Odd casting ideas that just might work

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 10/18/15 at 9:51pm

Ever had one of those?

 

I had one just this evening. Is it utter sacrilege to find the idea of Dame Edna Everage as Madame Armfeldt in A Little Night Music intriguing? (Think of it as her first serious role. Could be really interesting. Aside from dipping into a few of her usual tics during "Liaisons," I think Dame Edna could play it mostly straight, no pun intended.)

 

The idea came because I was watching a Theater Talk interview from 2004, and suddenly something she said reminded me of Desiree's mother and I thought to myself, "Well, it wouldn't really add anything, but it wouldn't subtract anything either." It's not about her bringing anything new to it, per se, just that the idea is nice. And while I love the late Elaine Stritch and can even justify to myself her portrayal of Madame Armfeldt as a Broadway baby (word has it that it worked pretty well with whatever Bernadette Peters was doing), it has almost nothing to do with what's in the text. Dame Edna would have been much more fitting.

Anyone have ideas like these?

Updated On: 10/18/15 at 09:51 PM

[gypsy101]

Posted: 10/18/15 at 11:23pm

An odd idea like a fictional character playing a role in a Broadway musical?

[SidebySidebyLogan]

Posted: 10/19/15 at 2:32am

gypsy101 said: "An odd idea like a fictional character playing a role in a Broadway musical?"

I guess so because mine is along the same lines. Jacob Hoffer A.K.A. Jinkx Monsoon as Lola in Damn Yankees. It would all be dependent on if he can pull off the choreography, of course. But there's something about Jinkx that screams Gwen Verdon to me. 

 

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 10/19/15 at 12:24pm

Hey, I didn't say it wasn't off-kilter. The title of the thread is "Odd casting ideas that just might work," after all. True, Dame Edna is a fictional character played by Barry Humphries, but Barry Humphries as Dame Edna as Madame Armfeldt, I thought, would be an interesting fit. Problem?

[gypsy101]

Posted: 10/19/15 at 5:48pm

No problem! i thought it was a fun idea I was just confused about the premise / question.

 

So kind of like Lea Michele as Rachel Berry as Fanny Brice! (which most people on this board would hate to death)

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

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

They would hate it, probably, yes. As for me, she's not Barbra, never will be, but you could do a lot worse in terms of a moneymaker.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 10/20/15 at 12:12pm

If she played the role as Dame Edna she'd be completely wrong for it and would eclipse the production. Unless, of course the production would be a cross-the-board goof with comparably absurd casting choices all around.  Which could work on its own terms. 

If "she" played the role in a very different light, people would no doubt miss Dame Edna's presence.  
Moreover, I don't see the benefit of being impressed with the versatility of a fictional character.  It would most likely appear simply as if Humphries were playing the role in drag: not as Dame Edna, but as his interpretation of Madame Armfeldt.  Nothing wrong with that, of course, but it has nothing to do with Edna.

But maybe I'm way off base. Just maybe, it could work. With Humphries giving the character enough of Edna to make us believe it is her stretching herself and triumphing. I have my doubts, though.

Updated On: 10/20/15 at 12:12 PM

[AHLiebross]

Posted: 10/20/15 at 9:14pm

I always thought that Spock, from Star Trek, would make a good Phantom. I prefer the cold Phantoms to the hysterical ones.