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Mary Testa as 'Ursula'......

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#1

Mary Testa as 'Ursula'......

Posted: 2/27/08 at 7:22pm

After listening to the Cast Recording of "The Little Mermaid" and hearing Sherie Rene Scott's Mezzo as Ursula, it made me sort of wish she had more of the Pat Carroll deeper voice. How do you think Mary Testa would do in the part? She's definately got the deeper voice! I'd love to see her take over one day!
#2

re: Mary Testa as 'Ursula'......

Posted: 2/27/08 at 8:18pm

I don't know about Mary... I'd have to think on that for a while.

But I ADORE Emily Skinner's "Poor Unfortunate Souls". So amazing!!
Experience live theater. Experience paintings. Experience books. Live, look and listen like artists! ~ imaginethis
LIVE THAT LESSON!!!!!!
#3

re: Mary Testa as 'Ursula'......

Posted: 2/27/08 at 8:24pm

Mary would be far better suited to play Ursula then Sheri. Was not a big fan of the way Sheri played the part, and would LOVE to see Mary take on the role. I saw her as Mamma Morton in Chicago and loved her!
#4

re: Mary Testa as 'Ursula'......

Posted: 2/27/08 at 9:24pm

That would be AMAZING.
http://www.beintheheights.com/katnicole1 (Please click and help me win!) I chose, and my world was shaken- So what?
The choice may have been mistaken, The choosing was not... "Every day has the potential to be the greatest day of your life." - Lin-Manuel Miranda
"And when Idina Menzel is singing, I'm always slightly worried that her teeth are going to jump out of her mouth and chase me." - Schmerg_the_Impaler
#5

re: Mary Testa as 'Ursula'......

Posted: 2/27/08 at 10:29pm

As it is the case with everything she does, Mary Testa would be heavenly as Usurla. I think along with Sara Ramirez she might be the best casting idea for this show.
Having said that, the more I listen to Ursula's two major songs, the more I'm getting into Sherie's rendition.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
#7

re: Mary Testa as 'Ursula'......

Posted: 2/27/08 at 10:40pm

I said this from the beginning :)
How can they see with sequins in their eyes?
#9

re: Mary Testa as 'Ursula'......

Posted: 2/27/08 at 11:22pm

I'm also not such a fan of Sherie's performance. Mary would be fantastic.
#10

re: Mary Testa as 'Ursula'......

Posted: 2/28/08 at 12:02am

Mary Testa in anything (especially Ursula) would be fanfrickentastic
You're reminding me of people you hear at the movies asking questions every ten seconds, "Who is that? Why is that guy walking down the street? Who's that lady coming up to him? Uh-oh, why did that car go by? Why is it so dark in this theater?" - FindingNamo on strummergirl

"If artists were machines, then I'm just a different kind of machine...I'd probably be a toaster. Actually, I'd be a toaster oven because they're more versatile. And I like making grilled cheese" -Regina Spektor

"That's, like, twelve shows! ...Or seven." -Crazy SA Fangirl

"They say that just being relaxed is the most important thing [in acting]. I take that to another level, I think kinda like yawning and...like being partially asleep onstage is also good, but whatever." - Sherie Rene Scott
#11

re: Mary Testa as 'Ursula'......

Posted: 2/28/08 at 12:57am

Yes please. Mary Testa in anything is wonderful.
"Your lyrics lack subtlety! You can't just have your characters announce how they feel! That makes me feel angry!"
#12

re: Mary Testa as 'Ursula'......

Posted: 2/28/08 at 1:02am

How about Lauren Kennedy? i think she would rock.
And she needs to be back on Broadway A.S.A.P.
#13

re: Mary Testa as 'Ursula'......

Posted: 2/28/08 at 1:38am

It will be interesting if Mary gets a TONY nom and Sheri doesn't due to MERMAID's reviews.
They cast Sherie because she can sing, like Crazy but it's the wrong part for her.
Supt. Musical Actress category is so over crowded this year.
#15

re: Mary Testa as 'Ursula'......

Posted: 2/28/08 at 7:43am

Lauren Kennedy should never play Ursula.

