RIALTO CHATTER: Riedel Says Zeta-Jones, Lansbury Set For 'NIGHT MUSIC' — Page 6

As part of a 60 Minutes or Dateline NBC profile of Catherine Zeta-Jones, they included some dynamic performance footage of her as Peggy Sawyer. This was quite a few years before Chicago and just around the time she had a few movie roles under her belt and everyone was first buzzing about her. I hadn't been aware of her West End credits and really felt after seeing that segment that she can do anything. In beauty, demeanor, comic sense and star presence, I think she's an excellent choice for Desiree. Her screen roles have been chilly types, but I think she'll summon up the vulnerability for "Send in the Clowns". It's also a great reinvention of her image, since it seems that Hollywood has no idea what to do with her. Her casting is the absolute ideal solution for the production to go forward.

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Just a little thought on all this "vulnerability" talk about Send In the Clowns. It's a raw emotional moment for Desiree, but she's more PISSED than anything else. It's not a pity party. She is wanting to laugh at the whole thing (aka, Send in the Clowns), but she can't. She's too upset. She thinks she royally screwed up.

Sondheim and Glynnis Johns have both commented on this. Desiree is quietly angry (mostly at herself) that she put her emotions and romantic notions out there, gambled on revealing her true intentions to Frederik, and it didn't work out. The timing was off.

I'm not that concerned at all about CZJ being "vulnerable" as Desiree. She can reveal a tiny bit of that, sure, but any more would come off boring and self-pitying. My concern is that she can't handle the light touch of the comedy scenes. It isn't bawdy or brash "broad humor." And it isn't bitchy parody. It's "light comedy." I think she might have a heavy hand. BUT ... as others have said here who have seen her in clips, and I have seen myself glimpses of in her film work, she can "lighten up" and handle it well.

But for those concerned, I wouldn't hope for a "vulnerable" Desiree. Ugh! Even in that Act II bedroom scene with Send In the Clowns. And I'm pretty sure she'll have no trouble conveying the quiet anger.

And Sondheim has said that most people who sing this song have no idea what it's about. They want to get all wistful and romantic with it. What the character is really saying, in a gentler way, is, "Aint it a bitch?" "What the hell was I thinking?" "Boy, did I screw this up!" "This whole thing should be funny right now, but who's laughing?" "I know I'm sure as hell not." That's the right attitude for this song.

And if a tiny, "vulnerable" tear comes to her eye while she's singing it, that would be a nice and effective touch.

But any more vulnerability than that would stink up the moment, the character, and the show.

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Updated On: 8/22/09 at 11:32 AM

Bottom line: I think she'll be very good.

... as long as Trevor Nunn can guide her, and she trusts him. That's the part that scares me. So many indications that he has no idea how to direct this show (and a long list of others, too).

Is it too late to lose him? Sheeeesh.

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Here's a fun montage that highlights her comedic gifts.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k264tqSd_eg

She'ls Welsh Em. She can get rid of it when she needs to.

Ha ha, "Remember A Chorus Line - the movie that made us love the Broadway show even more?" She's funny.

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I know I'm super biased because I don't like her, but I wasn't super impressed with her singing. She's not terrible, but...I don't know. it's probably just me.

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I think she has a very good voice.

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well, I know I'll go see it anyway. I love A Little Night Music, and will try my best to go in with an open mind. I kind of hate being the person who is so down on casting, although I don't know if I've ever been this down on casting before.

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Aren't you glad that by casting a Hollywood star the show might actually stay open for a long time?

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yes! definitely! and I love the idea of Boyd Gaines as Fredrik, although I'm not sure how realistic I think it is.

I also don't even mind the possibility of super expensive tickets; I happen to love the balcony seats at The Walter Kerr.


I really liked the idea of Kate Winslet, even though I'm sort of on principle opposed to a younger Desiree. Other than that, though, I can't think of any really big named actresses. I mean, I'd love Laura Linney or Kristin Scott Thomas or Marion Cottilard, but I don't think they'd sell tickets.

I know it's really just me who's not crazy about CZJ.

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Updated On: 8/22/09 at 02:49 PM

I liked the idea of Kate Winslet, too, but didn't that turn out to be completely false? Like, the person who reported it to us had heard it from a friend who was mistaken and had gotten Winslet mixed up with somebody else?

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Yeah, I think that would have been my top choice. Ah well.

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