MAME revival

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 6/28/03 at 11:04am

I know that Mame is playing in Cleveland. Is that going to be like Hairspray played in Seattle first? They say it going to go to NYC after.

[PJ]

Posted: 6/28/03 at 11:49am

I would really like to see Mame make it to Broadway again. I've only seen the movie version w/ Lucille Ball, which was mediocre at best due to her performance. And let me just say, I do love Lucy (no pun intended,) but the role of Mame did not suit her or her voice...if you could say she sang. That's mean, I know. But I think that had Lucy not purchased the film rights to Mame, that Angela Lansbury would have starred...and rightfully so. I love Angela!...and she's quite a singer.

[PJ]

Posted: 6/28/03 at 11:51am

It's also worth saying that I think Sam Mendes could and should direct it if it gets off the ground. Just as long as it isn't in production while the God-awful Shrek the Musical is I don't see why not.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 6/28/03 at 5:57pm

It would be nice to see another production of Mame, especially a movie or tv version. I've always wanted to see Bette Midler play the part. Unfortunately the movie version, which I've nicknamed "Maimed" was not good. Lucy wasn't a singer and her dancing is just as bad as her singing.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 6/28/03 at 6:06pm

Lucille Ball got her start in many MGM musicals

Mame the Movie was passable. Not great but not a disaster like Jesus Christ Superstar. I thought the title # was staged well.

Question, to those who trash it would your opinion of it be the same if Ball's voice had been dubbed ?

[Dollypop]

Posted: 6/28/03 at 8:17pm

Lucy was able to put over her songs when she did WILDCAT many, many years ago. I think much of the problem with the MAME movie was that the whole score was lowered so that there wouldn't be a jarring break when they went from dialogue to song.

My gripe with the movie was that Lucy never seemed to smile. She seemed to perform the role as though she was the sphinx of Egypt.

Oh, yeah...why did they use that white, white makeup on Bea Arthur? Were they trying to make her look like a kabuki lady?

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 6/28/03 at 8:34pm

So does anyone know for sure.......does what I say make sense?

[PJ]

Posted: 6/28/03 at 10:17pm

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/77636.html
This article was on Playbill.com in early February I believe. Of course, things could have changed since then, but who knows.

Posted: 6/29/03 at 2:43am

I think Christine Baranski would be a great Mame. Swoozie Kurtz as Vera.

[BrdwyThtr]

Posted: 6/29/03 at 5:51am

Who's playing Mame in the tour?

[scooter38432]

Posted: 6/29/03 at 6:43am

I heard thru the grapevine that Christine Baranski was tapped for MAME long ago. Not sure if it's true or not.

Harriett Harris for Vera, PRETTY PLEASE??!!

[Dollypop]

Posted: 6/29/03 at 8:25am

Somehow I think Leslie Uggams would make a marvelous Mame.

[scooter38432]

Posted: 6/29/03 at 8:38am

Leslie Uggams is a great choice, Dollypop!

Did you hear her sing "If He Walked Into My Life" on that Jerry Herman tribute at the Hollywood Bowl? That number was the highlight of the whole show, if you ask me...

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 6/29/03 at 11:50am

"I think Christine Baranski would be a great Mame" DEFINITELY!!!

And I think either Harriet Harris or Bebe Neuwirth as Vera. I think Harriet would be more true to the character's look though.

I think Lucy's portrayal was very similar to Rossalynd Russell's (forgive me if I am spelling her name wrong) But "Auntie Mame" was not a musical, so the character didn't have to be an energetic singer/dancer. I definitely prefer Rossalynd's Mame to Lucy's. I never saw it on the stage.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 6/29/03 at 6:27pm

Yes to Baranski & Leslie Uggams . I heard of a planned TV version with Cher. God forbid if this happens.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 6/29/03 at 7:58pm

Check my signature line: there's talk of a TV version of MAME with a certain star that I refuse to mention!

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 6/29/03 at 8:02pm

Could it be Babs ? I cannot imagine her taking a step down ( in her mind) to appear on television.

If this is so, maybe Brolin could get a job as Horace Vandergelder? It's better than doing commercials on TV although he appears not to be able to get work in doing these either.

[PJ]

Posted: 6/29/03 at 8:16pm

On the Internet Movie Database...there's still a Mame TV version in the works w/ Cher. But, this site is very unreliable at times because they tend to forget to update when projects have been called off.

[PJ]

Posted: 6/29/03 at 8:18pm

I forgot to add that I cannot stand her. She seems to full of herself and that she's the poo. Who knows, I've never seen any of her work so I wouldn't know. Besides...she's in retirement she said. That means that a hefty pay day would have to accompany her in starring in it.

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 6/30/03 at 1:27am

Barbra has already confirmed (quite some time ago) that she will not being doing that on television. Dollypop is simply putting a quote in his signature that no longer has any relevance, but that he finds ammusing because Carol Channing said it in a bitter moment of conversation.

Barbra is too good for TV movies anyway.

Updated On: 6/30/03 at 01:27 AM

[musicaltheatreman]

Posted: 6/30/03 at 2:03am

what about pattie lupone as mame?

[Dollypop]

Posted: 6/30/03 at 5:46pm

Her name is correctly spelled "Patti". She was named after the great Italian opera star Adelina Patti (pronounced "pa-TEE"). Ms LuPone is not a "pattie" that you might find in Jamaican snack bars.

Now, if you have anything bad to say about the Magnificent Patti, please know that I am prepared to b1tch slap you from here to the curb!

Posted: 6/30/03 at 6:19pm

I agree Leslie Uggams sings “If He Came Into My Life” brilliantly, but Mame should be cast (IMHO) pretty much as non-ethnic as it can be. This also goes for Bette Midler. The entire story line with the Upsons would not work if Mame was obviously Jewish, and although Mame is able to win over the Burnsides even if she IS a Yankee, Mother Burnside would have keel over dead if Beau walked in with Leslie Uggams, no matter how stunning she is. It is a period piece and although I am all for colorblind casting, without major re-writes, this one would be a stretch. Any ideas on how to make this work?

[Dollypop]

Posted: 6/30/03 at 8:29pm

Leslie as Mame and Eartha Kitt as Vera....Now you're cooking!

[eva's boy2]

Posted: 6/30/03 at 10:37pm

Mame" Patti Lupone
Vera" Christine Baranski