RIALTO CHATTER: Riedel Says Zeta-Jones, Lansbury Set For 'NIGHT MUSIC'- Page 3

[D2]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 11:09am

Of course Boyd Gaines can sing it. He's got a terrific voice, and in any case Frederick isn't a heavy singing role.

And any viewing of any Ingmar Bergman film will reveal a ton of non-blonde, lusty and striking Swedes.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 11:10am

anyone who's seen pictures of Victoria Mallory and Patricia Elliot in the original cast of A Little Night Music knows that they're not stereotypical blonde Swedes, either.

[D2]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 11:14am

There's also very little even remotely "typically" Swedish about Jean Simmons, who played the part in the national tour and original West End production, or Dorothy Tutin, who played it ravishingly in a West End revival 20 years ago.

Updated On: 8/21/09 at 11:14 AM

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 11:19am

I wasn't talking just about a hair color from a wig or a bottle. I'm talking about an overall look to her. CZJ looks convincingly Latin or Italian, which is why she's been cast that way repeatedly in the past.

I'm sure with the right makeup and wig, and if she keeps away from the tanning beds, they can get the right look. The question is can she lighten her acting up enough to be a buoyant Desiree? Or will she be her usual smoldering tough cookie and weigh the show down?

I'm hoping her skills are up to it. But, yes, she will look beautiful. She'll command the stage. And she'll sing it better than most movie stars would.

So as long as she's not a hot tamale in Sweden, it should work.


EDIT: And raven-haired Jean Simmons NEVER looked Latin or Italian in anything. And I disagree. She definitely COULD be Swedish.

Updated On: 8/21/09 at 11:19 AM

[madbrian]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 11:21am

^^What he said.

[D2]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 11:22am

But Besty, the same thing could be said for Victoria Mallory, the original Anne. Her coloring is convincingly Italian and/or Latin, and just a few years before ALNM, she played Maria in a summer revival of WEST SIDE STORY.

EDIT: re Jean Simmons. I said "typically."

Updated On: 8/21/09 at 11:22 AM

[iamchanging9]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 11:23am

Anyone who thinks she doesn't have the vulnerability or always plays a 'tough' character should really watch her AMAZING (and overlooked by the oscars) performance in "Traffic".

I personally think Angela and Catherine are fabulous choices.

Updated On: 8/21/09 at 11:23 AM

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 11:25am

I keep thinking about "Traffic," too. Excellent performance.

[fgreene1938]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 11:35am

Angela Lansbury was the inevitable choice for Madame Armfeldt. She's a star who is also a character actress and it's a character part usually played by a star. A match made in heaven that could only have been botched by bad producing. Zeta-Jones should certainly sell tickets, though whether her movie stardom translates into stage presence remains to be seen (they're not the same thing). Still, it's an intriguing casting choice and certainly an opportunity for her as an actress.

By the way, Zeta-Jones was hardly a tough broad in the film "Traffic" and she was quite demure in the "Titanic" TV-miniseries from the 1990s.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 11:36am

I'm not a fan of Zeta Jones but if her casting got Lansbury on board, I'm down with dat.
My problem is the part about her being insulted when asked to audition for Almodovar, she man be a movie star but her theatre credits are limited and that kind of ego can lead to troubles.

I quess this will put both of them in contention for Leading Actress in a Musical at Award time.
I also find it sad, but not surprising that Sondheim had to plead with a movie star to make the show profitable.

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 11:37am

Even when the darkest of makeups and wigs, Jean Simmons still looked like proper, British Vivien Leigh with one too many trips to the tanning booth.



She is closer here to Scandinavian than Indian princess, even with all the help in the world.

Zeta-Jones will have the same problem, but in reverse. Hey, I think that's the least of it. As I've said. I think ultimately she'll "look" fine in the end. Hopefully, she'll "act" fine, too.

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 11:42am

"By the way, Zeta-Jones was hardly a tough broad in the film "Traffic" "

Wait, did you actually watch the movie?

