Raúl Esparza Joins 'Speed-the-Plow' Cast- Page 2

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 7/10/08 at 9:17pm

My fall season is getting hectic -- and now with Raul in STP, it's joined my must-see list. I felt so sorry for Joe Mantegna when he didn't even get nominated for a Tony and Ron Silver (deservedly) won the award. Montegna's comment at the time was something to the effect that Silver had the edge because he didn't have to play against Madonna (who gave one of the WORST performances ever). Depending on who plays the Madonna part (name of character escapes me), maybe Pivan will be facing more equal odds.

[jennyish]

Posted: 7/10/08 at 9:18pm

WHAT.

This has just moved to No. 1 on my "Need-to-See" list. In fact, I created the list just for this.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/10/08 at 9:24pm

Was Madonna good in the original?

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 7/10/08 at 10:06pm

I remember MargoChanning said in an old thread something to the effect that Madonna gave the worst, or one of the worst, stage performances he had seen.
I'm not exactly sure what the critics thought of her in the role though.
I believe Alicia Silverstone gained some fans when she played the role in CA.

[Clayford27]

Posted: 7/10/08 at 10:42pm

This is very exciting news, I can't wait!

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 1:18am

Is Boeing-Boeing not a limited run? I don't see it last until October.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 1:18am

[Whoops]
Updated On: 7/11/08 at 01:18 AM

[little_sally]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 1:28am

I can see Boeing-Boeing closing at the end of the summer. Or when the contracts of the cast are up. Whichever is first.

[Brick]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 1:41am

Frank Rich liked Madonna, though other dailies like the Post didn't.

Ezparza and Priven are brilliantly cast.

[BustopherPhantom]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 1:43am

(faint)

[ken8631]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 9:22am

Excellent!

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 10:10am

I like Esparza but he's coming dangerously close to getting "Nathan Lane Disease" i.e. I'm getting sick of him.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 10:56am

Esparza is a good actor, a very good actor in fact, but except for a small circle of theatre-goers, he won't sell a dime.

Jeremy Piven might sell some tickets, but he also has a reputation for being a monumental PIA. He's also not that big of a star that he can carry a play.

They'd better go after the biggest woman name they can find like they did before.

The play as I remember is good, but is one of Mamet's woman-as-villain pieces. Ho hum. Is there a cry in the wilderness for a revival of this play?

Think Belasco for a theatre.

[broadwayjim42]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 10:57am

I suffer from Nathan Lane Disease myself...but three very high-profile roles in a row does not constitute overkill...yet, anyway.

[keen on kean]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 11:06am

I get Nathan Lane disease because Nathan Lane always plays Nathan Lane, and he does that very well, but that's all I have seen him do. So far Esparza seems to be choosing vehicles that have significantly different styles, and is able to move between musicals and non-musicals. To say nothing of Wes Craven. We'll see.
Updated On: 7/11/08 at 11:06 AM

[humbugfoto]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 11:08am

For what its worth, it's going to be a very short, limited run production. The original press release (back in April when they announced Piven) said previews start October 3, and the show would close November 16. It seems that schedule has changed slightly, but even if they extend, Raúl has other commitments that would prevent him from extending beyond the end of the year.

And, I'm probably confusing this with something else, but...I think I heard Scarlett Johannsens's name rumored for this at one point. But it was probably something else.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 11:39am

I agree with whoever said that other than for theater people, Piven is obviously the "draw." Though that seems like a given. One of the things that makes me wonder how big a draw, though, is that this play will be running at the same time as a handful of other productions that also boast big (in some cases bigger) names.

Scarlett Johannsen's name has been rumored for a bunch of things lately. I haven't heard her name for Speed-the-Plow, but that doesn't mean it hasn't been thrown around. Again, I hope not.

Also, there's no definite public information regarding the dates for Leap of Faith, at all. Just an amorphous "next year" or "next season" and a few estimates that I'm guessing people have probably just made up or guessed. So I think it's only fair to stop talking about it like anything is known for certain. It's kind of misleading to people who are asking for information.

[CockeyedOptimist]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 3:38pm

Nathan Lane disease comes nowhere close to applying to Raul Esparza. As one of the posters above said, Lane is pretty one note, usually playing a version of himself. Yes, he's a performer with a distinct style and can deliver one-liners, but I always feel like I'm watching "Nathan Lane as ________" when he's on stage. Raul is a chameleon--he can bounce between musical and play (and even TV--did anyone catch his wonderful guest turn on Pushing Daisies?) and manage to transform himself every time. He's so present and getting so much work because he's talented. Hopefully we'll be seeing just as much of him for years to come. (And maybe he'll finally get a much-deserved Tony to boot!)

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 5:16pm

If Scarlett Johannsen is cast, this goes from "#1 Must-See" to off the list completely. Ugh.

[keen on kean]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 5:47pm

What a mistake that would be. It would have the same unbalancing effect as Madonna did in the original cast - " Oh, look, it's Scarlett trying not to make you think 'Oh, look it's Scarlett!' "

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 8:32pm

Isn't it great that this fall people will have the opportunity to see Cheyenne Jackson, Raul Esperza, Patrick Wilson and Matthew Morrison in the same week?

[flahooley2]

Posted: 7/11/08 at 11:36pm

In the last few years since The Producers, Lane has opened Trumbo off-broadway, Butley at The Huntington and on Broadway, The Frogs at Lincoln Center, which he also co-authored, Dedication by Terrence McNally off-broadway, The Odd Couple, and November. If that's considered a disease may we all be stricken. He also goes from plays to musicals with ease and has been doing so for 26 years. But I do agree that your beloved Raul is a chameleon. He's a slimy lizard capable of changing colors when it suits him.

[mr.scribble]

Posted: 7/12/08 at 12:08am

don't forget November which he's in now on Broadway and The Addams Family for next year

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 7/12/08 at 12:28am

"I know what it's like to be bad, I... ve been bad."

"I strain in vain to train Madonna's brain."

[BenjyStone]

Posted: 7/12/08 at 12:48am

Esparza will book a job.