Second Stage revival of The Last 5 Years- Page 4
Second Stage revival of The Last 5 Years
#75Second Stage revival of The Last 5 Years
Posted: 8/13/12 at 11:34pm
To me Benanti looks too Jewish to play Cathy between the big nose, the complexion, and the occasional jew fro.
....But she's Yugoslavian, German, Irish, and Native American.
http://www.laurabenanti.com/laurastheme.html
CurtainPullDowner
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/4/04
#77Second Stage revival of The Last 5 Years
Posted: 8/14/12 at 2:19am
I wonder how Noah Weisberg could do in this role. I think he has the acting ability, and I do like his voice.
As much as I love Lindsey Mendez, she certainly doesn't seem "Irish Catholic."
What about Christy Altomare? She was Sue in Carrie and is Sophie in Mamma Mia right now. I absolutely loved her Sue and thought she had a fantastic voice.
CurtainPullDowner
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/4/04
#78Second Stage revival of The Last 5 Years
Posted: 8/14/12 at 2:22am
Weisberg and Altomare, very interesting.
I would cast them.
#79Second Stage revival of The Last 5 Years
Posted: 8/14/12 at 2:28am
The actors in THE LAST FIVE YEARS have to be believable as having lived major, life-altering events over the course of the story. They're young when they first meet, but they've navigated huge emotional events that age them significantly by the time their relationship ends.
Christy Altomare is a really interesting performer, but wide eyed ingenues like her don't read nearly "knowing" enough for a show as emotionally complex as this one. Altomare also still looks 16, and I'd go as far as to argue that she's exactly the type of "younger and thinner" girls Cathy sings about having to compete against in "Climbing Uphill." The same goes for someone like Laura Osnes. This role is far from that of your typical leading lady. The most appropriate choices are character actresses with a darker edge, which is why Sherie Rene Scott was so perfect in the original.
The true merits of her voice are still somewhat a mystery, but in terms of type, Lauren Ambrose is exactly what I think is required. I'd be fascinated to see her take on a character as complex and multifaceted as Cathy.
I like Noah Weisberg a lot, but I almost think he reads too "nice" for Jamie? As someone said earlier, Norbert Leo Butz was so utterly charming that he made the character read as significantly more sympathetic than he is on the page, but at heart, Jamie's very much a pompous jerk, and his selfishness and personal ambition are critical aspects of his personal identity. I don't know if I get all that from Weisberg, but he sure is talented. Christian Borle (who Weisberg has understudied) would have been the ideal choice years ago.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Updated On: 8/14/12 at 02:28 AM
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
colorandlight2
Understudy Joined: 12/5/08
#80Second Stage revival of The Last 5 Years
Posted: 8/14/12 at 2:38amNikki M. James for Cathy Hyatt
AEA AGMA SM
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/13/09
#81Second Stage revival of The Last 5 Years
Posted: 8/14/12 at 9:28am
"Isn't she like 40?"
I'm assuming that was aimed at Benanti, who is actually only 33. Though I do agree that she's always read far more older, in a good way, than she actually is.
CurtainPullDowner
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/4/04
#82Second Stage revival of The Last 5 Years
Posted: 8/14/12 at 9:47am
You're right about Altomare, a tad young, but Weisberg could easily play a charming a-hole, (though he really is a nice guy)
There's an old Law and Order where he plays an obnoxious guy and he's great.
It will be interesting to see who JRB casts as himself.
Actually I think Missy B reads younger on stage, but on TV she's a bit hard faced (but still beautiful), IMO she's all wrong for this. I'm kinda stuck on a blonde-type for Cathy.
