Papermill announces the most boring cast in the world for Lost in Yonkers

[adamgreer]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 2:19am

I read the headline and saw the name "Buckley" and thought they got Betty for Grandma. No such luck.

Seriously, is this cast for real? This has got to be the biggest snooze of the year. I LOVE this play, but this is the best they could muster up? They'd better be ready for half-empty houses this winter.

And no, I don't want stars, but Bella and Grandma are two FABULOUS female roles. They could have gotten women with some credits to their name.
Boring cast

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 2:20am

For a regional theater that employed ELAINE STRITCH last season, this is incredibly disappointing. *yawn*

[Q]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 2:46am

SOOOO, people bitch about 'stunt-casting' non-theater professionals, but then ALSO bitch when solid theater professionals get the jobs. In a regional production, no less!

[adamgreer]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 2:51am

Read what I wrote, Q. I didn't say stunt-cast. I said cast some people with a bit of a pedigree. Considering the theatre professionals Papermill has employed in the recent past, this cast is second rate.
Updated On: 1/1/10 at 02:51 AM

[Kad]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 3:00am

It's still a regional theatre. And many of these actors have extremely respectable credits- it's not as if they cast some nobodies off a street. Just because you don't know their names doesn't mean they're any less talented than "stars".

[Q]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 3:04am

"cast some people with a bit of a pedigree"

Please indicate where they haven't.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 3:06am

For the second time, I didn't say they should cast stars. However, we're talking about a theatre that in the past has employed the likes of Elaine Stritch, Chita Rivera, Christine Ebersole, Harriet Harris, Betty Buckley, Ann Miller, Karen Ziemba, Robert Cuccioli, Jane Kaczamarek, Kelly Bishop, Tony Robers, Carolee Carmello, Donna McKechnie, Matt Bogart, Judy Kaye, George Hearn, Dee Hoty, and so forth. None of them would ever be considered stunt-casting or big "stars." But, all of them are infinitely more interesting than these people.

And I am convinced they could have gotten solid NY actresses for the two female leads. Those are fabulous roles.



Updated On: 1/1/10 at 03:06 AM

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 3:09am

Papermill has recently experienced money problems so that may have been a reason for the no name cast.

In addition, Brighton had a great cast & it did not make any difference in the end.

[Q]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 3:17am

I think these ARE NYC actors - working actors who have a building resume (or established credits that go back many years) - and this is just another link in that chain.

I find the concept that because their names aren't recognizable it becomes 'boring' offensive. In the extreme, actually.

There are performers on this very site who don't have the credits these people do, and I would be THRILLED for them to have the chance at solid work such as this.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 3:20am

Sometimes understudys or lesser known actors are better than stars tackling theater roles. An example is Julia Roberts who was less than great in 3 Days of Rain.

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 3:22am

I'm sorry, but an unknown regional actor like Sara Surrey in the Tony-winning role of Bella was NOT what I was expecting for a role like that.

I'm sure she'll be competent, but that is not what I was expecting from Papermill.

[Q]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 3:25am

Not to put too fine a point on it, but how exactly is anyone supposed to GET known in your particular view?

[adamgreer]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 3:27am

The Old Globe is doing the show this winter as well. They got Judy Kaye for Grandma. Is she a name? No. However, she's a heck of a lot more interesting than Rosemary Prinz.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 3:27am

I could care less who the actors are as long as they are good & the show is as well.

I saw the original years ago & if I lived in Jersey I would not hesitate to see it with this cast.

[Q]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 3:31am

"she's a heck of a lot more interesting than Rosemary Prinz"

Unless you're familiar with Ms. Prinz's work, I can only assume that the real difference is in name recognition. If that's the case, there really isn't any discussion to take place.

Sorry you'll miss out on seeing people you find 'interesting'. Hopefully, some other people will actually be entertained by the play.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 3:43am

adamgreer, you're a tool!

You, too, ljay!

That is all.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 3:45am

K.

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 3:45am

Lmao <3

[BillFinn]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 4:12am

Um, Alex Wyse is extremely talented and I've heard wonderful things of him in the role when they most recently did it in Florida. Same goes for Rosemary. You should really go see it before you label it as "boring".

[singtopher]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 4:31am

God forbid someone who doesn't light up signs across Broadway gets the chance to play a fabulous role at the Papermill Playhouse.

[Jon]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 8:46am

Rosemary Prinz was a very well known soap opera star in the 1960's and 70's, and was an extremely popular leading lady in the many "star" summer stock theatres of the era.

[sweetTb'way]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 8:50am

This thread (the OP) would read offensive to any actor that happens to read it. They work endlessly auditioning for work. You mention 'credits to their name.' The credits of the actors are listed in the article.

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 10:08am

What a disgusting thread. I would kill (not literally) to work at Papermill, as would many actors, but by your logic, we shouldn't have the chance because we're not as interesting as someone else, as we're not slightly recognizable to theatregoers. Thank you so much.

And Q is absolutely right - how are people supposed to become "interesting" if they're not given the chance to shine in great roles?
Updated On: 1/1/10 at 10:08 AM

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 10:14am

Wow, I didn't realize that actors are automatically "boring" unless adamgreer has heard of them.

Thanks for enlightening me.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 10:26am

This thread is so horrible for so many reasons.