Phylicia Rashad begins performances tonight...

[Morgaine885]

Posted: 5/26/09 at 1:04pm

...in August: Osage County.

I'm not sure why, but I'm so excited to see her...I think she's going to be really awesome.

Loved the piece in the Times this weekend...http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/24/theater/24Lee.html And she looks GORGEOUS!!!

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 5/26/09 at 1:08pm

This is either going to work brilliantly or be a total disaster.

[BwayBoundJoe]

Posted: 5/26/09 at 1:29pm

How long is she in the show? I'm seeing it on August 22nd and I would love to see her in it.

[frogs_fan85]

Posted: 5/26/09 at 1:33pm

Her last performance is August 23rd, so you just made it.

[BwayBoundJoe]

Posted: 5/26/09 at 1:36pm

Nice! Thanks frogs_fan85. :)

[hpeabody930]

Posted: 5/26/09 at 7:44pm

bump.

can't wait to see how this turns out....

[A Grey Spring]

Posted: 5/26/09 at 8:15pm

I am very eager to hear how this goes... if well, I'll try to make a visit to the Music Box over the summer months

[heo1128]

Posted: 5/26/09 at 8:22pm

Oy. As I've said before I just don't see how this is going to work out. But best of luck to her, I suppose!

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 5/26/09 at 11:37pm

Looking forward to hear from the people who saw her tonight!

Word from the company during her rehearsal process was that she was extraordinary.

Updated On: 5/26/09 at 11:37 PM

[Rudy2]

Posted: 5/26/09 at 11:37pm

No one here has seen it yet? I figured someone would be rushing in by now to tell us how awful this was.

Posted: 5/26/09 at 11:46pm

have some faith. don't be rude and discouraging. perhaps she was wonderful. you have no idea.

[heo1128]

Posted: 5/26/09 at 11:52pm

I don't doubt that Phylicia is fantastic, but it's the casting decision that I'm criticizing. The fact that she's an African American completely changes the undertones of the play. For starters, there's NO WAY there would be an interracial couple in the middle of Oklahoma.

[Doogie]

Posted: 5/27/09 at 12:16am

Really, truly an UNBELIEVABLE performance. I say this as a HUGE fan of Amy Morton, but she was possibly eclipsed by Ms. Rashad tonight. It may be the greatest performance I've ever seen in a straight play.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 5/27/09 at 12:19am

Wow, that's great to hear. This play is so strong, nice to see Rashad is giving the part her all.

or starters, there's NO WAY there would be an interracial couple in the middle of Oklahoma.

That's a pretty ridiculous statement. The main part about the play's themes that become somewhat undermined when you cast a black woman as Vi is the presence of Native Americans and the comments Letts is making about the relationship between whites and Native Americans.
Either way, really great to hear good things about Rashad.

[Rudy2]

Posted: 5/27/09 at 12:21am

guettboy, my comment was sarcastic in nature - I wasn't deriding Rashad's talents, but expecting negativity on the part of others.

[ljay889]

Posted: 5/27/09 at 12:32am

Would love to hear more from those who saw her!

[PalJoey]

Posted: 5/27/09 at 12:47am

What does it matter what color her skin is?

Seriously, it's 2009: What does it matter what color her skin is?

[pattilupuppy]

Posted: 5/27/09 at 12:49am

Thank you PalJoey thank you!

[Rudy2]

Posted: 5/27/09 at 12:55am

Since I like to eschew political correctness, I'll put it this way - it's THE STAGE. She's an ACTRESS. She uses MAKEUP. It's an ILLUSION. It's THE THEATRE.

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 5/27/09 at 12:56am

LOL This is America. Apparently it always matters. Beh Rashaad looks half native american in the pics actually. I can't WAIT to see this. This role is gonna become the coveted role for established actresses. I guess a good meaty role for a woman over 50 is kind of a rarity.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 5/27/09 at 1:40am

This is going to be like the Fiath Prince Little Mermaid thread. 100 reviews from people who haven't even seen the show.

[Doogie]

Posted: 5/27/09 at 1:49am

I saw it.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 5/27/09 at 1:52am

Sorry Doogie. Lost your point in all the assumptions. Glad you enjoyed her.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 5/27/09 at 7:54am

What does it matter what color her skin is?

That's like saying Coalhouse Walker Jr. doesn't have to be black in Ragtime. She's supposed to be racist!!!! It's in the freakin' script. How can she be prejudiced against people of color if she is of color herself? I am sure she is giving a wonderful performance, but her casting still doesn't make sense.

[jordangirl]

Posted: 5/27/09 at 8:04am

I agree bjh2114. I have no problem with color-blind casting IF it doesn't add subtext or change an entire aspect of a character as this does. For me, I suspect it would pull me too far out of the story, even if I made up a story in my head to make it make sense as this has happened before with another show.