Longing for a revival of Mame- Page 2

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 10/6/04 at 10:32pm

Personally, I would like to see Harriet Harris as Mame. I think its about time she had a starring role.

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 10/6/04 at 10:32pm

Isn't NY due to get a Mame revival soon, with actually all of the Jerry Herman big hits being redone? Being kickstarted with the upcoming "La Cage" revival?

[sndtrklvr]

Posted: 10/7/04 at 9:18am

ahem, you may notice that I have some affinity for the musical Mame. I would love to see a revival but don't quite know who is exactly right. Cher is not. Mame is supposed to be about 40-45. By the time Cher gets off of her "Farewell Tour" she will be close to the age that Lucy was when she played it. (and that has been well discussed in a recent string).

I also don't think Donna Murphy is right, she doesn't have the lightness that Mame, in the musical requires. She is more appropriate for the play. Christine Ebersole might be okay, but still not a direct hit.

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 10/7/04 at 9:26am

In my mind, Vera should be played by Ruth Williamson or Joanne Bogart. I can't seen Christine E as Mame though - too hard edged. She needs more softness.

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 10/7/04 at 9:27am

I agree that no one has ever confused MAME with WAR AND PEACE, but if you're looking for a leading lady, what about Betty Buckley?

She definitely can handle the vocal requirements, and plays comedy and drama equally well.

Can you imagine her singing "If He Walked Into My Life?"

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 10/7/04 at 9:29am

oh I can't imagine that at all... Betty is amazing - but has much too hard an edge to be Mame.

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 10/7/04 at 9:50am

You think so Redhot?

Did you catch her as the sympathetic gym teacher in CARRIE? [MOVIE VERSION]

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 10/7/04 at 9:57am

National tour of MAME was going to play Cleveland's Palace Theatre, but was replaced by OLIVER!. I do not know what happened.

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 10/7/04 at 10:03am

Mary_Ethyl - yes but do you know how many years ago that was? Betty has transformed and toughened over the years. I love her work, but I just don't think she is right for that particular role.

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 10/7/04 at 10:15am

Redhot--

You have caused me to RETHINK my original message!

I think you ARE RIGHT--Ms. Buckley does not have required warmth to perform "My Best Girl" or "We Need a Little Christmas."

THANKS for setting me straight! :)

[robbiej]

Posted: 10/7/04 at 11:12am

I got three suggestions for Mama.

Goldie Hawn (just perfect, but she'll NEVER do it)
Catherine Zeta-Jones
Toni Colette.

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 10/7/04 at 11:31am

Hi robbiej! :)

Catherine Zata-Jones as MAME?

As already discussed, Mame Dennis is a very WARM personality.


I don't see Ms. Zeta-Jones having that necessary quality to play Mame.

[robbiej]

Posted: 10/7/04 at 11:39am

I would like to submit that Ms. Angela Lansbury, at the time of being cast as Mame, was best known for slapping the sh*t out of Judy Garland in THE HARVEY GIRLS and brainwashing her son (and then making out with him) in THE MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE.

Ms. Lansbury was not known for warmth either. But it all worked out in the end.

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 10/7/04 at 11:47am

Hey robbiej :)

EXCELLENT POINT!

You are RIGHT, Ms. Lansbury used to be THE queen witch of Hollywood!

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 10/7/04 at 12:06pm

Random comments and questions:

Goldie Hawn is an interesting pick (though more for the play than the musical -- she has tiny little voice and couldn't belt out that score to save her life). Anyway, I can't imagine she'd ever do eight shows a week at this point though.

Zeta-Jones and Collette are too young.

Patti Lupone might be able to pull off Mame, though she lacks a certain warmth (I think she could probably fake it -- she could do Vera in her sleep).

I could see Baranski and Ebersole in either role.

Broadway can't afford Bette Midler. Period. (She makes a million dollars a night on tour -- why would she put herself through eight shows a week for a tenth of that? Now a movie version's another matter altogether).

I've always hated the concept of Cher as Mame -- she's just wrong wrong wrong and she'll butcher the music with that "voice" of hers and all those Cher-isms (too many weird vowels). I'd rather it not be done at all than have it done with her.

Betty Buckley has the voice, but isn't she missing a few too many humor genes to play Mame? "Madcap" is not a word I would use to describe her.

Harriet Harris would be a great Mame, but probably isn't enough of a name to get the part in a major Broadway revival.

Not sure any major producer is going entrust a $10 million revival to Mme. Murphy so soon after the Wonderful Town fiasco. She might be able to pull off the role, but she's not ideal casting.

How about Chita for Vera?

Spencer Kayden for Gooch?

I wonder if Jennifer Saunders can sing well enough for the role(I've heard her fake sing in sketches, but never really "sing sing)? And Joanna Lumley for Vera?

Does Liza have enough voice left to do a Broadway run?

How about Tracy Ullman? Bernadette? Glenn Close? Andrea Martin?

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 10/7/04 at 12:12pm

Ms. Channing:

It's interesting that you mention Liza for Mame.

Trivial Pursuit: Judy DESPERATELY wanted to play Mame on Broadway; but producers felt her reliability issues would cause production more harm than good. Judy was crushed.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 10/7/04 at 12:24pm

Lorna as Mame and Liza as Vera?

You know who would have been a perfect Mame, may she rest in brassy peace? Delicious, de-luscious Delores Gray!

[sndtrklvr]

Posted: 10/7/04 at 12:27pm

Jennifer Saunders could be fun. She sounded suprisingly good on the Shrek II Soundtrack.

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 10/7/04 at 12:27pm

I don't think Lorna has the stage presence to carry off Mame, and Liza acceting a SUPPORTING ROLE TO HER OWN SISTER?

PLEEEEASE ... :)

[robbiej]

Posted: 10/7/04 at 12:29pm

I believe Dolores Grey played Mame. Somewhere. At some point.

I keep thinking that either Carol Burnett or Madeline Kahn would have been wonderful.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 10/7/04 at 12:31pm

Jerry Herman apparently worked privately with Garland and tried to convince the producers to hire her, but it was a no-go. Herman said that Garland's version of "If He Walked Into My Life" was absolutely incredible (I can just imagine)

[robbiej]

Posted: 10/7/04 at 12:33pm

He has also stated that he wrote that score with her voice in mind.

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 10/7/04 at 12:35pm

robbiej,

I know Dolores Gray played ANNIE GET YOUR GUN in West End and was replacement for GYPSY (again in West End--she took over when Ms. Lansbury came to America) and also played Carlotta in West End production of FOLLIES--but I am not aware of her ever playing Mame.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 10/7/04 at 12:46pm

How about Molly Shannon or Cheri Oteri as Gooch?

[robbiej]

Posted: 10/7/04 at 12:47pm

I don't believe she ever did it in a 'major' production...I believe it was stock.