Queen Latifah- Page 2

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 9:10pm

I think she'd be a very interesting choice for Mame in terms of the basic qualities of the role -- she has the warmth, the humor, but also the class and dignity you need to play it -- but, certain scenes wouldn't work at all (she wouldn't be openly embraced by the anti-semitic Upsons or the out-and-out racist Burnside clan, if she were a black woman .... Mame played by Russell or Lansbury can come off as a conservative high-culture lady to them -- at least initially -- and part of the humor is that she's secretly a rabid liberal ..... they would never make that assumption with Latifah in the role).

At 34, Latifah is way too young for several of the other roles you mention here -- Motor Mouth Mabel who's supposed to be 50-something? Rose, who's in her 50's at the end of the show (she's only a few years older than the adult Louise would be)? Vera, who is Mame's OLDER friend, so unless you're casting Chistina Aguilera as Mame, Latifah can't be Vera -- and I'm not sure she really has the vocal chops for some of these demanding roles. She's a rapper turned singer and while she has a pleasant sound, I don't have the sense that she has any real technique that would sustain her through a truly demanding role eight times a week.

She doesn't have the voice for Effie. She's decades too young for Dolly (which at some point she'll be perfect for). Nellie Forbush is probably too corny for her.

What about WONDERFUL TOWN? Get rid of Brooke Shields and have Latifah play Ruth (obviously with a pretty, black Eileen -- Anika?). Can you imagine Latifah doing "100 Easy Ways To Lose A Man?" It would be a showstopper. And her doing "Swing" -- she'd kill a scat number.

Or WOMAN OF THE YEAR? Not a great Kander & Ebb show (especially compared to Cabaret and Chicago), but it worked well as a vehicle for Lauren Bacall.

Or JAMAICA? I don't much about the show, but the score is good and it was a vehicle for Lena Horne back in the 50's

Or SAIL AWAY, Noel Coward's vehicle for Elaine Stritch?

Updated On: 10/11/04 at 09:10 PM

[DickonDefysGravity]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 10:02pm

Personally i think she'd be an AMAZING Evilene in the Wiz!!!
Or possibly a Mimi in Rent

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 10:10pm

Latifah doesn't have a tenth of the voice for Evilene -- that role is written for a powerhouse, gospel-trained singer ("No Bad News" is gospel number, after all) ..... Jennifer Holliday, Mary Bond Davis, Lillias White etc.... people who stop shows as soon as they open their mouths. Maybe latifah could do Adaperle or something. But, every role in THE WIZ would be too small for someone of her name recognition (other than Dorothy, which she's obviously wrong for).

[DickonDefysGravity]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 10:12pm

why not Dorothy???/ ...jk...
I think she could pull off Evilene nicely...but not a perfect match...but workable

[TonyInATL]

Posted: 10/12/04 at 2:20am

Updated On: 1/17/05 at 02:20 AM

[Mr. Tuttle]

Posted: 10/12/04 at 11:03am

That SNL whic she did last weekend was horrofic. Truly one of the worst episodes of this currently feeble series. That debate thing with her a moderator sucked as did the sterotypical Martha Stewart one.

She deserves better.

[UDJAT]

Posted: 10/12/04 at 12:30pm

WOW - I'm happy to see QL getting such love from everyone. I agree, I think she would do GREAT on Broadway. I'm not sure which role would be perfect for her, although I don't think it's Caroline. How about something more original that was custom made for her???

[MaTakeALookAtMe]

Posted: 10/12/04 at 1:10pm

She does look fabulous and sound fabulous...although I have to agree with the postings that SNL was not good...besides the already mentioned segments I have to throw in the pointless skit where she was a Bush campaing worker...truly awful...

In fairness, though, she was the highpoint in each skit..

[WayWicked]

Posted: 10/12/04 at 1:33pm

Yeah..that SNL just sucked. Although it hasn't been good in a long time!

[crp2000]

Posted: 10/12/04 at 1:37pm

QUEEN LATIFAH IS A SUPERSTAR!!!!
I've loved this woman since her first rap LP dropped. Glad to see she's appreciated by others as well. Sucks that i missed her on SNL this past weekend....THANKS A LOT UDJAT!!!!!

[redhotinnyc2]

Posted: 10/12/04 at 4:25pm

I like her. really liked her performance in Living Out Loud with Holly Hunter. She has a good voice. I listened to part of her new CD in Barnes and Noble today and thought it was ok - but not the stand out that I was hoping for.

[DickonDefysGravity]

Posted: 10/12/04 at 6:15pm

Latifah might make a really good Asaka when they revive Once on this Island....hopefully soon...or Mama Euralie

[robbiej]

Posted: 10/12/04 at 6:42pm

She might have made a hoot of an Ella in BELLS ARE RINGING. Thought I think Ellen Degeneres would have been ideal.

Perhaps Coral in ANYONE CAN WHISTLE?

How about the lead (blanking right now) in BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE?

Would they ever revive CALL ME MADAM?

LOOOOOVE me some Latifah.

And there are MANY shows she'd be wonderful in!

[CurtainUp]

Posted: 10/12/04 at 6:48pm

Reno in anything goes?

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 10/12/04 at 7:09pm

"Mona" is the lead role in WHOREHOUSE -- Latifah would be perfect. I'd love to see how she'd do as Ella -- she could handle the comedy (though you're right, Ellen would be ideal) and the role's not too taxing vocally for her. Call Me Madam is a very interesting choice for her (pretty demanding, but suits her personality). Reno can be a killer, but if she handle it, she's be great.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 10/2/06 at 1:29am

>("No Bad News" is gospel number, after all)

Tell that to Grace Jones.

It's true that Latifah is no Effie, but I think her voice is pretty solid. She can belt a bit.

I'm really curious about how she would be in Caroline or Change.

Some other roles I wouldn't mind seeing her in:
Muzzy in TMM
Reno in Anything Goes
Babe in The Pajama Game
The Witch in Into the Woods
Fred in Once Upon a Mattress
Julia in Two Gentleman of Verona
Stephanie in Cactus Flower
Frankie in Frankie and Johnny
Jessie in Night Mother

I also think her as Mame with Tisha Campbell or Sheryl Lee Ralph as Vera would be a hoot.

Updated On: 10/2/06 at 01:29 AM

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 10/2/06 at 1:33am

Wow you guys called it about Motormouth in Hairspray.

Kudos to you!

[ObsessedWithRent2]

Posted: 10/2/06 at 2:42am

What about her in Sweeney Todd?

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 10/2/06 at 2:46am

I'd go to see that.

[uncageg]

Posted: 10/2/06 at 4:21am

I think you could throw anything at Latifa and she could tackle it. She has proven that she has a singing voice.....let her flex it!

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 10/2/06 at 2:52pm

It'd be fun to see her originate a role on stage.

[Josephine2]

Posted: 10/2/06 at 2:59pm

Long live the Queen, and bring her to Broadway! I, too, think she'd be amazing on stage.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 8/31/12 at 4:37pm

I still want her to play Pearl Bailey, or just do Hello Dolly. One of the two.

[sephyr]

Posted: 8/31/12 at 4:56pm

I agree with her being the Witch in Into The Woods and she'd make an interesting Reno.

I think they should stay away from type-casting for her, she's proven she can do it all. I think she's amazing.

[uncageg]

Posted: 8/31/12 at 6:16pm

Off subject but I gasped and then smiled when I clicked on page 2 of this thread and saw the first post.