ROUNDABOUT to revive MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD- Page 4

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/22/11 at 9:21pm

I was thinking I'd love to see a black Princess Puffer! The problem is more the British thing I was talking about for the "Music Hall" vibe. No reason why she couldn't be black, though.

How about Shirley Bassey!

Actually, the best Puffer suggestion I've heard here so far is Imelda Staunton.

EDIT: As far as Robert Lindsay for the Chairman, I haven't seen him recently enough to comment fairly. It's been decades since I've seen him in anything.

Updated On: 12/22/11 at 09:21 PM

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/22/11 at 9:52pm

Actually, if he isn't busy making a movie, I'd love to see Jim Broadbent as the Chairman.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 12/22/11 at 11:24pm

I thought about Broadbent but I don't believe he sings. I could be mistaken but I believe he did not do his own singing in Moulin Rouge.

I would love to see Bob Hoskins as well, but I have no idea whether he sings.

Brian Blessed might be worth considering. Rowan Atkinson?

While we are on the subject, Cleo Laine's father was black and her mother was white.

[TheatreFreak05]

Posted: 12/23/11 at 1:08am

I finally listened to the entire album of Drood, which I haven't done in a while. I'm literally peeing with excitement.

[Kad]

Posted: 12/23/11 at 1:27am

"I thought about Broadbent but I don't believe he sings. I could be mistaken but I believe he did not do his own singing in Moulin Rouge."


The most I can find is that he was indeed dubbed for "Like a Virgin"- at least in some parts- in order to get an operatic effect. The songs in Drood are hardly operatic.

[tazber]

Posted: 12/23/11 at 2:04am

The Chairman's songs are all patter numbers. I bet Broadbent could handle There You Are, Both Sides Of The Coin, and Off To The Races.

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/23/11 at 6:19am

^ That's what I was thinking, too.

Broadbent didn't sing "Like a Virgin" or "The Show Must Go On," but he did do most of the other stuff, which is a lot of talk-singing and patterish stuff where he basically just needed to hit the pitches.

... and that's exactly what the Chairman does in Drood. He doesn't have to "sing" any of his own songs. He does have to be able to carry a tune, at least, but that's the extent of it. The rest is pure showmanship.

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/23/11 at 6:22am

Actually, if they want an automatic sold-out run, get Judi Dench to be Princess Puffer.

Updated On: 12/23/11 at 06:22 AM

[newintown]

Posted: 12/23/11 at 9:05am

"I was thinking I'd love to see a black Princess Puffer!"

Well, Cleo Laine IS black, you know...

Updated On: 12/23/11 at 09:05 AM

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/23/11 at 9:38am

It was said just a few posts up that she's half black, half white, newintown.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 12/23/11 at 9:41am

Jayne Houdyshell might be an interesting Puffer as well.

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/23/11 at 9:44am

^ Yes! Can she do "Music Hall?" If so, great choice.

[newintown]

Posted: 12/23/11 at 11:03am

Houdyshell is the FIRST good suggestion in this thread. She would be gorgeous.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 12/23/11 at 12:34pm

best12 I'm one of the many who think Miss Jayne can do absolutely anything!

And yet, if Dench would do it, not only would she sell out like nobody's business, she'd be "Perfectly Marvelous!" I don't think she's ever done a musical in New York and it would hard to think of a role more fun for her at this point in her career. But it may be a lot to ask a woman of her advanced years, even someone as strong as Judi..... hell, maybe we should consider Patty Routledge while we're at it!

Updated On: 12/23/11 at 12:34 PM

[best12bars]

Posted: 12/23/11 at 6:34pm

Rougledge: "It's pronounced 'Poofer' not 'Puffer!!!"

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 12/23/11 at 9:20pm

best 12 you are a gem! I will definitely invite you to my next candlelight supper!

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 12/23/11 at 10:54pm

I'm curious about what exactly is meant by saying a person is "music hall"?

I think there have been a number of excellent suggestions in this thread. I just really want a revival of this to happen in some form.

[ghostlight2]

Posted: 12/23/11 at 11:08pm

It's sort of like a British vaudeville - a broad style of humor and performing. It was often quite bawdy in a "nudge, nudge, wink wink" kind of way. Drood is all about that style.

Laurence Olivier did a movie called The Entertainer in the '60's (?) about a music hall performer. Someone earlier mentioned Tim Curry's version of The Zucchini Song. It'll give you a sort of idea of music hall style, as will some of the clips in this thread. Not everyone can pull it off authentically.

Jim Dale absolutely could. He's proven he can do a patter song in Barnum. Please, please - NO Alan Cumming.








The Zucchini Song Updated On: 12/23/11 at 11:08 PM

[darquegk]

Posted: 12/24/11 at 1:26pm

Music hall is the British sister art to early American vaudeville. Watch the Zucchini Song, then look at videos of Eddie Cantor (or even of Stephen DeRosa as Eddie Cantor on "Boardwalk Empire") and you'll understand the similarities in tone and presentational style.