Phylicia Rashad in Raisin

[bestofbroadway]

Posted: 1/22/04 at 8:37pm

Thank the heavens above!! Phylicia Rashad on Broadway...is there anything that could be more perfect. I think this woman is simply a brilliant actress. I know I said I wouldn't see it with Sean Combs but I will definetely see it with Phylicia Rashad. This woman is simply the best. (Not sure if she is right for the role...I haven't read the play in a long time)

[Al Dente]

Posted: 1/22/04 at 8:42pm

Where did you see that she's doing Raisin? I LOVE that musical!

[BillyLawlor]

Posted: 1/22/04 at 8:45pm

Audra Macdonald might star as well. She would be amazing as Ruth- I'd love to see her play that role. How about Saycon Sengbloh as Beaneatha? PERFECT!

[Dollypop]

Posted: 1/22/04 at 8:47pm

This is not the musical; it's the original dramatic form of the play.

[bestofbroadway]

Posted: 1/22/04 at 9:03pm

Yes sorry...this is Raisin in the Sun. I was too lazy to write out the title. Updated On: 1/22/04 at 09:03 PM

[QueenS]

Posted: 1/23/04 at 12:07pm

As a side note, her sister was in "Raisin" (the musical). The way this cast is shaping, up perhaps they should be doing the musical version- which is qutie good.

Or maybe they could do the two in rep, straight play one night, musical the next. Then you could pick which version to see, or see both. It would increase their ticket sales and their possible Tony noms...

[sparky310]

Posted: 1/23/04 at 12:22pm

the casting of this show is not being very well thought through..i dont believe these are the best choices for that great script.

[Deena Jones2]

Posted: 1/23/04 at 12:34pm

Sparky, I agree. Phyllicia is not good onstage. I saw her do Dreamgirls many years ago as an understudy for Deena (original Bway cast)- she was just plain AWFUL!!! Not to mention a terrible singer. I know this is a non singing role but I was nver a fan of hers on Cosby either- just so lackluster.

[robbiej]

Posted: 1/23/04 at 12:51pm

DJ,

Isn't it possible that in thwe 20 years that have passed since the original DREAMGIRLS, she may have gotten just a touch better?

[Deena Jones2]

Posted: 1/23/04 at 12:54pm

As I mentioned I don't personally think she was all that great on Cosby either, but its certainly just an opinion. I just feel her emotion is so falt. i do not know how she'll be able to deal with the emotion of the character.

[logan30]

Posted: 1/23/04 at 2:45pm

She got great reviews playing a 175 year old woman in August Wilson's GEM OF THE OCEAN (also directed by McClintock).

[Thetruth]

Posted: 1/23/04 at 2:57pm

What? She is one of the definitive TV moms! I'm glad she's doing the role because I think her interp will definitly be diffrent then most who have approached the role. And she's still a fox!!

[WOSQ]

Posted: 1/23/04 at 3:13pm

I think Phylicia is a trifle young looking for Lena Younger. There's little doubt to me that she can play it, but the glam factor is working against her. She has to believably be Sean Combs' mother and she doesn't readily look that old. They'll spend a fortune on hair and makeup to take her the other way from the usual.

I've seen her in two plays recently at the Public and another at Roundabout and she commands the stage nicely. Also Lena is one of those roles that's all there in the writing.

PS- Trivia time: Phylicia's first husband in the late 70s was the lead singer of the Village People! She was known as Phylicia Ayers Allen then. Nobody ever mentions this. Except me.

[catcher]

Posted: 1/24/04 at 12:44am

I do love her, but I don't think she is really right for this role... She is not old/emposing enough--though I am hoping she'll pull it off somehow.