Riedel: Mandy Patinkin wants to star in LA CAGE

This revival sounds less and less appealing by the day.

I did enjoy Harvey's little dig at Laurents, though. I'm sure Arthur will have a response, and Riedel will surely print it.

Less and less appealing how?

Or, you can stop complaining that Hodge's performance is homophobic based on seeing 1 Youtube video and actually see him.

Perhaps you'll enjoy it. Unless that's asking too much, since you already have your mind made up that he's offensive.

Updated On: 8/26/09 at 09:14 AM

I'm not one to defend Arthur Laurents by any means. His ego, his nastiness, his hubris are well-documented in other books, articles and threads. However, the original production of LA CAGE would never have had the success it enjoyed if it hadn't been a big, splashy production, and Laurents knew that. By having the tits and the glitz, audiences of 26 years ago were able to enjoy the show while having their belief systems only moderately challenged. And it was a HUGE hit, paving the way for better and more accurate representations of homosexuality on stage, including productions of LA CAGE that are truer to the author's original intent.

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The idea of Mandy in this show makes me cringe!

Unless he sings "I Ham What I Ham" from Forbidden Broadway instead.

There will be nothing resembling "realistic" on stage if he takes the part.

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Updated On: 8/26/09 at 10:09 AM

I'd be there. And you wouldn't need to give me a discount code either.

I'd see Patinkin in anything. I'm a huge fan. (No matter what a "mandel" he may be!)

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Ssh, Besty! Don't mention Mandy and a FIDDLER revival. You know it's coming anyway, but why rush it? Maybe when he's in his 70s, when he's "the right age for the part."

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I may have missed it, but have they announced which theatre will be getting the transfer? This production really does need a smaller space to work. Honestly, if they do as good a job with this transfer as what I saw in London with Graham Norton, I'd happily go see it again.

besty - I know exactly what you mean. When has Mandy ever played the soothing voice of reason? I wince just thinking about his rendition of Song on the Sand.

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Gotta love Harvey's "Terry's stripped it down and gotten rid of all of those Arthur Laurents touches."

The gloves are OFF!

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I love that there is so much disdain being tossed in Arthur Laurents' direction.

Mister Matt, they haven't announced a theater but the Golden is the rumor.

Whatever. I loved Hodges performance and I based that off of one YouTube clip and I'm overly excited to see this production! But I don't care for Patinkin. I love me some Sunday in the Park and Evita, but I can't listen to the Original Casts because of his annoying falsetto.