SOUTH PACIFIC Revival? — Page 2

Theatreboy -- I think for a Broadway revival you need to have somebody young play the role. Didn't we learn anything from Glenn Close's pre-menopausal Nellie in the horrible TV version?

Your post made me laugh Steven -- out of curiosity -- what race were the children?

Nothing like short high schoolers to play the kids! I once saw a production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC, though where both of the "boys" were over six feet tall ! :)

Updated On: 3/21/05 at 02:52 PM

Would *LOVE* to see a revival of this. Absolutely love it. Fabulous show with fantastic music.

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Thank you Margo! I now re-nominate my choices for Nellie! And if you really want to go young, maybe Jessica Grove?

Good. Rebecca Luker & Marc Kudisch it is.

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Oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooh.

Now you're talking!

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Just because Mary Martin created the role at the age of 35 doesn't mean that is the "correct" age of the character. She also played Maria in THE SOUND OF MUSIC when she was over 50 -- whats your point?

And techinically, isn't Emile supposed to be a good deal older then Nellie? Isn't that the initial reason Nellie has some caution about their relationships?

Marc Kudisch might be too young unless Nellie is played by Dakota Fanning.

Updated On: 3/21/05 at 04:10 PM

I have no issue with someone playing younger then they are if they look younger. Sally Murphy is 40 and looks 25. But to say Nellie in the musical is 35 because Martin was 35 when she played it is kind of absurd.

If Krakowski could sing it, she might be fun! I tell you who would be really good in that part is Zooey Deschanel, who is playing Krakowski's revival role - Lardy Larkin in the television ONCE UPON A MATTRESS.

She has a great voice and the right qualities for the role and is the ideal age.

Margo,

Mary Martin was definitely a star who could "sell tickets" when she did SOUTH PACIFIC on Broadway. She had been the lead in ONE TOUCH OF VENUS, and had stopped the show cold with MY HEART BELONGS TO DADDY in LEAVE IT TO ME. She had also had a film career. I'm not disagreeing that SOUTH PACIFIC was written for her unique talents; I'm simply disagreeing that the role of Nellie is 35 simply because that is the age Martin was when Rodgers and Hammerstein conceived the role.

Perhaps its worth noting that when the film version was made, the same Rodgers and Hammerstein chose Mitzi Gaynor, a much younger then 36 year old actress to play the role, just as they cast 30 year old Julie Andrews to play the role of Maria in THE SOUND OF MUSIC -- which if we are to believe your theory should have been cast with a 50 year old, because that was the age Martin was when Rodgers and Hammerstein wrote it for her.

Updated On: 3/21/05 at 05:13 PM

I'd still like to see Reba originate a role on Broadway. even if it is in a revival, I'd like to see her in a Tony race. That would be fun, yah. and Ewan for Cable! whoo hoo! he could definitely find a way to whip it out in South Pacific. Guys and Dolls not so much...

Nevertheless, I think YOU'RE wrong to say that some of the 30-something actors others have suggested for the role are "too old" to play it. If R&H had no problem with a 35 year old playing it, who are YOU to say that 30-somethings like Emily Skinner and Jenn Collela are too old?

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