It's Official! Lansbury & Zeta-Jones Set for A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC; Lazar, Davie, Hanson, Larkin, Herdlicka, Mallory to Star- Page 3

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/22/09 at 10:32pm

She was exquisite in the benefit.

Vanessa, however, didn't get it. Angela will be perfect.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 9/22/09 at 10:38pm

Does Aaron Lazar possess the comic deadpan for Carlo-Magnus?

I thought everyone was being directed to not be funny. At least, I remember people commenting that Charlotte didn't have her biting humor in the London production.

[Lefou]

Posted: 9/22/09 at 10:54pm

"Yay! I assume that Betsy Morgan will understudy Anne and Marissa McGowan will understudy Petra and/or Charlotte, but can't tell from the rest. What a phenomenal cast!!!!"

Betsy will be understudying Anne and Charlotte.

[fashionguru_23]

Posted: 9/22/09 at 11:07pm

Dear God, I pray for a cast recording!

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 9/22/09 at 11:11pm

or for it to be filmed and released on DVD.

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 9/22/09 at 11:17pm

The first Broadway revival of a beloved Sondheim show, starring Zeta-Jones and Lansbury... that certainly seems like a prayer that has a definitive answer.

Filmed and released on DVD is what I would love to see as well.

I don't understand the "Angie snapping up roles that should have gone to someone else" comment, those shows would have been far, far less without her, and Duece mostly likely never even produced. I saw them both just to see her, and she delivered.
This is far more exciting in any case. Lansbury with Sondheim material...ahh.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 9/22/09 at 11:22pm

The classiest most touching thing about this press release is Ms. Lansbury's statement (not surprised at all),
I paraphrase,
Full circle, I get to sing Sondheim and act with a wonderful young actress.
Shout out to Lee.

My only problem with the casting is Larkin,
I hated her in GYPSY
and Petra has perhaps the greatest late night number
ever handed to a minor (but, important) character.
I hope she surprises me and makes me eat crow.
Updated On: 9/23/09 at 11:22 PM

[Fish2]

Posted: 9/22/09 at 11:25pm

Clearly younger casting - I saw Erin Davie as Anne just half a year ago at White Plains Performing Arts Center and she was fantastic. Now I'm just trying to imagine her as Charlotte . . .

Very excited for this production!

[TalkinLoud]

Posted: 9/22/09 at 11:34pm

CurtainPullDowner, you are the first person I've ever heard who doesn't totally love Leigh Ann Larkin! Well, I hope she proves you wrong too then haha.

[BwayBuff2]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 1:04am

Gosh, I'm sorry, but I absolutely HATE Leigh Ann Larkin and I don't know very many people who do like her. It'll be interesting to see her in this show...but, I just don't like her at ALL.

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 1:05am

Saying you "hate" her is completely uncalled for. There is nothing wrong with not being a fan of her performing skills, but saying you "hate" her is immature and going overboard.
Updated On: 9/23/09 at 01:05 AM

[binau]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 1:43am

"Dear God, I pray for a cast recording!"

Lol..I'm 100% sure even if the revival closed after opening night, there would still be a cast recording.

I hope Angela stays in good health throughout the run though.

[scott68]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 1:56am

Fantastic! I can't say I love the younger-leaning casting idea, but honestly, I'd spill my own blood to get any kind of Night Music revival, so I can't be anything but happy with the (mostly exemplary) cast.

My one big question mark is Erin Davie, because I've only seen her in somewhat "sweeter" roles, and Charlotte is not only a slightly more sour role but the role I identify most with in the play, but I'm willing to suspend my disbelief until I see the show!

[mallardo]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 3:05am

Hanson was just fine in the London cast. He will win you over. Lazar is an inspired choice for Carl-Magnus. The guy in London was an absolute stick as was the Charlotte.

[Q]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 3:19am

"Duece mostly likely never even produced. I saw them both just to see her, and she delivered."

Gotta disagree. I chalked it up to the inferior script, but in DEUCE she was barely present. Marion carried it, for what it was worth. Not everything she's touched has turned to gold.

[robinycus2]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 8:47am

Glad to hear that Kalimba.

[circusliz]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 10:35am

Count me in as one of the few who did not care for Larkin in Gypsy. I sat sixth row center orchestra when I saw the show, and felt she overracted the entire show. It was rather grating. Maybe her performance came across better to the audience in the back of the house?

[BwayBuff2]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 10:38am

ljay889...please get over yourself. And yes, I do hate Leigh Ann Larkin. Only an idiot would assume that I'm talking about her as a person...I'm obviously talking about her as a performer.

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 10:41am

I thought she overacted the scenes where the character was performing (because she was supposed to), but that her "real life" scenes were great.
She was also terrific in Ragtime at Kennedy Center.

I feel she is a very good fit for Petra, who is bubbly and excitable but also has moments where she is somber and grounded.

[circusliz]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 10:45am

I haven't seen Larkin in any other shows, but I'm always open minded about performers. I usually don't hold past performances against them.

[BwayBuff2]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 10:47am

I'm usually the same way...it's just that everything I've seen that girl do has been a wreck IMO. She definitely over acts and I'm just not a fan. But, hopefully she'll prove me wrong in Night Music.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 10:47am

I don't dislike Larkin, per se, but I certainly don't get the hype surrounding her. She was fine in Gypsy and she was fine in Ragtime, but I don't think she was particularly amazing in either.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 10:57am

I don't think I'd especially characterize Petra as bubbly and excitable. She's earthy and sexy, with a certain grounded awareness of life and her station.

Count me as those that 'don't see' Larkin as an ideal fit for that role. Frankly, I'm not a huge fan of Nunn's casting choices in general ( This is the man who cast Jessica Boevers as the most uncomical Ado Annie of all time) but of course any occasion to see Lansbury and Zeta-Jones live should be celebrated.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 11:02am

I don't like the design for this show. I'm kind of excited, but at the same time, I think I'm going to hate it for some reason.

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 11:15am

I agree, MB. Petra isn't bubbly or excitable at all. The only time she even comes close to that is in the short bedroom scene with Anne, when the two of them "let their hair down" for a moment and act like schoolgirls. It's playful, but in the hands of a bad director and bad casting it could come off more like the "Popular" scene in Wicked with Galinda/Petra trying to boost the confidence of Elphie/Anne with squeals and mugging.

Eeeek.