O'Hara to Play Babe in Pajama Game Revival- Page 2

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 11:21am

I always felt that Babe was a broad. That is one of the things that I loved so much about Doris Day's performance in the film is that she is so butch at times but then turns right around and is so lady like. That is something that I don't see Miss O'Hara as. Type wise and vocally I see her as SO wrong for this role. I'm not saying that she isn't versatile or untalented, I just feel that there are many better suited actresses for the role.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 11:24am

Well, you're asking the wrong person. If Roz Russell wanted to play Marian, I would have given my right arm to see it, no matter how wrong she'd be.

Look, O'Hara is not the first thought for the role that popped into my head either. But all I'm saying is that the roles we've seen her in here haven't shown all that she can do.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 11:25am

And look how cute they look together...

Updated On: 10/28/05 at 11:25 AM

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 11:32am

Great! Now I'm gonna have to go grab a towel to clean up the mess from that pic of Harry!

Yes, they look good together but I still think she looks too "cute" for Babe.

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 11:34am

Age isn't the problem here at all. It's type. Elaine Stritch (in her own words) looked and acted 40 when she was 20. She always played older. So did Angela Lansbury, who was everyone's mother by the time she was 34. Some people are ingenues until the day they die. They just become aging ingenues. They don't morph into grande dames, broads or authority matrons, just because they get older. It's a "type" issue.

Yes, they look real swell together... but in Carousel, Guys & Dolls, etc.

(Okay, enough of the faint rant from me.) I'll wait and see...

[show2n2]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 11:41am

That's why they call it acting. :) Sure the current role she is playing isn't anything like Babe, but I have a feeling they cast her for a reason. I'm sure even she had to audition, so they must have seen and heard something other than that glorious voice. :)

I say .... Go Kelli~

[Smaxie]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 11:42am

Hey, look on the bright side, best12. Unlike Janis Paige, Kelli O'Hara can sing on key.

[WonderBoy]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 11:53am

First and foremost, we don't speak ill of the fabulous Janis Paige as it is a musical theatre sin!

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 11:56am

For anyone who says O'Hara doesn't have the range for Babe, I would remind you that she originally played Franka in Piazza. I saw her and she was great. When I heard that she was taking over the role of Clara, I thought, "Wow, this girl is versatile as all get up." I am sure she will be able to pull an old warhorse like Babe off in her sleep.
Speaking of sleep...Harry Connick? SNNNNNNNOOOOOZE.
The audience should be wearing Pajamas to this show, cuz he will make them nod off pretty quickly.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 12:08pm

Sid is a boring role. All the fun in Pajama Game stems from Gladys, Hines, Prez, Mae and Mabel, anyway.

And I love Janis Paige, but she's so flat on the recording, she's practically in a lower key.

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 12:40pm

I have to disagree, Smaxie. Janis Paige has (had?) a rich, full alto belt. She does "sit" on a few long notes in Pajama Game, as a character choice, but she doesn't go flat, unless it's for comic effect (and I think I can count those instances on one hand). She's in the category with Susan Johnson and other belty altos of the '50s. I call her a well-trained "character singer."

Flat belongs to Stritch, Orbach, and other fantastic performers who wrestled with their own ears on a pretty constant basis.

And the Queen of Sharp will always be Betsy Joslyn.

Hey! I think we should start a club: The Lords of FLATbush and the Queens of SHARP.

Updated On: 10/28/05 at 12:40 PM

[Katecab99]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 1:24pm

ohh, i'm excited for her! and, obviously, they do look incredibly adorable together.

[hannahshule]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 2:44pm

Well, it's early yet, things may change.

Just be glad that it wasn't given to some Hollywood wannabe/stunt casting. Though I do feel O'Hara has been miscast, i'd rather her than Hilary Duff.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 2:58pm

I've never noticed pitch issues with Susan Johnson or Karen Morrow the way I do with Janis Paige. Paige's singing is rich and full of character, and she does everything with convinction ... she's just a little pitchy. I still delight in her vocals on The Pajama Game (and Here's Love), even if she's not exactly dead center on some of those notes.

