Marin Mazzie to Star in Woody Allen's BULLETS OVER BROADWAY?

[bobs3]

Posted: 10/18/13 at 10:18am

Good choice and nice that Woody likes her. While I am sure that Bernadette Peters, Betty Buckley or Patti LuPone would be very good in the part I find it hard to believe anyone one of them would commit to a year in the show. While I am sure the producers would prefer a star in the role of Helen Sinclair (and who would get top billing Zach Braff or Bernadette Peters?) I am hoping that Mazzie wows them at the workshop and gets the role.

[dreaming]

Posted: 10/18/13 at 10:22am

Marin Mazzie has never been what I'd describe as a comedic actress (and I've seen much of what she's done, including Kiss Me, Kate). I have no clue why Allen would choose her over Bernadette Peters, who is very funny (or at least capable of being so). More than likely it's contractual issues. I'm let down by this choice. There are lots of other ladies who I think might be better in the comedy department. I guess Joanna Gleason was never in the mix? She's really funny and would be a great Helen.

Ah, well. It's just Broadway. (I've become more interested in the off-Broadway and more experimental theater of late. At least there, I see quality works with talented actors and typically a nicer audience-at about 1/5 the cost, if that.)

Updated On: 10/18/13 at 10:22 AM

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 10/18/13 at 10:26am

The role isn't Mazzie's yet. She did impress at the audition with her comedic timing and she's been given the chance to prove herself once again in the upcoming "lab" at the end of this month.

I am sure the final decision as to who gets to play "Helen Sinclair" will be made after the "lab" reading.


Updated On: 10/18/13 at 10:26 AM

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 10/18/13 at 10:27am

Dreaming, with all due respect, Just because you haven't experienced her in a comic triumph, doesn't mean she can't deliver one. If Woody thinks she's funny enough to play Helen, I doubt very much she's not.

Between the people who complain that an actor is always the same (and, I understand, dreaming that that is not what you're saying about Marin) and those who object to an actor taking on something very different from his/her usual rep, one could go stark raving bonkers.


Updated On: 10/18/13 at 10:27 AM

[dreaming]

Posted: 10/18/13 at 10:30am

Woody Allen thinks she's funny enough? We don't know that he didn't try to get someone else. (The producers want a bigger name it says, to bolster ticket sales.)

I have seen Mazzie where she was SUPPOSED to be funny-and she wasn't-"Kiss Me, Kate". (Brian Stokes Mitchell walked away with the show.) She doesn't have a lot of comedic roles on her resume, there is probably a reason for that. I'm basing the opinion on my personal experience, not personal animosity towards her as an actress. She just doesn't strike me as funny at all.

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 10/18/13 at 10:34am

As per the article:

Word has it that Allen has so far been most interested in Marin Mazzie, who participated in a reading of the musical over the summer and was able to make a lasting impression on the famed director with her comedic timing.

So she impressed Allen with her comedic timing and is more than capable of taking on the role. Your argument against Mazzie's comedic abilities is all for naught.

[dreaming]

Posted: 10/18/13 at 10:43am

My argument is based on my opinion. And what the director and Woody Allen find to be comedic timing on stage is not the same as what I find. You seem to forget, we all have our own subjective opinions. Mine is based on my experience (meaning, I've seen her when she's SUPPOSED to be funny-and not found her to be so). Whatever that may be, they may see her as funny while I do not-does that mean they're WRONG or I'm WRONG? Nope. It just means we have DIFFERENT opinions. And that's fine-there are plenty of other shows to see. That's the beauty of it.

I'll give it a chance. But I'm pretty underwhelmed by the casting choice here.

PS-Michael Reidel is a cheap gossip columnist and I am not sure I trust his opinion much anyway.

[JBradshaw]

Posted: 10/18/13 at 10:46am

I saw her twice as Lady of the Lake in "Spamalot" - she sang the role nicely but wasn't really that funny, she was kinda boring IMO.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 10/18/13 at 10:49am

Well, Lady of the Lake is a boring and underwritten role with nothing really to do besides one big song. There's even a song about it.