I'm reaaaally not a fan of Sherie's Ursula. I don't know if it's Sherie or the direction, but there's no character development at all. She plays a vaudevillain, slapstick character of herself? almost. The different accents, the Vanessa Williams/Ugly Betty type of humor. In the movie, Ursula was funny because you knew she could get EVIL when it got down to it. You don't see that in the musical. You don't see Ursula's "dark magic" like the movie.
Bill Finn rocks. Woot.
#16

re: Mary Testa as 'Ursula'......

Posted: 2/28/08 at 8:24am

I've been a fan of Mary doing it from day one! I agree - I'm not a big fan of Sherie in the role for all the reasons that have already been said.

Someone suggested to me the other day - why not really do the Divine thing and have a guy in drag do it. I'm not sure what I think about it... it would be REALLY creepy if you got the right guy. But again that's if you got the right guy.

Buy I really do think Mary would have been the best choice. Even in "Xanadu" which is a fun silly show (in the best way possible) she had that brilliant mix of humor and really rather scary evilness. I wasn't scared of Sherie at all - and I think that's a big problem - if you never feel like Ariel's really in danger. (Pat Carroll scared me to death as a kid! And I loved it!)
Madame Morrible: "So you take the chicken, now it must be a white chicken. The corpse can be any color. And that is the spell for lost luggage!" - The Yellow Brick Road Not Taken
#17

re: Mary Testa as 'Ursula'......

Posted: 2/28/08 at 8:46am

I agree. Sherie is a wonderful performer, especially when she was in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, but at this point in her life, I think Ursula is the wrong choice for her. She sounds great, but her acting is very odd as the character. I think Mary would have been amazing. I also think Bea Arthur would have been amazing.
#18

re: Mary Testa as 'Ursula'......

Posted: 2/28/08 at 9:19am

"But I ADORE Emily Skinner's "Poor Unfortunate Souls."

Me too! I haven't seen Little Mermaid, but Sherie seemed like an odd choice to play the role, despite her being a wonderful performer; however, I can't truly judge since I haven't seen the show. I bought the cast recording yesterday on iTunes and wish they cast someone with a bit deeper voice...it kind of takes away from the evil of Ursula (then again, I haven't seen the show, so...).
"We like to snark around here. Sometimes we actually talk about theater...but we try not to let that get in our way." - dramamama611
#19

re: Mary Testa as 'Ursula'......

Posted: 2/28/08 at 9:34am

yeah - I totally agree with the "Vaudeville" analogy. She needs to be SCARY! The whole time I was watching the show I kept thinking they took the "aunt Ursula teaching her niece an important "girl-power" lesson" WAY to far.
Madame Morrible: "So you take the chicken, now it must be a white chicken. The corpse can be any color. And that is the spell for lost luggage!" - The Yellow Brick Road Not Taken
#20

re: Mary Testa as 'Ursula'......

Posted: 2/28/08 at 10:40am

Yes... Bea Aurthur! I don't know if she'd still be up for doing 8 shows a week at her age and at this point in her life... but she can certainly sing and act. And she's definitely got the voice down, too. Another vote for Ms. Dorothy Zbornak!

Updated On: 2/28/08 at 10:40 AM

#21

re: Mary Testa as 'Ursula'......

Posted: 2/28/08 at 1:35pm

BillFinn, I agree. I'm just not sold on her Ursula. I don't know where the problem lies -- directing, her, etc.

Echoing what others said, I really wanted someone with a big, deep voice who could get really EVIL. Sherie's voice sounds too young.

Updated On: 2/28/08 at 01:35 PM

#23

re: Mary Testa as 'Ursula'......

Posted: 2/28/08 at 10:14pm

Mary would be a great choice.
The only review of a show that matters is your own.
#24

re: Mary Testa as 'Ursula'......

Posted: 2/28/08 at 10:43pm

Mary would be great. Sherie has tried to turn Ursula into some other thing that does just not suit the character. It's horrible.

I'm seeing Heidi Blickenstaff on March 30th, which I'm very excited about. Hopefully, she'll make Ursula her own and I have faith that she'll do a great job.
#25

re: Mary Testa as 'Ursula'......

Posted: 2/29/08 at 10:26am

Just showin' a little more love for Mary.
Laughter is much more important than applause. Applause is almost a duty. Laughter is a reward. Carol Channing

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