Papermill announces the most boring cast in the world for Lost in Yonkers- Page 2

[best12bars]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 10:30am

It only reinforces all the shallow trends in commercial theatre today.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 10:56am

I can't wait for this. It's one of my favorite plays and I've waited years to see it live again. I do think sadly it won't have the draw a lot of other shows there have, which is a shame because it's a play that should be seen.

And in a perfect world, I would kill to see Jan Maxwell as Bella.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 10:56am

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.

I love the implication that because you don't know who they are, they're "second rate." Charming.

[Q]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 11:21am

"a bit of a pedigree"

I'm still confused by where this line is being drawn. Perhaps I'm missing something, but reading through some of the actor's credits indicates to me that they DO have this so-called 'pedigree'.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 11:30am

What a stupid and nasty thread to begin the new year.

Rosemary Prinz is a wonderful stage actress with a few decades of soap-opera stardom on Asthe World Turns, All My Children and Ryan's Hope that should bring in some suburban audiences.

And you have the effrontery to condemn her entire career as "boring" without so much as knowing who she is?

Sheesh.

Updated On: 1/1/10 at 11:30 AM

[nealb1]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 12:00pm

Adam, you seem to know what's best for Papermill, so why don't you do every role in the show, and then we'll all buy tickets to come and see you. Talk about boring.........

[singtopher]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 12:02pm

It's not boring, I know who he is.

[nealb1]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 12:59pm

If it's not boring, then what is it?

[Q]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 1:16pm

Who he is has no bearing on the attitude being displayed. In fact, if he's a performer, it makes it worse in my eyes.

[Chris3]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 1:22pm

I bet they are all wonderful!

This is a tour. They are using the same cast from the Maltz Jupiter Theater to the Cleveland Playhouse to Paper Mill.

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2009/dec/08/simons-lost-in-yonkers-is-more-than-funny-at-the/

Updated On: 1/1/10 at 01:22 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 1:25pm

It looks like it's a Three-State Tour using the same cast and director of the Florida production.

So I guess Papermill had nothing to do with the casting process.

http://www.theatermania.com/florida/news/11-2009/rosemary-prinz-to-star-in-neil-simons-lost-in-yonk_22942.html

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 1:59pm

"Pedigree" = "name I know," Q. Nothing to do with credits, training or experience.

[Pgenre]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 3:54pm

"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.""

EXCUSE ME, but on what planet was Ann Miller "never considered a big star"?! This is like that troll on the OT board trying to say Ann-Margret was never a big star. INSANITY!

P

[dramamama611]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 4:10pm

I have to agree with the majority here: the cast could be wonderful. Real actors being cast because they are wonderful for the part instead of because of who they are. (Talent notwithstanding)

Just because they are not known (to you) names does NOT make them 2nd rate or without 'pedigree'.

Sorry, but AdamGreer, you are sounding like the public to whom broadway has been catering. (and I very OFTEN agree with your points of views)

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 4:19pm

I have to agree with dramamama, adamgreer. You're a poster I very often respect, and I find this thread to be so unlike you. And might I mention that one of the actors to get the best notices this season is someone with only a few Broadway credits (no leads).

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 4:37pm

Ann B. Davis and Joyce DeWitt were unavailable?
I always find that the lower your expectations the more likely you are to enjoy a show. If they had announced Maggie Smith and Meryl Streep you would have just been disappointed in the final product.
So, adam, I hope you will give this boring cast a chance. Little peons need parts, too!

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 4:57pm

"I always find that the lower your expectations the more likely you are to enjoy a show"

I am sure that will likely be the case in this situation. I was first disappointed that they didn't get an exciting choice for Bella. But I guess it makes sense given this is a regional theater tour, and I don't think Papermill cast it themselves. I am still looking forward to seeing the play.

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 4:58pm

The actress playing Bella in this production may be more "exciting" than a name actress, ljay.

[ljay889]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 5:00pm

She very well may be! I am definitely going in with an open mind.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 5:48pm

Ann B. Davis and Joyce DeWitt were unavailable?

I still kick myself for missing Joyce DeWitt in Gypsy at the Bucks County Playhouse a few seasons back.

[jdrama]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 6:06pm

Well this is on a tour I believe- it is a co-production with two other theaters. So possibly "star" actors didn't want to be strapped down to one job for half the year.

[BocaPat]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 6:13pm

My husband and I live in South Florida and have been Maltz Jupiter subscribers for a few years now, and we saw this production of "Lost in Yonkers" at the beginning of December. This was by far our favorite of all the Maltz productions we've seen - and we've seen a lot! And for anyone wondering about Sara Surrey's Bella - she was marvelous.

We have some family up in Jersey so I'll be recommending Yonkers when it plays the Paper Mill!

Best,
Patricia
Boca Raton, Florida

[sanda]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 7:03pm

Talking about the play itself. Does anyone feel Bella's change was a bit too out of character? She's a retard at the beginning but what she said during the family meeting is just way too intelligent.

[Pgenre]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 7:16pm

"She's a retard at the beginning"

Oh, Lord... "retard"?

Really? REALLY?!

P

[PalJoey]

Posted: 1/1/10 at 7:35pm

Thank you, BocaPat.