O'Hara to Play Babe in Pajama Game Revival

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 10/27/05 at 7:02pm

I am a big fan, but she is soooooooooooooo wrong for this role.

O'Hara in Pajama Game Updated On: 10/27/05 at 07:02 PM

[bdwybug55]

Posted: 10/27/05 at 7:05pm

Oh, I don't know. Remember Doris Day played her in the movie. Kelli O'Hara seems like a very talented lady and I'm sure there are many sides to her that we have yet to see. I say...give her a chance and...hey...she and Harry Connick will look totally hot together. That certainly can not be all that bad. I was really hoping that they would have given Kate Baldwin a chance but I am looking forward to seeing what Ms. O'Hara does with the role.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 10/27/05 at 7:07pm

Yes, but he's a number of years older than her. It just seems like a waste of a role for her beautiful soprano.

[bdwybug55]

Posted: 10/27/05 at 7:13pm

I do agree with and think it will be a waste of her glorious soprano...but...she has shown that she exceeds in that area so I'm sure she is excited about getting to show us another side of herself. I agree that at first thought she seems to come across as too elegant and sweet for Babe but I for one am going to be anxiously awaiting her portrayal and I say give her a chance.

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 10/27/05 at 7:20pm

Finally she'll get a chance to win the Tony that she was unfairly denied.

At least Sara showed up THAT night at the theater.

Updated On: 10/27/05 at 07:20 PM

[Doogie]

Posted: 10/27/05 at 7:41pm

Hate to break it to you-

O'Hara will more than likely NOT win the tony this year.

Why??

LaChanze apparently has an amazing role in which she is phenomenal.

Maria Friedman is regarded by some as the greatest MT actress alive today.

LuPone could be a sentimental favorite.

Benanti is a dark horse, but depending on how well she does, she could be rewarded (she has been around a lot longer).

While I love O'Hara (AMAZING in Piazza), Babe (or PJ Game in general) isn't a deep, "sink your teeth into it" role. She may get a nomination, but a win is, imho, not in the cards.

[gustof777]

Posted: 10/27/05 at 8:35pm

Wow....who saw this coming? But great for her! This is an interesting choice for sure and yeah it won't show off her voice like Piazza but it is stretching another muscle and it shows her versatility as an actress. That she can do more than one style. She is awesome

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 10/27/05 at 8:50pm

this is TOTALLY out of the blue.

NEVER would have expected Kelli O'Hara...EVER. I really though Ziemba was gonna pull through for this one.

And it is a shame, because unless the show does VERY well critically and financially, she'll probably get a nom. but the part doesn't give her enough to work with to face off against some of the major star power that'd leading p to this Tony race.

From the way the show sare shaping up though, It looks like Harry Connick Jr. could be in VERY good shape.

This is shaping out to be a VERY exciting season, I must say.

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/27/05 at 8:57pm

Man, this is just... wrong. Babe isn't an "ingenue." I know O'Hara is tired of playing ingenues, but hey... that's what she is and she's terrific at it. A beautiful, blonde, talented SOPRANO. She's Marian the librarian... or Anne in "A Little Night Music." Not Petra, the saucy maid.

Janis Paige originated the role in Pajama Game, and Julie Wilson replaced her. If you know their work at all, they are tough, no-nonsense, funny, belting "broads." (Janis rocked in the movie "Silk Stockings" as the spoof-of-Esther-Williams movie star.) They are high-belt altos. This is the way Doris approached it in the movie as well. She came out tough and swinging.

There are SO many talented ladies working in the theatre scene that are right for this. O'Hara isn't one of them. She doesn't have enough weight (aka toughness) to pull this off with any lasting effect. I would love to see her in a classy revival of Music Man, Most Happy Fella, My Fair Lady, Brigadoon or Camelot.

But I just got depressed about seeing Pajama Game.

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 10/27/05 at 9:13pm

you never know. I'm pulling for this show BIG TIME and I'll bet O'Hara can belt with the best of them.

However, it doesnt' look too promising. She's too young to play opposite Connick Jr.

and no offense, best12bars, but I think that the role of Babe Williams is one for an ingenue. I think she' very tough on the outside, but inside she's very meek, and as the show moves into the second act, she gets to be more and more like the typical ingenue.

