for an open-ended run. That's not the mission statement for Shakespeare in the Park.

There is also no specific reason why (should the transfer happen) it would be in the fall or immediately following the run in the park, so the scheduling issues Streep might have wouldn't in themselves necessarily prevent her casting on Broadway.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 3/8/12 at 10:59am

I very much enjoyed that video of Meryl singing...UNTIL she was on that park bench in the snow singing to that creepy puppet. It was like a musical theatre molestation.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 3/8/12 at 11:01am

I'm almost certain Streep won't be donig this, so I think people are getting way ahead of themselves in analyzing how her schedule could accomodate a possible transfer (talk of which I find incredibly premature too.)

That being said, while I understand that she would play The Witch now, am I the only one who thinks that, in almost every single aspect, she's actually a pretty textbook Baker's Wife? I find there to be a sort of self-indulgent bravado to The Witch that goes against everything about Streep's persona.

Updated On: 3/8/12 at 11:01 AM

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 3/8/12 at 11:06am

While I would say Streep's natural personality is probably closer to that of the Baker's Wife, hiding her actual persona inside the roles she's playing has always been Streep's trademark, no?

I mean I think there is probably more than just a little 'self indulgent bravado' to Miranda Priestly, Madeline Ashton, Eleanor Shaw to name just a handful of characters she's played.