#26
Posted: 12/23/10 at 4:22pm
What exactly makes an actress more like "a Jewish matriarch"?
Laura Benanti as Trina in the Marvin trilogy — Page 2
#27
Posted: 12/23/10 at 4:25pm
I mean that I have a hard time envisioning Benanti in the role of a woman whose world is falling apart around her, and who has the defense mechanism of trying to hold onto her image of a perfect Jewish middle-class life. Just my two cents. Feel free to disagree.
And I also don't think Benanti is vocally right for the part.
And I also don't think Benanti is vocally right for the part.
"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe."
-John Guare, Landscape of the Body
Updated On: 12/23/10 at 04:25 PM
#28
Posted: 12/23/10 at 5:58pm
Yeah, I think her voice is as weak as water, but I think her acting could pull her through it.
Formerly 'dramarama2'
#29
Posted: 12/23/10 at 6:02pm
Yeah, I think her voice is as weak as water
There's a laugh. Just because someone isn't really a belter doesn't mean their voice is "weak."
There's a laugh. Just because someone isn't really a belter doesn't mean their voice is "weak."
#30
Posted: 12/23/10 at 11:59pm
Yeah ok you're totally right soz lol
Formerly 'dramarama2'
#31
Posted: 12/24/10 at 1:29am
Although not a belter compared to the likes of Merman or LuPone, Benanti is not only strong in her head voice. She has surprised me recently in Gypsy and Women on the Verge with her "belt." Can she sustain a belt on as high of a note as well as Barbara Walsh? Probably not, but she does have a lot of power and not only as a soprano.
#32
Posted: 12/24/10 at 1:30am
AND I'm sure her "Holding to the Ground" would be stunning!
#33
Posted: 12/24/10 at 1:30am
Speaking of Barbara Walsh, can we take a second to admire just how phenomenal her Trina was?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTyWo0AXPJU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FTyWo0AXPJU
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
#34
Posted: 12/24/10 at 1:38am
There used to be a video of her performing it in the original production. It has since vanished... but damn was it brilliant.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
#35
Posted: 12/24/10 at 12:07pm
Please God, not Raul Esparza as Marvin.
#36
Posted: 12/24/10 at 12:36pm
If you want to hear how dreadful a majorly head voiced Trina can be listen to the version they did on the radio with the original 3 men. The LATW (???) version (I think). FALSETTOS was the first show I ever saw on Broadway and it will always hold a special place in my heart (and my right arm - tattoo!!).
I agree with Kritzer or maybe Julia Murney as Trina. I always saw Esparza more as a Mendel. What about either Adam Pascal or Cheyenne Jackson as Whizzer?!? And I always liked the idea of Emily as Dr. Charlotte and Alice as Cordelia (but then that's the SIDE SHOW geek in me running a little wild!)
I agree with Kritzer or maybe Julia Murney as Trina. I always saw Esparza more as a Mendel. What about either Adam Pascal or Cheyenne Jackson as Whizzer?!? And I always liked the idea of Emily as Dr. Charlotte and Alice as Cordelia (but then that's the SIDE SHOW geek in me running a little wild!)
<-- Tevye, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, March 2018
#37
Posted: 12/24/10 at 1:20pm
I actually have a copy of that LATW performance (and I was there for the live recording in LA) and you are exactly right about the Trina: She was all wrong vocally and live made A LOT of mistakes (missed entrances, wrong words, etc) that they had to fix afterwards. Still, it is the only complete recording of the Broadway version with the original three male leads, so it is definitely worth having.
The original Broadway cast was such perfection that it will be very difficult to follow them. I do like the idea of Cheyenne as Whizzer, though.
The original Broadway cast was such perfection that it will be very difficult to follow them. I do like the idea of Cheyenne as Whizzer, though.
#38
Posted: 12/24/10 at 1:32pm
Wasn't Faith Prince supposed to play Trina in the LATW version?
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Updated On: 12/24/10 at 01:32 PM
#39
Posted: 12/24/10 at 1:55pm
Trina was played by Marnie Mosiman, who I believe was a last minute replacement.
And I always liked the idea of Emily as Dr. Charlotte and Alice as Cordelia (but then that's the SIDE SHOW geek in me running a little wild!)
I like the idea of Emily as Charlotte (vocally, at least), but the idea of a 50-year-old Cordelia seems almost wrong to me. Jennifer Laura Thompson has always been my dream choice for the role.
And I always liked the idea of Emily as Dr. Charlotte and Alice as Cordelia (but then that's the SIDE SHOW geek in me running a little wild!)
I like the idea of Emily as Charlotte (vocally, at least), but the idea of a 50-year-old Cordelia seems almost wrong to me. Jennifer Laura Thompson has always been my dream choice for the role.
"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe."