[wexy]

Posted: 10/27/05 at 9:30pm

I just downloaded the original to Ipod but my Roundabout ticket is not until April so my review won't be forthcoming for a while.

I saw a nice production of Pajama Game at CenterStage in Baltimore in 2001.

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 10/27/05 at 9:31pm

O'Hara is currently one of our best musical theater singer/actors. It seems that people can only picture her in some legit, classic piece as "Camelot" or "Happy Fella" where a soaring voice is required.

Ms O'Hara has proven that she has the versatility and range to do many many things. I'm sure she will have no problem going from "Piazza" to "Pajama".

And O'Hara is a lock for a Tony nom (unless this show and/or she turns out to be DOTV part 2). She is so well respected for her range of work and it's no secret that many favored her to win and be honored with a Tony. And considering the person they did give the award to, I think they'll be more than happy award Ms O'Hara with, at least, a nomination.

[ken8631]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 8:02am

I actually liked her in "Dracula" too.

[IssaMe]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 8:11am

Actually, this is totally expected...she has been saying for months that she wants this role.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 9:16am

Saying where? We all can't be her best friend, so clearly for a lot of us, it is unexpected.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 9:38am

i will definitely be at the first preview of this show. So excited for Kelli!

[Jon]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 10:23am

Karen Ziemba was NEVER under serous consideration for this production. She did the role three years ago for Encores, opposite Brent Barrett, who's a proper match for her, age-wise. Karen turns 48 in a couple of weeks, and would not look good opposite Harry Conick Jr.

On the other hand, rumors have it she's being considered for Cassie in the A CHORUS LINE revival, which is even more ridiculous. She played that role more than 20 years ago!

And I LOVE Karen!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 10:31am

Karen just finished a role where she was playing mid-30's. Not something she can get away with on film, but onstage...

Just sayin'.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 10:35am

Ziemba is 48? Wow. I had no idea.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 10:37am

She is almost 48, yes. She looks great and has a youthful energy that belies her age.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 10:49am

Just some history here...

John Raitt was 38 when he did the Broadway musical of The Pajama Game, 40 when he did the movie. Harry Connick Jr. is 39.

Janis Paige was 33 when she did the show, and Doris Day was 33 when she did the movie. Kelli O'Hara will be turning 30 next year.

I don't find either Connick or O'Hara too far away from their stage and screen predecessors in age and general appearance. And while O'Hara has been known for playing ingenue roles, she can belt like there's no tomorrow, and she can be very funny. I don't blame her for seeking the role: there's a lot that she can do that no one has quite seen yet.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 10:54am

thank you smaxie for the history and your insight. while i have only seen Kelli in roles that show off her soprano, i have high hopes for her in this role. can't wait to see and hear her belt the hell out of "i'm not at all in love" and "there once was a man who loved a woman." she is going to be fabulous!

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 11:07am

She will definitely be playing against type... But she's a talented actress/singer, no denying that. Others (okay, not very many, in truth) have played against type successfully... so maybe she'll be one of the lucky and rare few.

I know this isn't Shakespeare (as far as degree of difficulty), but I just don't picture her being a natural tomboyish "broad," fitting this role like a glove... I think she'll more likely come off as a sweet "mouse that roared." The no-nonsense authority of Babe, the strong-willed, "my father always wished he'd had a boy" fighter, will be forced on her small frame and sweet demeanor like a Halloween mask. (A prejudgment, admittedly.)

Hey, imagine if they announced Rosalind Russell (in her youthful prime) was cast as Marian in "The Music Man." It's just as much of a head-scratcher.

If she pulls this off, I will be the first to "eat crow" and admit it. I wish her the best of luck in the part.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 11:11am

For the longest time, composer Richard Adler wanted Rebecca Luker for the role. Now THAT would have been fatal. Give Kelli a chance.

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 11:15am

Smaxie---Yikes! I guess I see O'Hara as the same basic type as Luker (maybe a little more home-spun). And a bit younger, of course.

This is why composers don't direct.

Yes, I will give Kelli a chance. (gulp)

Hypothetical: Would you give Roz Russell (30-ish?) a shot at Marian the librarian??