Posted: 4/14/15 at 4:10pm
Except Kerry Butler, who was doing... something.
Truer words. I don't necessarily blame her...and I think it might have been fascinating to see what might have happened if she did a variation on Penny Pingleton, but that is not what happened.
Posted: 4/14/15 at 4:16pm
I actually find her Audrey extremely unpleasant to listen to. But then again, I don't get the complaints from people who find Greene's voice annoying.
I'm kind of obsessed with Greene's knee-buckling fire escape belting during the film version of "Suddenly, Seymour."
Posted: 4/14/15 at 4:25pm
"I'm kind of obsessed with Greene's knee-buckling fire escape belting during the film version of "Suddenly, Seymour.""
When I was a young, naive little girl watching Little Shop of Horrors for the first time, I was convinced Greene was dubbed because how could one person produce the variety of sounds that she does in that movie?
Posted: 4/14/15 at 4:41pm
Little Shop is, in some metaphorical way, ABOUT race- more specifically, about the sounds of black music as an "alien" presence in white culture. All the "good" characters are white, but stupid. All the "bad" characters are black, but clever. The white characters, knowingly or unwittingly, are all attempting to make a buck off black culture, which proves too fecund and strong for them to harness and control, and it spreads everywhere.
Killam can sing a bit- but let's be real here. The show's White Character Man barely has to carry a tune- all the serious singing goes to the Audrey II Vocalist and Puppeteer/Black Character Man tracks.
Posted: 4/14/15 at 4:42pm
Jake is a good actor, and he can be very unattractive and not "beefy" in any way when needed. Weird casting. Im much more excited to see Taran Killam.
Posted: 4/14/15 at 4:52pm
I feel if the gender of the characters were swapped, fewer people would take issue with the age gap. This is no different than Emily Blunt being cast as Tom Cruise's love interest in my book. The real shame for me is the fact we get yet another reprise of Greene's Audrey. Yes, it is a treat, but I'd love to see some of the ladies mentioned here (Anika Noni Rose, Tonya Pinkins) and others (Andrea Burns, Karen Olivo, Cady Huffman) instead.
Gyllenhaal is turning in the best work of his career lately. He was dreadfully miscast as a mathematician in PROOF but I can see him working as Seymour. Killam and Cooper are fantastic additions!
Posted: 4/14/15 at 4:53pm
"Little Shop is, in some metaphorical way, ABOUT race- more specifically, about the sounds of black music as an "alien" presence in white culture. All the "good" characters are white, but stupid. All the "bad" characters are black, but clever. The white characters, knowingly or unwittingly, are all attempting to make a buck off black culture, which proves too fecund and strong for them to harness and control, and it spreads everywhere.
I don't think it totally fits that reading. The urchins aren't presented as "bad," but rather neutral, omniscient observers. Orin is white, but decidedly presented as "bad." And if you apply that reading- black culture is a destructive, self-serving force.
Posted: 4/14/15 at 5:09pm
I bought great seats for this when it was first announced, thinking how special it was going to be to see Ellen Greene sing this again.
Now I'm hyperventilating.
I haven't felt this lucky since I bought tickets to see Bryn Terfel do Sweeney, only to get Emma Goddamn Thompson as a bonus.
I don't mind the age difference. It's a concert.
Posted: 4/14/15 at 5:34pm
For the record, an age difference bothers me regardless of the genders. Sometimes even when it's addressed in the plot. I'm not saying that it will stop me from enjoying this but I'm just putting it out there.
Also, I like a Seymour that can sing.
Posted: 4/14/15 at 5:41pm
The age difference is such a serious thing for people who takes no issue with a singing man-eating plant.
Posted: 4/14/15 at 6:32pm
I'm not entirely sure I agree with the racial reading myself, but it's certainly one that people have proposed and written analyses on. Orin's whiteness plays into the analysis but I don't remember how. Since I left higher education, my access to academic journals is no longer unrestricted.
Posted: 4/14/15 at 6:57pm
There is no indication that this will be a concert presentation, on the City Center site nor elsewhere. In any event, the age difference renders the story unbelievable to me. I'd feel the same seeing, say, Tom Wopat and Laura Osnes as Curly and Laurey. As for the singing, I very much doubt Gyllenhaal would embarrass himself by taking it on if he wasn't capable vocally, or that Scanlan would have cast him.
Posted: 4/14/15 at 7:49pm
A friend of mine went to the prom with him. I've seen the prom picture. Trust me, he can pull off geeky. He was one.
Posted: 4/14/15 at 8:44pm
I point all of you to watch October Sky, or more importantly Bubble Boy. He can play awkward and geeky with aplumb. Also, he's awkward in Nightcrawler. Believe me, Jake is more at ease playing Seymour types than a buffed-up charming Prince of Persia-type.
Posted: 4/14/15 at 11:30pm
In a concert setting I don't think age matters at all. If this were a fully staged production I would feel differently. When you have people standing at mics with black binders in their hands, it is all about the concert experience.
Posted: 4/14/15 at 11:39pm
They won't just be standing at microphones. And again, people have an issue with age when a man-eating plant is also onstage singing?
Posted: 4/14/15 at 11:43pm
"They won't just be standing at microphones. And again, people have an issue with age when a man-eating plant is also onstage singing?"
I don't have a major issue with it. But that is a facetious comparison. It's not like they don't acknowledge the man-eating plant.
Posted: 4/15/15 at 12:00am
Oh, my bad. Yeah I forgot about all those lines that specifically address how Seymour & Audrey are supposed to be exactly the same age.
Posted: 4/15/15 at 12:04am
last piece of the puzzle is Mushnik, any clue who it might be?
Posted: 4/15/15 at 12:05am
Got my tickets months ago. Cannot wait for this.
Posted: 4/15/15 at 12:11am
They should get Fyvush Finkel for Mushnik.
Posted: 4/15/15 at 12:25am
"I forgot about all those lines that specifically address how Seymour & Audrey are supposed to be exactly the same age. "
You mean you've never gotten the sense that Seymour and Audrey were supposed to be contemporaries? And that her being 30 years older than he makes sense to you? I find it hard to believe that a woman that age is fantasizing about starting a family, but to each his own interpretation.
Posted: 4/15/15 at 12:31am
Jesus Christ.
IT DOESN'T MATTER! They're doing this for Ellen Greene! Who do you think they should cast next to her? Another 64 year old? Obviously, they're asking you to believe she's playing it 30 years younger. I honest to God can't believe the stupidity in this thread over something like this.
