Riedel: Mandy Patinkin wants to star in LA CAGE

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 8/26/09 at 8:43am

And he has Harvey's backing.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/08262009/entertainment/theater/randy_mandy_bway_dandy_186516.htm

[adamgreer]

Posted: 8/26/09 at 9:01am

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.

[morosco]

Posted: 8/26/09 at 9:02am

I love the Peggy Lee reference. lol

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 8/26/09 at 9:08am

Less and less appealing how?

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 8/26/09 at 9:09am

Ok, so basically I need to just pray for Hodge to be out when I go...cause I'd see it for Mandy Patinkin.

Although, I'm not sure he's enough of a star name.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 8/26/09 at 9:14am

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

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 8/26/09 at 9:15am

I hate the idea of Patinkin in the show, but I totally agree with Fierstein's comments on the original production and this revival. The more realistic vision of the sets and costumes bring the audience much closer to the story. To me, the show works so much better when the story is the main focus of the production.

[D2]

Posted: 8/26/09 at 9:30am

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.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 8/26/09 at 9:43am

YankeeFan-
While I still maintain my opinion, if you read ANY of my statements in my posts when this was announced, I said that I would give him a chance, and that indeed my opinion may change.

That said, if I knew he was going to be out (like I did with Gary Beach in 2005), then I'd rather see it without him. (Granted, I disliked Gary Beach for a totally different reason.)

And, for the record, I typically go in with low expectations to anything, and expecting to hate something, and 9 times out of 10, I turn out to enjoy myself. The Wiz being my case in point.

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/26/09 at 10:09am

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.

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

[madbrian]

Posted: 8/26/09 at 10:13am

He's far better suited to play Norma in a revival of Sunset Boulevard.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/26/09 at 10:20am

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!)

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/26/09 at 10:25am

He's too eccentric. Especially for the Gene Barry part. And nowhere near "warm" enough on stage (based on all previous performances on stage). He's also too cerebral and high strung.

I could see him play a fascinating Fagin, or Tevye (which I saw him play when he was in college!). Tateh in Ragtime (which he played in the Milos Foreman movie).

But not Georges in La Cage.

[D2]

Posted: 8/26/09 at 10:29am

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."

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/26/09 at 10:30am

He'd make one hell of a Fruma Sarah.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 8/26/09 at 10:34am

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.

[tazber]

Posted: 8/26/09 at 10:37am

I think Mandy may actually work in this role. I'm surprised he's taking the role that is less "showy" however.
Not his style to be more modest character.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 8/26/09 at 10:41am

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

The gloves are OFF!

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 8/26/09 at 10:43am

YankeeFan-
And one more thing, I never called it homophobic, I called it condescending and affected. There is a difference.

[Kalimba]

Posted: 8/26/09 at 10:44am

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

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/26/09 at 10:44am

PJ---I'm sure Arthur won't keep silent about that. Or anything else, for that matter.

[Blockhead24]

Posted: 8/26/09 at 10:46am

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

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/26/09 at 11:14am

^ It's not the Golden.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 8/26/09 at 11:24am

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.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 8/26/09 at 11:25am

Ugh. I might have sprung for tickets to see this unnecessary revival of a musical that wasn't very good in the first place, mainly to see the new guy that everyone's so crazy about.

But there's just no way I'll sit through any more of Patinkin's atrocious braying. I can go to a construction site and hear more pleasing sounds, and for free.