She may start out vulnerable, sympathetic, and confused, but she totally turns into tough cookie broad by the end. Maybe you tuned that out.

But that's why I'm thinking of her performance as an indication that (with the right direction), she can rise to the occasion.

And Lansbury has her work cut out for her as well. "Lovable" and "quaint" aren't the adjectives that first come to mind with Madame Armfeldt. But they are with Lansbury. She'll have to convince us that she once was a woman who had numbered kings among her lovers. Not cooks and bottle-washers.

But Lansbury can do it. She just has to avoid her most common stage/screen persona, which she has done before.

Updated On: 8/21/09 at 11:42 AM

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 11:43am

I think it's laughable that some people are disappointed. And I think it's the people who wanted Marin Mazzie, or another Broadway name to lead the production. If Marin or another Broadway actress were cast as Desiree, we wouldn't have Lansbury, and the production would last about 3 weeks! Sondheim is never an easy sell!

I'm grateful we're even getting this revival, and especially with Lansbury!


Updated On: 8/21/09 at 11:43 AM

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 11:49am

While I'm not a huge fan of the show, I think Zeta-Jones would be a decent choice for the role (although my heart is still broken thinking about much I wanted Natasha Richardson to star in a revival). She's relatively age appropriate, I think. If the rumors about her are true, then she's even MORE age appropriate.

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 11:49am

I think your comments are laughable, ljay. You do nothing but snark and police other peoples genuine opinions. When you have your own thought, even just one, let me know. I haven't seen that in a long time, if ever.

So boring.

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 11:52am

And I've never seen you do anything but bitch, moan, and complain! So we're even!

Updated On: 8/21/09 at 11:52 AM

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 11:53am

Then you can't read, either.

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 11:54am

My comments weren't even directed to you, but ok!

[adamgreer]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 11:55am

I think Ljay's comments about the revival lasting a matter of weeks without a star are quite astute. Marin Mazzie won't sell many tickets, certainly nowhere near the amount Zeta Jones will.

[iamchanging9]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 11:56am

oh boy.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 11:57am

CPD, Zeta-Jones was asked to audition after they'd already offered her the role, which is what I think put her off.

While she is almost cast exclusively as tough women, I think this is a great opportunity for her to show a side she hasn't gotten to utilize in her film work. As others have pointed out, her performances in films like "Traffic" are strong enough to lead me to believe she has the chops to pull it off.

After all, it's not as if her strong presence is going to waste as Desiree. She's got plenty of opportunities to use her natural tenacity, which could only enhance "Send in the Clowns" if she's able to convey the right aching vulnerability when the chips are down.

Updated On: 8/21/09 at 11:57 AM

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 11:59am

Marin Mazzie won't sell as many tickets as Zeta-Jones. No problem with that comment. It's true, too.

But why bitch-slap other posters with her "laughable" remark? It's bitchy and unnecessary. And it happens ALL the time with ljay. A real pain in the ass.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 12:07pm

I'm wondering if ljay is directing that comment at me. I direly want Marin Mazzie as Desiree. But I also strongly dislike Catherine Zeta-Jones. Something about her personality really turns me off, and while she's certainly not a terrible actress, I just don't prefer her.

I do, however, love A Little Night Music, and will definitely want to go see this production. unless they cast Richard Gere as Fredrik, in which case I simply couldn't bring myself to go.

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 12:10pm

I really wasn't trying to be rude! I'm not that type of person. And the people who know me personally on this board can tell you that.

All I am saying is. There would have been a ton of bitching if Hannah transferred. There would have been bitching if Marin did star, bitching if she didn't. And now there's bitching that we have a movie star.

People will never be happy. Yes, I have some concerns about Zeta, but I am thrilled we will finally get a revival of this musical, and with Lansbury!
Updated On: 8/21/09 at 12:10 PM

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 8/21/09 at 12:25pm

You should be happy we're getting a big box-office draw in the show. It's about time a show makes some money.