Ned Beatty disses his costars in tomorrow's Times

Get ready for a cool breeze to wash over the already tepid tin roof. Mr. Beatty makes pointed comments about the shortcomings of his two (young) co-stars in a beyond "candid" interview in the Tuesday Times. He doesn't mince words dissing Patric's and Judd's work. Even if he's right, as many here and elsewhere suggest, this is a breach of ettiquette, bad form, ungenerous -- and just plain tacky. Is this his idea of helping sell the show?

---

Updated On: 11/24/03 at 08:39 PM

Oh, Daddy, you bitch!

---

Why? Will somebody make him squeal like a pig?

---

Wynona, while visiting Sis backstage.

---

I betcha Harvey Fierstein is waiting for Ned to get whacked by Jason & Ashley so Harvey can take over the role.

I bet Forbidden Broadway is peeing their pants to get this sketch onstage.

---

Updated On: 11/24/03 at 10:10 PM

Maybe Brando is planning to step in and make a comeback?

---

The main problem is, Ned Beatty is right, Judd and Patric are boring in parts that are so perfectly written. Both are good screen actors but can't deliver on stage (in other words, they are celebrities and not actors). Shame on the producers for bringing in names that can't do the roles. Bravo to Mr. Beatty for simply saying the truth.

---

It is such a shame to read of both the unrest amongst the cast and the apparent shortcomings of messrs Patric and Judd. This is a GREAT play that deserves great performances. I saw the West End production in 2001, in which Beatty was superb. That staging also went for big screen names in its casting but in that instance they got it right. Brendad Fraser was excellent as Brick and Frances O'Connor was electrifying as Maggie.

---

c'mon, it's not like ol' neddy came out with, "well it's a bit like being onstage with tape recorders placed on furniture, because these two are as animated flip books." i mean even the director said that the cast was not where he wanted them to be when he left the production. sounds like the producers mucked it up by not getting the scheduling right and allowing the director to get away before the product was finished.

i get a big kick though out of people on message boards who spent a good deal of time trashing the performances of both judd and jason who now have come out and voiced righteous indignation at the fact that beatty shares their views and has the audacity to speak them. no, i don't necessarily mean anyone on this board. hey, what does neddy care. he says clearly that he's done better work in regional theatres than on broadway.

i wonder though why they replaced fraser with jason? scheduling conflict?

nothing like a good old festivus airing of the grievances, eh?

---

Papa!

Ain't it the truth!? I, myself, would not necessarily make Mr. Beatty's choice to comment on his co-stars performances in the middle of the run, but that's just me!

HOWEVER, all this hand-wringing is KILLING me because not only have many people stated (and in a much more vicious tone) the same feelings about Mr. Patric and Ms. Judd, but they also have bemoaned the fact that unqualified screen actors are taking jobs away from wonderful stage actors. I mean...isn't that what this article is all about??? He's saying in a very public way what all of us (and most everyone else in this business) have been saying over the past few years!
THE ARTICLE

---

Updated On: 11/25/03 at 11:07 AM

another view of this is that it's an attmept by beatty to light a fire under his co-stars. i mean can they fail to rise to this kind of challenge? if nothing else it will change the dynamics of the performances, because i doubt that anybody over there is "professional" enough to pretend it didn't happen...ok, maybe margo.

beatty may not be a regular on the broadway stage, but he cannot fail to appreciate the effect that such comments made in the ny times will have. it'd be one thing if the post reported it, then you'd see troops of people just dismissing it, but the times?

i'm sure many people will and do disagree with him for doing it, but then, we're not onstage 8 times a week with them either. if his little stunt gets some sparks going the production might benefit. either way, he's given us all something to talk about and for that i salute you ned!

and auggie, "that regional theatre ar-teest" as you call him was one of the only things that was uniformly praised in this production.

---

hehehehe...wake up, animal, betty grable's on the phone...

---

Did anyone see the show to see how the cast and audience reacted to Ned Beatty? I can recall this being done after the fact, but very rarely in middle of a run. Except of course anonymously on a message board.