Miscasting At Williamstown

#1

Miscasting At Williamstown

Posted: 2/9/15 at 10:30pm

A Moon for the Misbegotten

August 5 - August 23

By Eugene O'Neill; Directed by Gordon Edelstein

With Audra McDonald & Will Swenson

#2

Miscasting At Williamstown

Posted: 2/9/15 at 10:31pm

patti lupone

#3

Miscasting At Williamstown

Posted: 2/9/15 at 10:36pm

Ya no....I'm so in for this! Summer in the Berkshires it is!!!

#4

Miscasting At Williamstown

Posted: 2/10/15 at 12:15am

Sounds pretty awesome to me.

Were you planning to see it?

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If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it? These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.

#5

Miscasting At Williamstown

Posted: 2/10/15 at 1:21am

I know I will be crucified for saying this--and I love Audra as much as the next Broadway lovin gay here--but she is miscast here. Josie is supposed to be a bigger, tough gal, which Audra is not. Also, I'm pretty sure she's supposed to be way younger too.

#6

Miscasting At Williamstown

Posted: 2/10/15 at 2:34am

In the script, it says Josie is 28 and Jamie is in his early 40s.

I don't believe in definitive productions and performances, but Colleen Dewhurst and Jason Robards come close in the 1973 production.

#7

Miscasting At Williamstown

Posted: 2/10/15 at 8:28am

In the script, it says Josie is 28 and Jamie is in his early 40s.

1957 Broadway premiere: Wendy Hiller (45) and Franchot Tone (52)
1973 revival: Colleen Dewhurst (49) and Jason Robards (51)
1983 London: Frances de la Tour (39) and Ian Bannen (55)
1984 revival: Kate Nelligan (34) and Ian Bannen (56)
2000 revival: Cherry Jones (43) and Gabriel Byrne (50)
2007 London/Broadway: Eve Best (35) and Kevin Spacey (forty-eight)

Updated On: 2/10/15 at 08:28 AM

#8

Miscasting At Williamstown

Posted: 2/10/15 at 9:00am

I think it's great casting.

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....but the world goes 'round

#9

Miscasting At Williamstown

Posted: 2/10/15 at 9:01am

Audra is absolutely perfect. It should be thrilling. The wild card is of course the role of Tyrone, one of the more challenging in American drama. It need enormous depth, but also a kind of showmanship. Personal charisma. So I'll root for a man with mostly musical theater experience to pull off that aspect. He has his work cut out for him, but at least an incandescent co-star who tends to inspire wonderful work from everyone is in her company.

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"I'm a comedian, but in my spare time, things bother me." Garry Shandling

Updated On: 2/10/15 at 09:01 AM

#10

Miscasting At Williamstown

Posted: 2/10/15 at 9:03am

It's "revisionist," and just a way for her and her husband to appear together. It could work though.

#11

Miscasting At Williamstown

Posted: 2/10/15 at 9:36am

Moon has Broadway written all over it. In the fall Audra opens in Moon, in the winter she opens in Night Mother and in the spring - Spiderwoman.
Come Tony time she is nominated for both Moon and Night Mother as Best Actress AND she ties with herself and wins TWO TONYS!!
Oh wait, make that three - another for Spiderwoman!

#12

Miscasting At Williamstown

Posted: 2/10/15 at 9:45am

If youthink this is miscast, then just don't go. Simple, huh?

#13

Miscasting At Williamstown

Posted: 2/10/15 at 10:48am

After Lady Day, I would see Audra in pretty much anything. A fair amount of people didn't think she was right for Billie, but her performance was nothing short of brilliant. I wish I were able to see this production.

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I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.

#14

Miscasting At Williamstown

Posted: 2/10/15 at 10:59am

Couldn't agree more, Wonderful!

Like many here, I had my hesitations that Audra could pull of Billie (her distinctive voice in particular) and was so glad to be proven wrong! I ended up seeing the production three times...and I kick myself for not seeing it more!

Considering Audra's staggering success rate, I think she deserves the benefit of the doubt. Also, in response to imissthemountains, Audra has played "a bigger, tough gal" (to great success...) in "100 Degrees in the Shade." I have no doubt she will be a wonderful Josie. I have some reservations about Swenson in this production, but I am willing to hold those in abeyance.

#15

Miscasting At Williamstown

Posted: 2/10/15 at 11:20am

I'm thrilled.

And I won't miss it.

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"Two drifters off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see. . ."

#16

Miscasting At Williamstown

Posted: 2/10/15 at 11:23am

Neither will I!

#17

Miscasting At Williamstown

Posted: 8/3/15 at 11:18am

Performances start this week...anyone going? I'm headed there this weekend and couldn't be more excited!

#18

Miscasting At Williamstown

Posted: 8/3/15 at 11:28am

I'll be at both performances on August 15.

#19

Miscasting At Williamstown

Posted: 8/3/15 at 12:12pm

Count me in.

#20

Miscasting At Williamstown

Posted: 8/3/15 at 1:48pm

I'll be at the evening performance on the 15th. With two friends.

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"Two drifters off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see. . ."

#21

Miscasting At Williamstown

Posted: 8/3/15 at 4:03pm

As will we!

#22

Brilliant casting at Williamstown!

Posted: 8/3/15 at 11:39pm

^^ Wish we could change the name of this thread.

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"Two drifters off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see. . ."

Updated On: 8/3/15 at 11:39 PM

#23

Brilliant casting at Williamstown!

Posted: 8/4/15 at 12:23am

Right?

#24

Brilliant casting at Williamstown!

Posted: 8/16/15 at 9:23pm

More to follow, but: Wow. What a production. And what a performance.

It was brilliant casting and the chemistry between Audra and Will was palpable.

I'm so grateful to have seen it. It was not to be missed.

(And I still hate the title of this thread!).

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"Two drifters off to see the world. There's such a lot of world to see. . ."

#25

Brilliant casting at Williamstown!

Posted: 8/17/15 at 1:37am

I thought it was beautifully cast all around. I think the African-American angle is more resonant nowadays than the original Irish Catholic vs. English Protestant would be. No wonder she feels that Jamie wouldn't want to be pictured with her in the newspaper.