Mandy Patinkin to join THE GREAT COMET as Pierre for 3 week run! — Page 3

leighmiserables said: "Roscoe said: "Patinkin is, at 64, at least 30 years too old for the role. "

I mean, yeah, but a.) they never mention how old he is in the show, b.) the only reference to his age is "old man," and c.) this is hardly the biggest suspension of disbelief you'd need to employ while seeing TGC. "

While this is true, it does seriously change his dynamic with Natasha

This certainly doesn't look good. They're bringing in Patinkin, who is certainly too old for the part, for three weeks, what would have been the last weeks for Oak's run. They still have no announced Pierre after Labor Day.

The possibilities:

1) Oak got a new project and asked out early. That's possible, but three weeks, after he prepared for the role for months?

2) Oak was fired. But if he's that awful, which I have not read from people who have seen him, why would the producers embarrass him like that when box office receipts have seemed decent and people are still filling the theater (albeit at lower prices)? And if he was fired, why wouldn't the producers bring in the understudy or bring back Dave Malloy?

3) Patinkin is certainly a big name with a Broadway pedigree, and I don't doubt that the show will do well in his three weeks. But it's only three weeks. It doesn't really solve the show's long-term, or even medium-term problems.

The whole thing reeks of desperation, which I'm sorry about, because I loved the show when I saw it in April and didn't feel like it needs a big name in order to survive. This isn't Hello, Dolly, where it seems that almost everyone is paying the big bucks to see a Bette Midler star vehicle. But I'm sure the show's costs are high. I read on Twitter that someone picked up tickets for later this week for $39. That's great for them, not so great for the Great Comet producers.

Well, there go my tickets for late August. Also, the remains of my respect for the production. And I was rooting so hard.

I am also somewhat happy that they are returning to an older Pierre (Arhough Patinkin is definitely much older then I expected for a Pierre) as the story looses some of it umfph when Pierre isn't seen as the diametrical opposite of the rest of the characters. At this point in the story he is seen as somewhat a father figure to Natasha, not a romantic interest until arguably the final moments of the show/ if at all. Thus I also thought Groban read both to pretty and young for the role, but he did bring in ticket sales. I wonder if the producers thought Oak in the end read to young on stage considering there is only a 5 year age difference between him and Detton.

Sidenote***In my opinion your casting director failed if you have to make an actor/actress uglier/fatter to fit a role, unless it is either a tradition of the role (Edna Turnblad) or they are being brought in for sales purposes. To follow a similar train of thought, it would be like casting Philla Soo as Tracy Turnblad and making her wear a fat suit. That seems to be the case here, except Oak didn't bring in ticket sales, that they thought he would.

The strangest casting I've ever heard. A performance that could truly go either way

Age is relative, and they never specify Pierre's age, and there's the Old Man stuff, but I don't think it can be denied that the character of Pierre Bezukhov is closer to 30 than 70.

He'll be great. He's truly an extraordinary performer with a loyal fan base. Smart move for Comet.

The only question is......

Accordion??

While it is unfortunate Oak will not be able to close out his run in performance, he at least will be getting full compensation for that time. There's no evidence to suggest he is being forced out because the producers are unhappy with his performance or because of some just cause for termination. As trpguyy has repeatedly said, this is purely a moneymaking decision. Perhaps advance ticket sales for the coming weeks aren't good- perhaps any immediate bump from the Tonys and summer tourism drops off in August.

Patinkin will be able to sell 3 weeks of tickets, and then...who knows what casting will be in store.

That being said... I feel for the ensemble, who have to keep doing these put-in rehearsals.

Updated On: 7/26/17 at 12:22 PM

Rainah said: "leighmiserables said: "Roscoe said: "Patinkin is, at 64, at least 30 years too old for the role. "

I mean, yeah, but a.) they never mention how old he is in the show, b.) the only reference to his age is "old man," and c.) this is hardly the biggest suspension of disbelief you'd need to employ while seeing TGC. "

While this is true, it does seriously change his dynamic with Natasha



"

Hes maybe 10-20 years to old for the role, not 30....

At the start of War and Peace Natasha is 13 and Pierre is in his early-mid 20s. It should also be noted that life expectancy in 1800s Russia was under 40 years. When Comet begins Natasha is 16/17sh and Pierre is in his late 20s, making Pierre a man in the final quarter of his life. Thus when you cast it considering the main drive of Pierre in Comet is his existential crisis, you should cast it older as it is more in line with a the contemporary "Mid Life crisis" then the crisis someone has when they turn 30, which would be truer on paper, but not in terms of authorial intent.

Updated On: 7/26/17 at 12:30 PM

GeorgeandDot said: "He'll be great. He's truly an extraordinary performer with a loyal fan base. Smart move for Comet.

The only question is......

Accordion??"

He went to see the show a while back, didn't he? It's possible he's already been practicing for some time.

It would be great for him to play accordion and piano, it's not necessary for the part. Lucas steele's understudy doesn't play the violin. What else does he play accordion on other than Prologue? And he only plays piano on the beginning of Dustbajd Ashes and Pierre. Also during The Abduction. Having the new band leader play instead isn't a huge deal, especially for three weeks of shows

Can he play piano?