Riedel: Arthur Laurents turns on Matt Cavenaugh- Page 3

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 11/8/09 at 10:50pm

Natalie is a BRILLIANT Anita. Her dancing is truly kicking "America" up a notch. Even the other dancers seem to be trying harder. Not to mention her beautifully acting and signing the role. I hope if/when Karen leaves the production Natalie is chosen to replace and lets the world see what she can really do.

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 11/8/09 at 10:58pm

I loved Natalie Cortez in ACL...I'd be really interested to see her as Anita as I don't care too much for Karen, at least from when I saw her in In the Heights.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 11/8/09 at 11:07pm

I am not bashing Karen, but either through my own bad luck or her poor attendance (not saying either is true) I have never seen her live. I tried to see her twice in ITH, she was out both times and twice in WSS and she was out both times. I just found Natalie so much more appealing than I imagine Karen to be.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 11/8/09 at 11:12pm

If feel bad for Matt. I really like him and think he has a lot of talent....he just wasn't right for this part. I wish him well. As the article warns, the new Tony better watch out!

I feel the same way. I liked Matt in other things but just didn't feel he was a good fit for this production.

[hmpeterson]

Posted: 11/9/09 at 11:24am

Pardon my ignorance but did Natalie just join the cast recently? When I saw WSS she wasn't listed as part of the cast either time, unless i missed it. I would love to see her version of Anita.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 11/9/09 at 11:29am

hm, I believe she must have gotten on board recently. I have a feeling that Arthur reads message boards and chats b/c people were doing nothing but complaining about Karen's understudies and how dismal they were. It looks like they went shopping for a top notch standby.

[BrianS]

Posted: 11/9/09 at 1:20pm

I can't decide if it's sad or funny that Matt is getting grief on this board for praising his director in interviews. Is every other actor "conniving" when they do the same in every interview ever given covering every show that has ever opened?

[jsg03jd]

Posted: 12/12/09 at 1:48am

Never mind... Updated On: 12/12/09 at 01:48 AM

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/12/09 at 1:49am

http://www.broadway.com/buzz/matthew-hydzik-tapped-play-tony-west-side-story/

[Marquise]

Posted: 12/12/09 at 5:18am

The problem with the casting of Tony in WEST SIDE STORY is that they continue to cast these "pretty boys" who don't look like they could be ex-gang members.

[Fanb]

Posted: 12/12/09 at 8:44pm

Tony is always a really hard part to cast. Not that many gang member types can sing that score. Does anyone recall ever seeing a Tony who really seemed right for the role?

Does anyone know what Cavenaugh is doing next? I actually did not see WSS, but thought he was good in "A Catered Affair" and "Grey Gardens." I wish him well.

[strummergirl]

Posted: 12/12/09 at 8:59pm

Marquise- I agree. I keep on thinking Anita could have cut those Jets.

The casting for Riff and Tony were wrong from the beginning but then Arthur publicly insists on making the gangs more 'thuggish'- except of course you have one gang who are bilingual (which confirmed my idea that the Sharks were always the superior gang)- which focuses our attention on the entire group's behavior. We find out the gangs have no contrition in their heart whatsoever, they can barely fight against a fiery Latina, and they are good looking yet just because they don't help carry out Tony's body and their tone in Officer Krupke is different we are now suppose to think they are thuggish, born bad, rather than a group of blockheads who didn't know where to stop over a stupid gang-war that they lost track of why they were fighting in the first place.

[zamedy]

Posted: 12/13/09 at 3:26pm

I went to college with Matt. I worked on the school newspaper and he was always very accommodating and just seemed like a nice guy who wouldn't let fame go to his head. I wish him the best.

Being a Broadway geek I should know this, but did Laurents also have a love/hate relationship with Larry Kert, the original Tony?

And even if you despise Laurents with all your being, at least give him credit for calling the cast members out about their apparent shoddy attendance record. They are doing what thousands of other aspiring actors can only dream of doing... dancing on Broadway in one of the greatest Broadway shows of all time. Unless they had legit reasons, poor attendance is down right disrespectful to this iconic show and Broadway as a whole. Perhaps they needed a wake up call. Merm hardly ever called off. Harvey also has a stellar attendance record, and has rewarded fellow castmates who did also. We can all learn a thing or two from their example.