Remy Zaken too Old for Anne Frank?
Remy Zaken too Old for Anne Frank?
#1Remy Zaken too Old for Anne Frank?
Posted: 9/5/15 at 12:11am
No offense intended, but a 26 year old playing Anne Frank. I mean she's 12 or 13 when the play starts. I'm sorry but, I think that's poor casting
"He wants to know who cares. I care you stupid fool we all care..." John Wilkes Booth (Assassins)
#2Remy Zaken too Old for Anne Frank?
Posted: 9/5/15 at 12:13am
Why are you sorry? Just own it!
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
#3Remy Zaken too Old for Anne Frank?
Posted: 9/5/15 at 12:13am
I think it's fine. Anne Frankly, I don't think it would be a good idea to have a 12 year old playing the part.
#4Remy Zaken too Old for Anne Frank?
Posted: 9/5/15 at 12:20am
Not advocating for a 12 year old, but surely there are actresses in the 16-21 Range. Saw a professional production of it just over a year ago with a high school students playing on three kids. They all did a very nice job and the Anne Frank was a High School junior and was just fantastic. No reason to have someone double the age of the character.
"He wants to know who cares. I care you stupid fool we all care..." John Wilkes Booth (Assassins)
FishermanBob
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/9/12
#5Remy Zaken too Old for Anne Frank?
Posted: 9/5/15 at 12:44am
I'm sorry but, I think that's poor casting.
You should write them a strongly worded letter. That'll show them.
I actually saw Natalie Portman play her on Broadway back in the late '90s and she was great. I think she was 46 at the time so it may work out in the Iron City. By the way , I hope having high school students play on three kids looked a lot better than it sounds.
#6Remy Zaken too Old for Anne Frank?
Posted: 9/5/15 at 12:46am
Jennifer Holliday would be the definitive Anne.
FishermanBob
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/9/12
#7Remy Zaken too Old for Anne Frank?
Posted: 9/5/15 at 12:51am
Oooooh, she'd be great . When the father tells them they all have to live in the attic and Anne doesn't want to, I'd love to hear what Jennifer does with "And I am telling you I'm not going".
Updated On: 9/5/15 at 12:51 AM#8Remy Zaken too Old for Anne Frank?
Posted: 9/5/15 at 1:14am
No no there's no way I'm livin' without Jews.
#9Remy Zaken too Old for Anne Frank?
Posted: 9/5/15 at 2:44am
Barbra stars in the new film adaptation. Set to film right after GYPSY.
Keeping BroadwayWorld Illustrated
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#10Remy Zaken too Old for Anne Frank?
Posted: 9/5/15 at 4:24am
She still looks like a child, so why not? I could 's care less about actors REAL age, it only matters how they appear.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
KathyNYC2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/2/10
#11Remy Zaken too Old for Anne Frank?
Posted: 9/5/15 at 8:37am
It's pretty traditional to cast older actresses in teenage parts. I would prefer younger also but it is what it is.
I mean look at the ages of the actresses who were recently cast as the daughters in Fiddler. They are way older than young girls in that situation in that time and history would be getting married.
#12Remy Zaken too Old for Anne Frank?
Posted: 9/5/15 at 8:55am
I actually saw Natalie Portman play her on Broadway back in the late '90s and she was great. I think she was 46 at the time so it may work out in the Iron City.
She was actually 16 at the time.
It's very a very common thing to see actors in their late 20's-early 30's play teenagers on stage because it's all from a distance. In film where the camera never lies, you know the actors have to be much more age specific to the character.
smidge
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/16/06
#13Remy Zaken too Old for Anne Frank?
Posted: 9/5/15 at 9:33am
Jennifer Holliday as Anne Frank made my morning. I bet she's on the phone with her agent right now
jemjeb2
Featured Actor Joined: 6/28/05
#14Remy Zaken too Old for Anne Frank?
Posted: 9/5/15 at 10:14am
I agree with the OP. While true that an actress can "look" young and act the part (and yes, theatrical distance helps too) and we can employ willing suspension of disbelief, if I were in the audience and knew teenage Anne was played by an actor closer to thirty than twenty, it would likely be a distraction, if in the back of my mind. If they could find a talented 16 yr old Natalie Portman, why not find a talented more age appropriate actress for this production. Are there really none to be found?
Updated On: 9/5/15 at 10:14 AM
FishermanBob
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/9/12
#15Remy Zaken too Old for Anne Frank?
Posted: 9/5/15 at 11:00am
Jeffrey Karasarides said: "I actually saw Natalie Portman play her on Broadway back in the late '90s and she was great. I think she was 46 at the time so it may work out in the Iron City.