-John Guare, Landscape of the Body
#40
Posted: 12/24/10 at 2:00pm
To be fair, Skinner is 40. Heather MacRae was 45 when she originated Charlotte on Broadway.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
#41
Posted: 12/24/10 at 2:06pm
I was talking about age regarding Cordelia, not Charlotte. I feel that having a Cordelia who is older than Charlotte feels wrong, because she essentially is (and somewhat views herself as) a trophy wife. So having 47-year-old Ripley playing Cordelia to 40-year-old Skinner seems wrong to me.
"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe."
-John Guare, Landscape of the Body
Updated On: 12/24/10 at 02:06 PM
#42
Posted: 12/24/10 at 5:29pm
"Just a heads up - it's actually called The MARVIN Trilogy."
Oops...thanks!
Oops...thanks!
-Benjamin
--http://www.benjaminadgate.com/
--http://www.benjaminadgate.com/
#43
Posted: 12/24/10 at 11:45pm
I love Raul Esparza, but I really can't see him as any of the three men in Falsettos. Especially not Mendel. I don't think he has the nebbishy goofiness that's inherent in the role. He's more dry.
If Danny Burstein were more of a "wiry psychiatrist", I cold see him as Mendel.
If Danny Burstein were more of a "wiry psychiatrist", I cold see him as Mendel.
"...everyone finally shut up, and the audience could enjoy the beginning of the Anatevka Pogram in peace."
#44
Posted: 12/26/10 at 10:11am
I don't see anything wrong with AC's comment Joey. Do you think casting directors don't say things like that all the time when discussing type? What's wrong with saying someone doesn't come across as Irish for Pirate Queen, Hispanic for ITH, Greek for Zorba or Jewish for this piece?
Btw, I recently auditioned for Fiddler and was given feedback that I don't read Jewish. I'm not surprised - I'm Puerto Rican and Italian.
It's just typing. And it occurs all the time. If AC doesn't think Laura reads Jewish so what? I'm not offended if someone doesn't buy an actress as Puerto Rican or Italian.....
Btw, I recently auditioned for Fiddler and was given feedback that I don't read Jewish. I'm not surprised - I'm Puerto Rican and Italian.
It's just typing. And it occurs all the time. If AC doesn't think Laura reads Jewish so what? I'm not offended if someone doesn't buy an actress as Puerto Rican or Italian.....
#45
Posted: 12/26/10 at 11:41am
I don't know why you would call Trina "a Jewish matriarch" in the first place.
And you wouldn't necessarily call either Alison Fraser or Barbara Walsh, both of whom originated the part, "a Jewish matriarch."
The comment just seemed to be gratuitous bigotry.
And, eva if your avatar is you, I think you would make a great Tzeitel.
And you wouldn't necessarily call either Alison Fraser or Barbara Walsh, both of whom originated the part, "a Jewish matriarch."
The comment just seemed to be gratuitous bigotry.
And, eva if your avatar is you, I think you would make a great Tzeitel.
#46
Posted: 12/26/10 at 12:05pm
Perhaps expound a bit upon how wanting to cast a Jewish actress in a Jewish role in a show in which Judaism is a huge part of the plot is "gratuitous bigotry"? Do you think everything is bigotry? Do you have a persecution complex?
"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe."
-John Guare, Landscape of the Body
#47
Posted: 12/26/10 at 12:43pm
No, actually, I don't.
#48
Posted: 12/26/10 at 1:13pm
So, would you consider it "gratuitous bigotry" if I said that I didn't buy Alfred Molina as a turn-of-the-century Russian orthodox Jew? Or Rosie O'Donnell as a true Jewish matriarch? Or Lea DeLaria and Jesse Tyler Ferguson as a heterosexual couple? I'm genuinely curious as to how you make these value decisions, so please enlighten us beyond your laconic, holier-than-thou responses.
"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe."
-John Guare, Landscape of the Body
#49
Posted: 12/26/10 at 3:02pm
I'd much prefer to be laconic and holier-than-thou, but thanks for the invitation.
#50
Posted: 12/26/10 at 4:13pm
I expected nothing less, but figured I would ask. When I have an opinion, I lay it all out on the table, but I guess not everyone has the confidence to do that. It's much easier to make incendiary blanket statements in an attempt to poison the well.
Gratuitous bigot signing off.
Gratuitous bigot signing off.
"You travel alone because other people are only there to remind you how much that hook hurts that we all bit down on. Wait for that one day we can bite free and get back out there in space where we belong, sail back over water, over skies, into space, the hook finally out of our mouths and we wander back out there in space spawning to other planets never to return hurrah to earth and we'll look back and can't even see these lives here anymore. Only the taste of blood to remind us we ever existed. The earth is small. We're gone. We're dead. We're safe."
-John Guare, Landscape of the Body
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