Lauper as Mrs. Lovett?- Page 2

[Mattio98]

Posted: 4/23/05 at 1:40pm

Sondheim keeps a close eye on productions of his material and if it's okay by him, then I trust his opinion. In all honesty, I just don't know enough about Lauper to make a judgement.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 4/23/05 at 1:42pm

I've always been amazed by the fact that when Girls Just Wanna Have Fun came out, everyone I knew predicted her to be a one-hit wonder - they all swore that that voice couldn't do anything else. I was the lone dissenter. I couldn't understand how they couldn't tell from that song what power and versatility was there.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 4/23/05 at 1:45pm

I think it could be exciting, if she can act it. It is, after all, a rather interestintg character that must be fleshed out as only an actor can. I was very impressed with the Elaine Paige Lovett at City Opera -- vocally rich, and legit cockney chops.

But wouldn't Tracy Ullman -- who can sing, and well -- be wonderful too?

[Mattio98]

Posted: 4/23/05 at 1:45pm

Can we insert a piece of "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" as the bridge of "By The Sea" if Lauper ends up being cast?

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 4/23/05 at 1:54pm

I think Lauper is an interesting choice and, as long as she can do the accent and has the diction for those patter songs, she could probably be very good.

Incidentally she was being heavily courted to play Audrey in "Little Shop" at one point, but she and the producers couldn't settle on a salary; as for her age, there would have been something even more poignant and tragic about an older Audrey that probably would have worked quite well.

By the way, can Lauper play trumpet (isn't that the instrument Lovett has to play in this production)? I know she's a musician so perhaps she can pick it up more quickly than most.

[Mattio98]

Posted: 4/23/05 at 2:00pm

Not sure if Lauper plays trumpet but I think I read somewhere that they've become a little more lenient about potential Sweeneys and Lovetts being able to play instruments.

[zippyjen]

Posted: 4/23/05 at 2:06pm

i think lauper would be great in this role. she is comical and does have a great voice. Anywho i would see her in a second.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 4/23/05 at 2:12pm

as for her age, there would have been something even more poignant and tragic about an older Audrey that probably would have worked quite well.

I could not agree more, Margo. The same can be said for the casting of Tracy Ullman as Winifred in Mattress, as has been discussed. These young people who think every lead has to be played by a young person need to expand their minds a bit. Same can be said of the anti-color blind casting crowd.

[TonyaFanatic]

Posted: 4/23/05 at 2:22pm

totally agreed sueleen

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 4/23/05 at 2:23pm

Could you imagine the emotional wallop there would have been from a 50-ish woman standing there on stage earnestly wishing for "Somewhere That's Green"? It would have been heartbreaking in a way that a 20-something singer doing it just couldn't be.

[Mimi Imfurst]

Posted: 4/23/05 at 2:29pm

I agree Margo- I think that there is a lot more poignancy from an older audry. Lauper would have been a wonderful Audry. DAMN!

As much as I love Kerry Butler and love EVERYTHING she's done, she just didnt carry the emotional baggage that someone who was well, older could have brought to the role. Lauper would be a perfect choice. Damn, I would have loved to of seen that.

Cyndi is an amazing performer- slightly quarky, but down to earth and very honest about her performances. I think she would do well if her voice can sustain the schedule.

Can i just say how much I loved her last cd?

[Auggie27]

Posted: 4/23/05 at 2:30pm

(and yet wasn't one of the odd complaints about Alice Ripley, that she was too old for Audrey???) Age-ism can infest casting in every arena.

[apdarcey]

Posted: 4/23/05 at 2:37pm

this could be amazingly interested... i'm eager to hear more and where this goes. obviously if she knew her stuff for the producers during auditions she's been working a lot to get this role?

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 4/23/05 at 2:43pm

MTVMANN --

Faith Prince did play Audrey during the original off-Broadway run at the Orpheum, succeeding Ellen Greene in the role.

Lauper was courted to play Audrey during this last revival.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 4/23/05 at 3:21pm

Does anyone know the latest update on the rumor that Michael Cerveris is going to play Sweeney?

[ChrisLovesShows]

Posted: 4/23/05 at 3:22pm

IT TWIRRRRRRRLED UP!!!!! OMG, that is one of the funniest lines/scenes in movie history!

Question for you soundtrack experts: A few years ago, I looked everywhere for the soundtrack to Postcards From The Edge (two great songs from Meryl, Shirley singing "I'm Still Here"--!!!!), figuring it would be out-of-print. I eventually concluded that no soundtrack album/CD was ever produced at all. Just never existed. Can anyone confirm or deny this?

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 4/23/05 at 3:23pm

So far it's only a rumor. Nothing more has surfaced...unless someone has spoken to him personally.

[logan30]

Posted: 4/23/05 at 3:28pm

Inspired casting. I've seen her in concert four times — the last time opening for Cher in the neverending farewell tour. She is an amazing performer with a huge vocal range -- listen to her cds, doubters. Anyone can learn a cockney accent, hey, I can do a reasonable one and I'm not an actor. And she certainly has the eccentricities to play Mrs. Lovett. As for as the age thing, at almost 52, she is younger than Angela Lansbury, Elaine Paige, Patti LuPone and Christine Baranski when they played the role.

[paradox_error]

Posted: 4/23/05 at 3:41pm

She toured Australia not too long ago, and one of my friends worked tech for her concerts in my city.

Evidently she was one crazy b!tch! Very rude, demanding and selfish.

That said, she absolutely blew everyone away in the performances.

And it's not like Broadway hasn't seen Diva's before...

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 4/23/05 at 3:44pm

Well, anyone cruising on the R Family Cruise this summer should ask her about it. I'm sure the producers would have made a decision by then.

Alas, I am going on my first cruise this summer. But not that one. What a stellar line-up they have.

[QueenS]

Posted: 4/23/05 at 3:51pm

I'm a big Lauper fan. She certainly does act/interpret her own songs extremely well, in addition to still having great vocal ability.

I remember when she was being talked about to play Mary Poppins years ago with Tommy Tune, but licensing wasn't able to be worked out. I think she would have been amazing in that.

The instuments being played in this production will be different than how it was in London. The last set of breakdowns I saw said that Sweeney and Lovett might only be playing percussion (specifically, they said "cymbols or triangle"--that cracked me up, can you see Sweeney getting through with "Epiphany and then walking over and dinging a TRIANGLE?!").

[BalletGirl85]

Posted: 4/23/05 at 3:59pm

It's not true. The show was cast early this week and Cyndi Lauper is NOT cast as Mrs Lovett. Contracts are currently in negotiation, and the woman who was offered Mrs Lovett is definitely doing it... and she's not Cyndi Lauper... every role has been cast with the exception of Mr Fogg.

As far as instruments go, Sweeney will be playing guitar and Mrs Lovett will be playing a brass instrument.

[BWAYboi_yes]

Posted: 4/23/05 at 5:10pm

This production, to me, seems like a bad idea. And who am I? Yes, that's right. I'm a nobody, but to me, and as my opinions are shared by many, I don't think this instrumental Sweeney will be that good and don't think Ms. Lauper really should jump for it.

[buffyactsing]

Posted: 4/23/05 at 5:11pm

Please telling me you're saying both have a strong voice.

Jeepers, when have you heard Meryl Streep. She was originally going to college to be a vocal major.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 4/23/05 at 6:38pm

Now that I think about it Margo, having an older Audrey could be very interesting and quite heavy.