Johansson to Star in South Pacific Revival?- Page 4

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 3/14/07 at 4:05pm

I think it has something to do with your superiority complex that just brings out the worst in me. Or maybe it is your false sense of importance or your overwhelming need to be right about EVERYTHING. I know that you know everything and everyone and have an insane instinct about all things theatrical, but sometimes I just forget. Sorry.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 3/14/07 at 4:07pm

Your powers of projection continue to be mighty.

Let's get back to the thread at hand.

[OOTI2004]

Posted: 3/14/07 at 4:08pm

I do not want to see Kelli O'Hara do this. I love her, but she has this natural maturity about her, even when she was in Piazza, she seemed this way. Now Reese Witherspoon on the other hand seems exactly right, she has this youthfulness and perkiness that show through.

Now I do think Johannson can act, but I'm not so sure of the range (acting not singing). I don't see her fitting the part at all.

Speaking of Anne Hathaway, I would actually love to see her do it.

[Jane2]

Posted: 3/14/07 at 4:10pm

I saw Scarlett in Lost in Translation and Girl with..... and the reason I like her in them was that the roles were no stretch for her, IMO. For me, she has a low key kind of bland delivery. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but I haven't liked her when the role called for more energy. I just don't see her as Nellie at all. She isn't the sun-shiny type.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 3/14/07 at 4:55pm

Stage is differen than film. On stage you can fake "happy" whereas on film it will show. She could pull the part off on stage. If she's a good actress she can play more than just her natural self. I'm neither a fan nor a hater, but I'd like to give her more credit then some of you.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 3/14/07 at 5:15pm

"Stage is differen than film. On stage you can fake "happy" whereas on film it will show. She could pull the part off on stage."

I'm not sure I quite understand what you mean by this RentBoy. I always think of it as the other way around. Can your go into more detail about what you mean specifically?

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 3/14/07 at 5:20pm

I'm with Rath regarding Reba and Kelli winning a Tony for SOUTH PACIFIC.
I do agree with Munk though that O'Hara will probably end up getting the role, I suspect Witherspoon and Johannson will turn it down.

[AC126748]

Posted: 3/14/07 at 5:30pm

No way in hell Witherspoon would ever agree to do it, especially if she's paired with an opera star.

[EverythingIsRENT]

Posted: 3/14/07 at 5:31pm

I've NEVER likes Scarlett in anything i've seen her in. I don't think she has the least bit of talent. Just big lips and bigger boobs. Blech. Don't get the appeal at all.

[TheaterAddict7652]

Posted: 3/14/07 at 5:54pm

I agree that Kelli will most likely get the role. I love Kelli O'Hara, I think she's one of the most talented actors out there, but I really want to see this go to someone else. (No idea who, though) I would much rather see Kelli in something new.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 3/14/07 at 6:08pm

As much as I love Kelli, I thought she was brilliant in Piazza and Pajama Game, I'm a bit hesitant about her as Nellie. I probably stated way back when the revival was announced that I would have loved to see her play the role, but I still don't visualize it. She's extremely versatile, and she could definitely sing the score, but there's still something that doesn't sit right with me about it. But hey, if she's cast than I hope she proves me wrong and turns out to be a revelation in the role.

Witherspoon is a great choice, but she hates to sing, despite her having quite a lovely natural voice. I can't really see Scarlett as Nellie, but I think she would be brilliant as Louise in Gypsy. Oh my, "The Strip" would be the most breathtaking and showstopping rendition since Natalie Wood's.

[PersonofInterest]

Posted: 3/16/07 at 3:09pm

I have actually heard Scarlett sing before and I must tell you she is actually auite good. Her voice is very interesting and I think she would be a very good Nellie.
Also, I know that she is a surprisingly HUGE musical theater fan and growing up it was all she wanted to do. The movie career was a surprise to her, she always thought she ould do musicals.

[bjivie2]

Posted: 3/16/07 at 3:35pm

Since when does Nellie have a high upper register? It's a mezzo belt role.