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 3:25pm

Smaxie---Fair enough. Janis was an established Warner Bros. movie star. She had pipes better than most film actors who turned up in a Broadway musical back then.

FYI... Susan Johnson is my hero and idle. The queen of the belty-altos "Most Happy Fella" and the later "Brigadoon" studio recording are both incredible performances. Dang, what a voice!

(Sorry for the thread-jack.)

EDIT: hannahshule---That's hilarious. Yes, I'm very grateful this revival didn't resort to stunt casting the female lead. Probably because they felt Harry was a big enough draw by himself. I would rather hear O'Hara than Hillary Duff or Melanie Griffith anyday. I'll take a breath on my "Kelli doubts" and count my blessings now.

Updated On: 10/28/05 at 03:25 PM

[roquat]

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

I love Kelli O'Hara, but why are we reviving PAJAMA GAME? There's really nothing else to revive, is there? The past decade has seen revivals of GUYS AND DOLLS, THE MUSIC MAN, BELLS ARE RINGING, THE BOYS FROM SYRACUSE, THE BOY FRIEND, and, this year, KISMET(Encores). Aside from PAL JOEY, I guess there really aren't any old chestnuts left. Maybe we'll be forced to write some good new original musicals, instead of relentlessly flogging stuff that even high schools have given up on.

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 11:13pm

Roz Russell was the queen of pitchy. One of the best speak/singers EVER.
Updated On: 10/28/05 at 11:13 PM

[Dollypop]

Posted: 10/28/05 at 11:53pm

Dammit! Loretta Swit is passed over yet again!

[Broadwaydannyc]

Posted: 10/29/05 at 2:41am

Any word on who is cast toplay Heinzie?

That role is key to the success of this musical. Great part and great numbers.

This is looking to be a great revival of a darn good 50's era broadway musical.

[Jon]

Posted: 10/29/05 at 7:10am

Current queen of sharp - Carolee Carmello. Listen to JOHN AND JEN and try to figure out what key she's in.

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/29/05 at 1:11pm

Broadwaydannyc --- My vote for Heinzie is Dick Latessa. They'd be crazy not to go after him for it. That role is a perfect fit for him!

While we're at it, Gladys (aka, Miss Steam Heat, Hernando's Hideaway) is a major plum role. I'd love to see Karen Ziemba play this part. Or maybe Charlotte D'Amboise? It's not the LEAD, so they don't have to worry about box office draw. But she has to be a killer dancer that can also sing.

(Okay, I'm thinking of the Fosse choreography... God knows what will end up in this production with Ms. Marshall at the helm.)

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/29/05 at 1:20pm

Oh boy. Can Kelli dance? Is Babe a dancer's role?

I like Ms. Marshall's choreography. She impressed me with WONDERFUL TOWN.

We all know her brother loves messing with Fosse choreography.. so it may run in the family.
Updated On: 10/29/05 at 01:20 PM

[best12bars]

Posted: 10/29/05 at 1:26pm

Babe (Kelli's role) is the lead, but it's not a big dancing role, so no worries there.

Gladys (originated by Carole Haney who won a Featured Tony for it, and had a legendary understudy Shirley MacLaine) is a great comic supporting character and a very big dancing role. She does the show-stopper "Steam Heat" with two of the guys, and also leads the way in "Hernando's Hideaway" --- two of this show's biggest hit songs.

[roquat]

Posted: 10/29/05 at 1:29pm

Kathleen Marshall is an effortless genius.

I don't know about Harry Connick, Jr., though. I think the New Yorker summed it up best with their review of his performance in HOPE FLOATS--

"He is slightly more charismatic than a tree."

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/29/05 at 1:30pm

Hmm. I bet d'Amboise would be great as Gladys! I hope they consider her.