I could see her as Reno. Hell, there's still time. She's aging beautifully. Did she turn it down? She'd have been wonderful in that role.
Really, I don't think there's anything she can't do. I just don't see her as a Sally for some reason, although, sometimes, the strangest casting ends up being the best. I didn't think someone like Tyne Daly would work as Rose and she's probably my favorite to date.
If you listen to any of Mullaly's CDs or have seen her in concert, you will see she can go very dark and very deep. It's a shame she is synonymous with that awful Karen Walker. I think she would be a fantastic Sally but audiences might not be willing to go there with her. (As this thread is proving.)
"The sexual energy between the mother and son really concerns me!"-random woman behind me at Next to Normal
"I want to meet him after and bang him!"-random woman who exposed her breasts at Rock of Ages, referring to James Carpinello
It is a damn shame she's almost in a trap of Karen. At the start of Young Frankenstein she was doing her own, new take on Elizabeth. I'm not saying she was amazing, but it was different. Towards the end of her run she was doing literal Karen schtick that didn't fit the character but the audience ate it up. She finally must have gotten bored and thought "give 'em what they want."
Bettyboy, all "fantasy" casting is speculative at best. I'm basing my speculation on many roles other than Karen Walker. And I readily admit I could be wrong.
I wouldn't hesitate to buy a ticket to see Mullally in anything. But if we're talking about ideal FOLLIES casting, she isn't at the top of my list for Sally or Phyllis.
This has nothing to do with thinking she can only play Karen Walker. Her CDs prove her to do a great job with Brecht/Weill numbers and even country. Her "Danny Boy", which includes the gory, over-the-top second verse, is chilling when it could easily be ridiculous.
But in each case, Mullally reaches for the most extreme or off-beat choice (and usually nails it). I think that's what she LIKES to do, but it isn't ideal for certain roles. IMO, of course.