Kennedy Center 2012 PAL JOEY — Page 2

My typing is never wasted. And Tony Yazbeck would be a perfect Pal Joey.

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I liked him in both.

Oddly, the guy he's in bed with is Matthew Risch, from last year's production of The Sycamore Trees at the Signature Theater in DC.

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Colin Donnell

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Is Terrence McNally still involved with this production? He's not listed on the breakdown, and yet this is supposed to be the premiere of his new book for the show.

The initially scheduled run for this fits right into the GLEE hiatus, so I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if they're going after Matthew Morrison (who could be terrific with the right direction) for Joey. I doubt he'd do it, since he's probably going to tour again during the break between filming, but he's a natural candidate.

Tony Yazbeck has the goods in terms of skill set and type, but I fear he lacks a lot of the "star quality" that similarly crippled Matthew Risch in the Roundabout production. And while I love Colin Donnell, I'm not sold on the idea of him in this role either. He always has a very bright and sunny quality about him, which would be at odds with the darkness of a character like Joey. Watching that clip above, though, I do think Laura Osnes could be quite lovely as Linda.

I'm surprised to hear speculation that they may be thinking of Audra for Vera. I love her, and she can certainly do anything, but I think she still reads too young for someone so worldly. Donna Murphy would indeed be wonderful if she did it again, but she won't go out of town for something that isn't coming to New York. Doesn't Christine Lahti sing? I seem to recall her doing a musical or two earlier in her career. I may be in the minority, but I loved the route Roundabout took of using a real actress first and singer second, and Lahti fits the traits required of the character to the letter.

If they're defining the role of Gladys the way the Roundabout version did, Leslie Kritzer would be a knockout choice.

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Updated On: 10/15/11 at 05:42 PM

I'd rather see Marin Mazzie as vera and i doudt she would be 'above' the kennedy center. On another subject possibly emily skinner, no offense but audra just dosn't seem right for vera.

Given Chris Ashley's history directing Cheyenne Jackson, I would think he's on the table for Joey as well.

I remember hearing from inside that Christine Baranski was an idea for Vera when this production was first announced. She'd certainly be interesting.

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Vicki Clark is a great choice. Her voice is actually more like Vivienne Segal's than anyone else being mentioned. She's also very good at the kind of wry, sophisticated humor the character's written with.

Stockard Channing is one of my all-time favorite actresses. She was embarrassingly bad as Vera, one of the few true humiliations in her entire career, possibly the only as a matter of fact.

Christian Hoff was charmless and seemed to have wandered in from a musical version of some other 1930s musical based on "The Dead End Kids."

Bottom line: If Joey can't dance and Vera can't sing "Bewitched," the show falls flat.

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I can surelu see Audra singing the score, but I don't know if I would want to see her act it. Out of the names mentioned, I definitely think Ebersole is the closest to Vivienne Segal. Donna Murphy would give a very interesting take on the role, but I don't know if she can be that restrained. Emily Skinner would be very exciting. Vanessa Williams would also be a strong choice, if they weren't going for a soprano.

...would something be wrong with Audra acting the role?

"I can surelu see Audra singing the score, but I don't know if I would want to see her act it."

^that's what I was referring to.

Baranski is a perfect Vera.

Also, as someone fairly unfamiliar with Pal Joey until the Roundabout Revival, I thought Stockard was brilliant. I don't think it was as humiliating as PJ puts it. I think people want to hear "Bewitched" sung gorgeously because it is a well loved standard. However, I thought her broke down, raw, emotional version was heartbreaking and effective. I know the audience complained that she didn't deliver the song, but I appreciated her interpretation for completely different reasons. Purists won't like it, but I was very moved.

She also got a Tony nod, so others besides me thought she was delivering the goods emotionally.

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^ That's probably the best suggestion I've heard yet. She can read upper crust and haughty, but can drip sex appeal as well. And with her statuesque frame, they could have a lot of fun costuming her!

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