Sunday in the park @ studio 54 — Page 5
Posted: 11/9/06 at 7:58pm
NOTHING about Sunday is in the style of a documentary. Race just does not matter at all to the story, regardless of Seurat's existence, and actual appearance.
Posted: 11/9/06 at 8:05pm
Posted: 11/9/06 at 8:15pm
I am one who thinks that the play is not about George. If it was about George the second act would be completely different. As long as George has a lot of facial hair I think you it would not be that obvious till the second act that it was a colored actor, IMO.
Anyway now I really want Norm Lewis to play George and maybe Lea Salonga can join him as Dot.
Updated On: 11/9/06 at 08:15 PM
Posted: 11/9/06 at 8:16pm
Posted: 11/9/06 at 8:22pm
Posted: 11/9/06 at 8:23pm
At the end of Act I, we see the painting coming together. In the actual painting the women who supposedly are Dot (according to the musical) all are white. Now Audra McDonald played the role, of course it is historically inaccurate to have her play Dot because there are no African-Americans in Seurat's painting. However, is this relevant at all? No.
As Margo explained, few people really know much about Seurat's life, let alone what he looked like. To me saying that he shouldn't be played by a man of another ethnicity that is not white is preposterous, in a way you're implying that a non-white artist does not have the capabilities of creating the brilliant piece that George Seurat created.
On another lighter topic, the playbill.com article explains that Evans and Russell have been brought up in discussions of the transfer so it is a possibility that they play the roles here. I'd personally like to see Jason Danieley or Neil Patrick Harris play the role opposite Jane Krakowski, Ruthie Henshall (who is probably too old for this particular production), or Frances Ruffelle.
Updated On: 11/9/06 at 08:23 PM
Posted: 11/9/06 at 8:24pm
Posted: 11/9/06 at 8:33pm
Posted: 11/9/06 at 8:35pm
Updated On: 11/9/06 at 08:35 PM
Posted: 11/9/06 at 8:39pm
And I like the idea of Jane Krakowski.
Updated On: 11/9/06 at 08:39 PM
Posted: 11/9/06 at 9:15pm
Posted: 11/9/06 at 9:34pm
But man Ruthie Henshall is beyond perfect for this role. But that would be a major diss to Russell, casting another a London star in the Broadway transfer.
I'm imagining if Kelli O'hara is a smash in this role on the Westcoast, she will be considered for the Broadway transfer.
Posted: 11/9/06 at 9:43pm
I wonder if Kelli O'Hara's participation in the Reprise! production is actually some kind of audition for the transfer, it definitely would not surprise me.
Posted: 11/9/06 at 9:45pm
Peters was around the same age when she originated the role.
Posted: 11/9/06 at 9:47pm
Posted: 11/9/06 at 10:00pm
For any other production of this show, I believe Henshall would be more than appropriate. However, I still have the notion that O'Hara will more likely be cast after the Reprise! production.
Posted: 11/9/06 at 10:06pm
I wish Evans could transfer over for George. I highly doubt Mano would get this. The last thing I need is his groupies screaming during "Move On," and "Finishing The Hat" - you know it would happen. I have too much of an emotional connection to the show to have it ruined by preteen Mano groupies. And I don't mean this about the normal Mano fans here like Emcee, etc. I know he has some very young groupies, and they freak me out.
Posted: 11/9/06 at 10:21pm
Posted: 11/9/06 at 10:24pm
Ruthie seems just a *tad* ripe for me for Dot, but heck, if she'd do it, I'd be oh so very thrilled. She could act and sing the hell out of it, and it's not too far a stretch. I know Bernadette was no spring chicken when she played Dot either, but like NPH, she has that eternal youth feeling about her.
I don't know why exactly, but Kelli O'Hara feels to fragile for me as Dot. To be fair, I have never seen her live but there is something very delicate and lady-like about her that doesn't quite feel like Dot. Then again, she could be an amazing actress and completely pull it off:)
I would love to see Donna Lynne Champlin play Dot. I think she would have an interesting take on her.
Updated On: 11/9/06 at 10:24 PM
Posted: 11/9/06 at 10:25pm
Posted: 11/9/06 at 11:08pm
Updated On: 11/9/06 at 11:08 PM
Posted: 11/9/06 at 11:33pm
I think that she has the a very "Dotlike" mix of brass and volunerability.
I think Neil Patrick Harris is an intriguing choice, but I would like to see a wide variety of people considered.
The "historical Seurat" died in March of 1891 at age 31. Although I think I have been quite clear about my feelings on the importance of that.
Updated On: 11/9/06 at 11:33 PM
Posted: 11/10/06 at 12:16am
And any claims that he is too youthful to play the role is ludicrous. He is as old as Seurrat was when he died. Keep in mind that while he played a young boy in Sweeney Todd, Mano is in his 30's, and has a lot of range as an actor.
Posted: 11/10/06 at 12:21am
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