Rod Gilfry And Carmen Cusack Will Lead SOUTH PACIFIC Tour, Launches At The Golden Gate Theatre 9/18

[EddieVarley]

Posted: 7/23/09 at 3:28pm

Click Here to Read Rod Gilfry And Carmen Cusack Will Lead SOUTH PACIFIC Tour, Launches At The Golden Gate Theatre 9/18
https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Rod_Gilfry_And_Carmen_Cusack_Will_Lead_SOUTH_PACIFIC_Tour_Launches_At_The_Golden_Gate_Theatre_918_20090723

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 7/23/09 at 3:40pm

This is some of the weirdest casting I've heard in a long time.

Carmen Cusack is certainly talented, but isn't she a little long in the tooth to play Nellie Forbush?

And isn't Keala Settle young? I remember seeing her as Tracy in the HAIRSPRAY tour some years ago.

Updated On: 7/23/09 at 03:40 PM

[matineeidol2013]

Posted: 7/23/09 at 3:44pm

I was hoping I wasnt the only one who though Cusack wouldnt "work" as Nellie...I just can't see it...

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 7/23/09 at 3:46pm

I thought the same thing about Cusack. I saw her as Fantine twice (in the pre-Shanghai Les Miz cast) and thought she sounded fine, but had a rather cold presence.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 7/23/09 at 4:03pm

Rod (or Rodney to us opera queens) Gilfrey on the other hand, would make a fine father for my children. The ultimate baby-daddy.

Stanley in Previn's opera A Streetcar Named Desire.

[heo1128]

Posted: 7/23/09 at 4:05pm

Carmen Cusack doesn't strike me as an ingenue...at all.

[heo1128]

Posted: 7/23/09 at 4:05pm

Arg this always happens! Updated On: 7/23/09 at 04:05 PM

[mina3]

Posted: 7/23/09 at 4:57pm

I'm thrilled for Carmen. She doesn't *look* like the typical Nellie Forbush, but I'd still love to see her in the show. I think her performance will be great.

[TheatreDork2]

Posted: 7/23/09 at 4:59pm

Carmen ALWAYS looks pissed off.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 7/23/09 at 5:07pm

Interesting...Cusack was TERRIFIC as Elphaba when I saw her on the Wicked tour over a year ago, but Nellie is more of a "Glinda" type. Cusack does not read like a Forbush at all. Plus, she looks more like Margaret Hamliton that any Elphaba I've ever seen, so this is some straaaange casting, indeed. Though that's not to say she won't sound wonderful as far as singing goes.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 7/23/09 at 5:13pm

Damn! Rodney Gilfry was who I wanted to play Emile when the show was announced for Broadway. I loved Paulo Szot, but Rodney Gilfry has a more powerful voice, IMO. So jealous of whoever gets to see him.

[Elphaba3]

Posted: 7/23/09 at 5:36pm

I really liked Carmen as Elphaba, but I can't see her as Nellie.

[americanboy99]

Posted: 7/23/09 at 5:41pm

Let's hope that she'll surprise us. It's such a beautiful production.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 7/23/09 at 6:24pm

When was Nellie Forbush ever an ingenue role?

[mrkringas]

Posted: 7/23/09 at 7:00pm

Well I recall seeing Carmen as Christine in POTO around a decade ago and was perfectly ingenue esque

Although its been a few years since of course! I'm sure she will be fine. This is why casting directors audition folk rather than rely on message boards.

[onedaymore]

Posted: 7/23/09 at 7:02pm

Carmen could definitely play an ingenue, without a question. The problem is, with Nellie Forbush is that she is an ingenue but she's a CUTE ingenue, not a beautiful young woman like Christine. Carmen fits the beautiful young woman role, not so much the cute little "cockeyed optimist" role.

But I'm still excited to see her do it. I loved her in Wicked, and SP is one of my favorite shows of all time.

[little_sally]

Posted: 7/23/09 at 7:12pm

I'm really happy for Carmen. This is a great opportunity for her.

[singtopher]

Posted: 7/23/09 at 10:25pm

Matt as Billis? I'm sure he'd be good, but am I the only one taken aback by this?

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 7/23/09 at 10:34pm

Carmen will rock it and I am so happy she is no longer Elphaba. I dont want her to shred her voice. She will be amazing.

[onedaymore]

Posted: 7/24/09 at 3:03am

I'm wondering...Nellie is not that vocally grueling of a role, she is pretty much all personality and physicality. Do you think Carmen can do it?

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 7/24/09 at 10:10am

I saw the show on broadway so I dont know if ill catch the tour or not but after seeing Rod Gilfry as Lancelot this past summer at Ravinia, I certainly would love to hear him sing the score. I find it to be an excellent choice.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 7/24/09 at 11:53am

This casting is intriguing enough to me that I would consider going to Philadelphia or Hartford to see it.

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 7/24/09 at 7:02pm

Rod Gilfry is an excellent choice. He will be a much sexier Emile than Szot.

[tytonius]

Posted: 7/24/09 at 8:56pm

BroadwayBaby 6 ,

Gilfry isn't going to be sexier then Paolo, I am sorry.
Szot is a god on stage. I just saw the show last week. He's unbelievable and brings the house down every single night...
he really deserved his Tony.
I am sorry to disappoint you. I just love Szot

Gilfry will be ok but If you want the real thing you'll have to come to New York...
It.

[onedaymore]

Posted: 7/25/09 at 12:27am

Tytonius, THANK YOU! I think Szot is a god as well. His chemistry with Kelli is DAMN sexy. Plus everything he sings is effortless. I just love Paulo. Or maybe it's because I'm a biased Opera nerd.... lol