The Daisy Mae reference and all.
random person 112
Broadway Star Joined: 6/26/11
#83Second Stage revival of The Last 5 Years
Posted: 8/14/12 at 7:52pm
Yes, i know ljay but she has all the physical characteristics one would associate with a Jewish woman. She looks like the kind of Jewish girl Jamie would have dated before he meet Cathy, the kind he he talks about having dinner with in Shiska Goddess. She wouldn't seem like the huge 'break through' in the dating scene Jamie sees her as. She would seem like more of the same. Secondly, an actress does not have to BE a nationality or certain ethnicity to play that nationality or ethnicity, as long as it is within reason. For example i doubt anyone had a problem with Morgan Freeman playing Nelson Mandela despite the fact Freeman was not south African. Patti LuPone performing as Evita is much the same. Third, there are many Jewish actresses who don't look Jewish i.e Elizabeth Banks or Anneliese Van der Pol who though they are Jewish do not look like the typical Jewish woman one mit imagine. While other Jewish actresses look very Jewish, i.e Idina Menzel and Lea Michele, it just the way things work.
Updated On: 8/14/12 at 07:52 PM
BwayBaby18
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/19/05
CurtainPullDowner
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/4/04
#86Second Stage revival of The Last 5 Years
Posted: 8/14/12 at 11:15pm
I only suggested Altomare because the breakdown listed her as 26-31 and I was trying to think of someone who fit the younger side, not just older characters who will have to play down in age. But, she really is very youthful.
I had wondered about Allison Case as an option but she also seems to read so, so young, and I'm not sure she would do the darker side of Cathy as well.
#87Second Stage revival of The Last 5 Years
Posted: 8/14/12 at 11:27pmNo way for Case. She comes across as about twelve.
I know you.
I know you.
I know you.
RippedMan
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/05
#88Second Stage revival of The Last 5 Years
Posted: 8/15/12 at 12:02amI just don't think the casting for this is going to be any sort of "dream" casting. It's Second Stage.
JohnyBroadway
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/10/12
#89Second Stage revival of The Last 5 Years
Posted: 8/15/12 at 12:06amHey I'd like to see Patti and Mandi do it.
Wynbish
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/27/12
#91Second Stage revival of The Last 5 Years
Posted: 8/15/12 at 12:12amI'm incredibly partial but I think Julie Reiber would be excellent. She played Cathy up in the Berkshires a couple summers ago and was fantastic. Paul Anthony Stewart was her Jamie and he was pretty good.
#92Second Stage revival of The Last 5 Years
Posted: 8/15/12 at 12:27amI think Meghann Fahy has a wonderful voice for Cathy, but she reads too young.
#93Second Stage revival of The Last 5 Years
Posted: 8/15/12 at 12:32amWhat about Jennifer Laura Thompson? Could she still read 26 by the end of the show? Her voice is great and I personally think she would be wonderful in so many songs.
Wynbish
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/27/12
#94Second Stage revival of The Last 5 Years
Posted: 8/15/12 at 12:39am
How is this on its fourth page with no mention of Sierra Boggess?
It's like I don't know this place anymore!
random person 112
Broadway Star Joined: 6/26/11
#95Second Stage revival of The Last 5 Years
Posted: 8/15/12 at 1:21amuhh because she is busy till 2013....
Wynbish
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/27/12
#96Second Stage revival of The Last 5 Years
Posted: 8/15/12 at 1:31am
Irrelevant! This is BWW!
Boggess, We Want!
Updated On: 8/15/12 at 01:31 AM
#97Second Stage revival of The Last 5 Years
Posted: 8/15/12 at 11:11amI actually love the idea of Jennifer Laura Thompson.
A little swash, a bit of buckle - you'll love it more than bread.
Wynbish
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/27/12
#98Second Stage revival of The Last 5 Years
Posted: 8/15/12 at 11:17am
Alex Gaumond? He does a good Shiksa Goddess
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66-2OJCFlLg
Hadley Fraser?
Updated On: 8/15/12 at 11:17 AM
Amneris25
Swing Joined: 4/25/09
#99Second Stage revival of The Last 5 Years
Posted: 8/15/12 at 11:47am
Patti Murin would be perfect. She's the right age, she can sing it easily, right type, and she could also handle both the comedy and the drama of the role.
And I still think Santino would be the right choice for this, but unfortunately he won't be available. So I'm out of ideas for that half of it.
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