Updated On: 10/18/13 at 10:49 AM

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 10/18/13 at 10:50am

I know it's YOUR OPINION...but in the end your opinion and my opinion really doesn't matter - - - Woody Allen's however DOES.



Updated On: 10/18/13 at 10:50 AM

[D2]

Posted: 10/18/13 at 11:02am

IMHO, she's an excellent choice - her sense of humor (and yes, she does have one) is very dry, her timing is impeccable, and whether or not she is a "STAR" in the bankable sense, she is every inch a STAR personality on stage, and that's what matters for the role. Again: IMHO.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 10/18/13 at 12:21pm

Dreaming, all I am saying is that based on our experience we all - not just you - sometimes peg people, limit them to what we've seen them succeed at, and sometimes they can surprise us with what they can do that's not at all like what they've done well before.

here's an example: I never thought of Isabelle Huppert as a great comedienne. I doubt anyone ever did. But watch her in Eight Women and you will likely agree with me that she gives one of the best, funniest and brightest comic performances of the last quarter century.

As for Marin not being funny as Lady of the Lake or Lily Vanessi, assuming for the sake of the argument that she just wasn't, that doesn't mean that years later in a very different funny role that she might not be winningly funny.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 10/18/13 at 1:35pm

God, I wanted Donna Murphy or Jane Krakowski to play Helen so badly (oh, and Bebe Neuwirth too). Oh well.

[dreaming]

Posted: 10/18/13 at 1:38pm

henrik-what else do we have to go on but our experience? I cannot prognosticate that she'll be good-just that her involvement makes me a lot less interested than I already was.

What a crappy season this is for musicals.

[BwayGeek2]

Posted: 10/18/13 at 2:03pm

Darn, I was pulling for Bernadette Peters, but I'm sure Marin Mazzie will be great. Ultimately, we've just got to trust Woody Allen in his casting decision.

[matineeidol2591]

Posted: 10/18/13 at 7:12pm

Expect an announcement in a few days

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 10/18/13 at 7:40pm

dreaming: "what else do we have to go on but our experience?"

our imaginations!

Dreaming, ours sounds like a dialogue between Lee Strasberg and Stella Adler.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 10/18/13 at 7:40pm

duplicate Updated On: 10/19/13 at 07:40 PM

[mybigsplash]

Posted: 10/18/13 at 8:44pm

Jan Maxwell is seriously due a Tony award.

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/19/13 at 2:33am

I'm thrilled for Marin. I hope she wins everybody over, plays the part on Broadway, and ultimately gets a Tony at last!

[theatregeek6]

Posted: 10/19/13 at 6:19am

Dreaming. I respectfully disagree about Mazzie in Kiss Me Kate. I actually thought she played the role quite effectively and was very funny. Just a matter of opinion?

[dreaming]

Posted: 10/19/13 at 9:12am

theatergeek-sure we can respectfully disagree.

best-she's going to be competing with Idina Menzel, maybe Tonya Pinkins (if her role is leading), Fantasia (who might surprise you) in what is essentially a large featured role (Wiest won for supporting actress). There will likely be other leading ladies come spring (the girl who plays Adrienne in "Rocky" and I've heard lovely things about), as well as any last minute entries.

It's a tough year. (Frankly I think they should bump the role to featured but I'm guessing they won't.)

[RaisedOnMusicals]

Posted: 10/19/13 at 4:48pm

"Expect an announcement in a few days." ???

I am not expecting an announcement until the lab concludes.

[StickIt]

Posted: 10/19/13 at 6:32pm

Don't discount Jessie Mueller for leading actress. She's onstage for 80% of the show, it's a challenging part, and her reviews have all been love letters. Also Kelli O'Hara will be in leading for Bridges, I presume, and considering how many times she's been nominated, it wouldn't surprise me if there were people who were ready to finally give her the Tony.

Updated On: 10/19/13 at 06:32 PM

[binau]

Posted: 10/20/13 at 5:43am