Musings on casting MAME — Page 3

Bette Midler. Donna Murphy. Bernadette Peters. Age isn't overly important, just make Patrick her grand-nephew or something if it concerns you that much. I'm only thinking here of who would be best, not who would sell the most tickets. Kirstie Alley would have been good.

I don't really understand why Jerry Herman thinks a British actress would be better. He obviously had a very narrow view of what British means. Joanna Lumley could play either Mame or Vera, or just give it to Imelda Staunton, she gets everything else. I don't think singing talent is crucial.

Jay Lerner-Z said: "Bette Midler. Donna Murphy. Bernadette Peters. Age isn't overly important, just make Patrick her grand-nephew or something if it concerns you that much. I'm only thinking here of who would be best, not who would sell the most tickets. Kirstie Alley would have been good.

I don't really understand why Jerry Herman thinks a British actress would be better. He obviously had a very narrow view of what British means. Joanna Lumley could play either Mame or Vera, or just give it to Imelda Staunton, she gets everything else. I don't think singing talent is crucial."

He was probably prejudiced based on Lansbury’s performance. After her, there have not been a lot of good Mame’s.

The only way to make a hit out of a revival of this show would be to cast Hugh Jackman as Mame and I don't think he wants to do it.

Impeach2017 said: "Baranski was put in the wrong role, unfortunately. CZJ would be a top choice, but I doubt she would do it at this stage. Someone with "crossover" appeal like Bette (10 years ago) would be ideal. I'm thinking Jennifer Coolidge (can she even sing?)."



CZ was so erratic in NIGHT MUSIC that she won't be welcomed back to Broadway for a long time--if ever.

I agree, would be good to know if by erratic you mean performance or backstage behaviour etc. At least from a front of house/audience perspective, CZJ actually achieved quite a lot in Night Music - she was clearly a draw who could bring in the crowds to pay top dollar, she gave a Tony-winning performance that when I saw it at least was glamorous, well-sung and warm (much better than the awful Tony performance itself), she had very good attendance. At the end of the day, she seemed to do what was asked of her (cf. nightmare cases like Sheridan Smith in Funny Girl). At least if some of the factors hold true again, I'm not sure why a Producer would run away at the chance to have her again except that if she can only commit for this short amount of time it's probably difficult to recoup costs (this was rumoured to be the reason why other A-listers approached did not move forward with the production...Kate Winslet at one point or Cate Blanchett? I can't remember).

JSquared2 said: "Loretta Swit"



With Joyce DeWitt as Vera

Jay Lerner-Z said: "The Sheridan Smith/Funny Girl thing had a happy ending, didn't it?"



How does that even remotely apply to the topic of this thread?

Sutton Foster - Mame. Sierra Boggess - Vera. They were wonderful together at the Hollywood Bowl "Into the Woods" concert.

Impeach2017 said: "Baranski was put in the wrong role, unfortunately. CZJ would be a top choice, but I doubt she would do it at this stage. Someone with "crossover" appeal like Bette (10 years ago) would be ideal. I'm thinking Jennifer Coolidge (can she even sing?)."

Yes, Baranski should have played Vera. The roles should have been reversed. She is too cold a performer for Mame, but her Vera, Harriet Harris (the underrated Harriet Harris!!) had both the warmth and delivery to have made Mama special.

Dollypop said: "Penna2 said: "Sutton Foster - Mame. Sierra Boggess - Vera. They were wonderful together at the Hollywood Bowl "Into the Woods" concert."



Sutton is an exceptional performer but she has a wholesomeness about her. Mame should be worldly.

Okay, before you say no to this one, think about it a minute. Kristen Chenoweth.

Sutton will be absolutely perfect for this in a few years.

BCfitasafiddle said: "Sutton will be absolutely perfect for this in a few years."

I mean, she's already several years older than Angela Lansbury was at the time.

hork said: "BCfitasafiddle said: "Sutton will be absolutely perfect for this in a few years."

I mean, she's already several years older than Angela Lansbury was at the time.

True, Angela was 41. Rosalind Russell was 51.