She was actually 16 at the time.
It's very a very common thing to see actors in their late 20's-early 30's play teenagers on stage because it's all from a distance. In film where the camera never lies, you know the actors have to be much more age specific to the character.
Wow, thanks for the correction Jeffrey. I could have sworn she was 46 at the time which made it amazing that she was able to convincingly play a 13 year old. I just thought she worked out a lot. Now that you so kindly confirmed she was only 16, I'm not nearly so impressed. Always wondered what ever happened to her after she did that play?
"
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#16Remy Zaken too Old for Anne Frank?
Posted: 9/5/15 at 11:19am
Most people in the audience won't know or care about her real age. Lots of those that DO, still won't care..as king as her acting and look are "right".8
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
AEA AGMA SM
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/13/09
#17Remy Zaken too Old for Anne Frank?
Posted: 9/5/15 at 11:28am
jemjeb2 said: "I agree with the OP. While true that an actress can "look" young and act the part (and yes, theatrical distance helps too) and we can employ willing suspension of disbelief, if I were in the audience and knew teenage Anne was played by an actor closer to thirty than twenty, it would likely be a distraction, if in the back of my mind. If they could find a talented 16 yr old Natalie Portman, why not find a talented more age appropriate actress for this production. Are there really none to be found?"
At the time of that revival Natalie Portman may have only been 16, but she had already starred in several movies and it was definitely built around showcasing her. Comparing the casting in that situation to a regional production is really not the same at all.
#18Remy Zaken too Old for Anne Frank?
Posted: 9/5/15 at 11:53am
I played Anne's father, Mr. Frank in the play when I was 16. Some people thought I looked rather young to be convincing, even with all of the gray powder in my hair. And the girl who played Anne looked young enough to be my sister.
Of course, it was a high school production.
CZJ at opening night party for A Little Night Music, Dec 13, 2009.
Phyllis Rogers Stone
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
#19Remy Zaken too Old for Anne Frank?
Posted: 9/5/15 at 12:18pm
Not to mention Natalie Portman was dreadful in it.
#20Remy Zaken too Old for Anne Frank?
Posted: 9/5/15 at 1:00pm
"I actually saw Natalie Portman play her on Broadway back in the late '90s and she was great. I think she was 46 at the time so it may work out in the Iron City."
Cackling
broadwayguy2
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/18/03
#21Remy Zaken too Old for Anne Frank?
Posted: 9/5/15 at 1:01pm
I find it funny that someone says knowing an actor's real age is too distracting. Seriously? It may be wise to never attend any performance ever if that is indeed the case.
I have seen Anne played by teens and 20-somethings, some who look 13 and some who don't, but still convey the youth of her. Both work. A slightly older actress can generally bring more pathos to the role. That is one reason why it is common to have actors play slightly younger... They have had the experience to reflect on that period of life.
dramamama611
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/07
#22Remy Zaken too Old for Anne Frank?
Posted: 9/5/15 at 1:21pm
Not to mention one less hassle around working requirements of minors.
If we're not having fun, then why are we doing it?
These are DISCUSSION boards, not mutual admiration boards. Discussion only occurs when we are willing to hear what others are thinking, regardless of whether it is alignment to our own thoughts.
#23Remy Zaken too Old for Anne Frank?
Posted: 9/5/15 at 2:58pm
It's traditionally cast with a teenager or someone in their early 20s. Susan Strasberg was 17 when she originated the role and Mille Perkins was 19 when she starred in the film version.
Bell0708
Stand-by Joined: 7/23/13
#24Remy Zaken too Old for Anne Frank?
Posted: 9/5/15 at 3:17pm
I actually played Anne Frank's mother when I was 31 in a community theatre production. I auditioned for the part of Miep, I was flattered when I got the call offering me the part of Mrs. Frank, but the actress playing Anne was 20, so let's just say it wasn't the best day of my life either, ha ha!
#25Remy Zaken too Old for Anne Frank?
Posted: 9/6/15 at 1:10pm
For those who actually know the play, they may realize that naivete of Anne's character is one of the hallmarks of the piece, and if you have had time to reflect on that age, you are going to be hard pressed to show that trait, acting talent or not.
For those talking community and high school casting....it's not valid, the comparison of the Broadway casting IS valid, and those mentioning far away should know that the theatre at which this is being performed is a 650 seat thrust stage. Most of the audience will be quite close and Remy does not look 13 or 16.
It also depends on the type of show, for this non fiction drama, it would be more appropriate and to cast closer to the age, then in other shows.
"He wants to know who cares. I care you stupid fool we all care..." John Wilkes Booth (Assassins)
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