It's Official! Lansbury & Zeta-Jones Set for A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC; Lazar, Davie, Hanson, Larkin, Herdlicka, Mallory to Star- Page 4

[logan0215]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 11:58am

I saw Larkin's Dainty June at both City Center and in the Broadway production in its final weeks.

I found her City Center interpretation to be outstanding, biting and just over-the-top enough in the performance numbers.

On Broadway, though, she seemed to take the "biting" layers of the character to the forefront and she came off sour and unlovable. By the time we reached "If Momma Was Married," any scraps of sincerity had disappeared.

At City Center she was able to play to both the sarcastic side of June while still conveying love for her sister and her monstrous mother (specifically in that song, which went from sometimes-throwaway in other productions to nearly a show-stopper). On Broadway, her character seemed snarky, snide and to hate every person on the stage.

[novel idea]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 12:36pm

Exactly. The reason Charlotte, Carl Magnus, and others weren't getting laughs was merely that they lacked the comic timing. The Charlotte was simply dreadful and was hitting all of the lines so hard, that Charlotte's dry, sarcastic, painful humor was almost non-existent. A director can't bless someone with comic timing, but he can CAST actors who are funny. Which leaves me questioning, how did they get cast?

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 12:42pm

I didn't see it in London. But I don't mind the design, based on pictures.

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 12:43pm

Sorry! I didn't realize the pictures were going to be that big.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 12:45pm

The comes across more attractive in those pictures than on the stage.

[jacobtsf]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 1:36pm

Maybe bubbly was not the right word, but I stand by excitable (at least in the productions of ALNM I have seen).

To see just one of the many examples one only has to read (not even watch) Petra's part in "A Weekend in the Country" to see this (though, of course it could be directed differently).

I am not saying she is not grounded, she is (once again usually) the most grounded of the characters.

[best12bars]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 1:38pm

Good god, how drab.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 1:45pm

I think Petra's earthy and grounded, but she's not jaded. She's youthful.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 1:54pm

If British directors and designers hate American musicals so much, why do they do them? Just to make them look ugly?

[smartpenguin78]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 2:47pm

It certainly seems drab. Of course I tend to enjoy drab.

Q- I don't know, I though Seldes was terrific in Deuce but the show itself was just unbearably terrible. My enjoyment of it was almost entirely that I got to see Lansbury, I thought it might be my only chance. I think that was about the extent of the appeal for me.

[Scripps2]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 3:42pm

Thanks Oz.

I was actually very impressed with Alexander Hanson and agree that his performance is Olivier Award worthy. Writing as a 17 year old virgin myself, I could never understand why Anne would want to marry the overweight, balding, befuddled old roue who blunders from one bed to another in other productions.

Whereas Alexander brings a handsome charm and a lawyer's brain to the role: this is a man whose every measured response is made to get him that much closer to his objective. He is every bit Desiree's equal and would be very attractive both to her and Anne.
Updated On: 9/23/09 at 03:42 PM

[musicalbluemirror]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 3:55pm

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

i certainly agree!
when watching the tonys the idea that this was probably thelast tme this woman would be honored in her lifetime came through my mind
She looks like a brittle old thing but god i only pray she stays healthy!

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 6:24pm

I go 2 days without using a computer and this happens?

Congratulations on the cast! They picked a wonderful group of performers and I wish the cast and creative team the best of luck.

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 7:53pm

"She looks like a brittle old thing but god i only pray she stays healthy!"

You do realize her character is wheel chair bound, right? And you do realize that she did not miss one performance of Blithe Spirit, which was much physical than Madame Armfeldt will be for her.

[robinycus2]

Posted: 9/23/09 at 8:30pm

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

i certainly agree!
when watching the tonys the idea that this was probably thelast tme this woman would be honored in her lifetime came through my mind
She looks like a brittle old thing but god i only pray she stays healthy!

ARE YOU TWO LIVING IN THE SAME SOCK DRAWER?
Show some respect and give Ms. Lansbury some credit. Updated On: 9/23/09 at 08:30 PM

[ElizabethAngela]

Posted: 9/24/09 at 5:06pm

I only write in when I feel like saying something, which won't be often. I am so grateful that I was able to make the trip out to NY to see her in Blithe! I was surprised to read that Miss Lansbury is coming back to Broadway yet again, and so soon after finishing Blithe. I believe that is because Night Music was always one she particularly wanted to do. I could be wrong, but I get the feeling that is the only reason why she is doing another one so soon. Had it been a different play and she might not have felt so much up to it. At least that is just what I think. Being that this one will be, at least for the first few months, in the dead of winter, I wonder if show-goers stagedoor all that much? Angela will for sure catch her death of cold! I?m worried about her!

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/24/09 at 6:43pm

The initial block of tickets will be on-sale though June 13th.

http://www.telecharge.com/BehindTheCurtain.aspx?prodid=7739&mode=moreShowInfo

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 9/24/09 at 6:55pm

I'm still not thrilled about Nunn's interpretation of a show that I thought was pretty fool proof. His insistence from digging from the original film shows a lack of knowledge about the stage translation. Friends who saw this in London were very mixed. I'm also shocked that the Frederik is transferring as I have heard nothing good about his performance. Equity approved him, didn't read full thread so sorry if explained, and not Waddingham who has worked in the states before? I'm also a bit worried about Lazar and Davie. Her mostly with the fact that Nunn seems to have sucked all the comedy out of Charlotte (which I didn't think was possible).

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/24/09 at 7:01pm

"'I'm still not thrilled about Nunn's interpretation of a show that I thought was pretty fool proof. "

But you haven't seen Nunn's interpretation, lol. Your friends have.
Updated On: 9/24/09 at 07:01 PM

[Mildred Plotka]

Posted: 9/24/09 at 7:04pm

While true ljay, and I will make my own judgment, the fact that all my friends who saw it are saying nearly the exact same things worries me a tad.

[Yero my Hero]

Posted: 9/24/09 at 10:50pm

You just said all your friends were mixed. So were they mixed or were they all saying the same thing?

Equity approved him, didn't read full thread so sorry if explained, and not Waddingham who has worked in the states before?

I'm fairly positive the producers wanted a star for Desiree from the beginning, so I'd be surprised if they ever even asked Equity about Waddingham.

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/24/09 at 10:55pm

" I'm fairly positive the producers wanted a star for Desiree from the beginning, so I'd be surprised if they ever even asked Equity about Waddingham."

I'm betting the same thing. I do believe Nunn really wanted Waddingham, but I bet the producers just placated him with the Equity story.

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/27/09 at 12:54pm

Looks like this will be the official site. It says "Soon."


http://nightmusiconbroadway.com/

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 9/27/09 at 1:13pm

Someone on ATC posted the price ranges...they are ridiculous! I think I'm going to try and hold off for a discount code...

Orchestra/Mezz A-F 132.00
Mezzanine G-J 102.00
Balcony 52.00

http://talkinbroadway.com/allthatchat/d.php?id=1777032

[ljay889]

Posted: 9/27/09 at 1:15pm

I'm waiting to believe that until Telecharge posts it.