I would have loved to see Sutton Foster play it at PCLO.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 3/16/07 at 3:45pm

Sutton was terrific in the role.
But she already has a role for next season.

[jo]

Posted: 3/16/07 at 6:10pm

I've read about Scarlett's interest in musical theatre. Check out the first paragraph of this article --

http://www.premiere.com/actors/3060/cover-story-hugh-jackman.html

"At some point between appetizers and dinner, Hugh Jackman and Scarlett Johansson got to singing show tunes. They were with friends, including Harvey Weinstein, at the Ivy in London, after a long day on the set of The Prestige, writer-director Christopher Nolan's new drama about rival magicians in Victorian England. He plays a flashy magician; she's his assistant and love interest. (Christian Bale—who starred in Batman Begins for Nolan—is his more somber nemesis.) Jackman and Johansson started on Oklahoma!, then moved on to Guys and Dolls and Carousel. She taught him a few numbers from Damn Yankees. He sang selections from The Boy From Oz, the musical about Peter Allen for which he'd won a Tony on Broadway (and which he is currently reprising on an Australian tour). “I'm a show tunes-loving kind of girl, and Hugh has a beautiful voice,” Johansson says. “He has this boyish infectiousness. Harvey told me later that we sang for two hours.” She does a growly Weinstein imitation: “ 'Scarlett, you were singing so much, we never got dessert.' ” ..."

[Enjolras77]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 11:28am

I saw this blurb today on IMDB and like a good BWW'er resurrected an old thread rather than starting a new one...

Maybe the character could be changed to Nellie Forobama? Forclinton? Foredwards? :)

Johansson Fuels 'South Pacific' Rumors

Hollywood beauty Scarlett Johansson has fueled reports she will star in the New York City production of South Pacific, after declaring her love for the musical during an interview. Last month, the New York Post reported Johansson was in talks to play US Navy nurse Nellie Forbush in a revival of the musical at the Lincoln Center, which is scheduled to open in January 2008. In an interview with the latest UK edition of Glamour magazine, Johansson admits she's a huge fan of the Rodgers And Hammerstein show, but she has a problem with the heroine's surname, which shares a similarity to President George W. Bush. She says, "I've thought about it (playing Nellie). Wouldn't it be great? Though I'd have to be named 'For Bush', which I don't think I could stomach."

http://www.imdb.com/news/wenn/2007-04-16/

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 11:33am

If that is the reason she would pass up the role that may be the biggest b.s. i have ever heard.

hmm maybe it has to do with those money issues again.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 12:46pm

Well, I think she's being playful in the interview...but I get the sense too that she's not really seriously entertaining the offer.

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 1:06pm

Just to motion on something said earlier re: membership and scalpers and stuff, they still would have their studentix available to those lucky enough to be members. Getting a great seat to that performance for $20 in advance...i love Lincoln Center.

Of the 3 gals being thrown around, not entertaining the idea of how likely it is, but I would pull for Reese. One does never know how good a screen actress can transfer to stage, but I believe she has the talent and presence to pull it off, and would make a GREAT nellie.

I see what people are saying about Kelli--I wouldn't say she's boring, but I guess when new, film actors are being discussed, it's not to say that they are more talentedthan Kelli at all, but it becomes entertaining envisioning someone else on the stage. I'm sure Kelli can do a wonderful job with the part.

Though Mary Martin never seemed to be that great a singer, which leads me to believe the role requires more of an actress with a comedic touch than a singer. Wonderful Guy I can see being sung as soprano, but I don't hear Wash That Man Right Outta my Hair as being performed that way.

Ah well. I'm sure Lincoln Center will make a great choice talent wise. Considering my only introduction to the musical is through the movie, which I really didn't like, (and maybe the concert version though that isn't the same), I'm excited to see this on the stage, as maybe I will see what the big deal about the show is, since I didn't with the movie.

Ditto Carousel btw.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/16/07 at 1:12pm

Oh, I disagree regarding Mary Martin not being a strong singer. She might not have a sound that is that popular to modern musical theatre fans but she was definitely a strong vocalist...