Sweeney Starring Bernadette?

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 8/14/03 at 2:24am

Why didn't I think of this before? She has been waiting for the film role of her life and I think now is her time to shine on screen. Not that she has not had a chance and done some really great work before (PENNIES FROM HEAVEN, for one.) What do you all think? Has anyone mentioned this before?
Who should she co-star with?

[rlbgbc]

Posted: 8/14/03 at 8:24am

Why break tradition? Steve Martin, of course.

[TEACHEROFTHEATER]

Posted: 8/14/03 at 8:53am

Bernadette would be a thrilling choice to essay Mrs. Lovett on film. I have thought of her often for the film during the last few months. I wonder if she would be thought to be a big enough film star to take one of the lead roles in a film of Sweeney Todd.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/14/03 at 9:08am

Teacheroftheater, I am pretty sure you mean "to assay Mrs. Lovett," not "to essay Mrs. Lovett," although I am sure if Bernadette were to write an essay about the character before performing it, she might find it helpful.

Having said that, I love Pennies from Heaven.

[Albin]

Posted: 8/14/03 at 11:34am

Namo,

As one of the definitions of "essay" is "an initial attempt or endeavor," the usage of this word in teacher's post is correct.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/14/03 at 11:53am

I love going to school..

Albin, hurry..you'll be late for gym...

[MagicRoy]

Posted: 8/14/03 at 11:59am

It's not a question of "Is Burnadette big enough a film star for such a role?" The question is "Is Burnadette too big for a film role like this?" Will she suffer the same fate suffered by great stage actors like Ethyl Merman, Mary Martin, Zero Mostel, and Nathan Lane?

[MusicalDirector109]

Posted: 8/14/03 at 12:03pm

Bernadette would be a WONDERFUL choice to play Mrs. Lovett. How about Brian Stokes Mitchell as Sweeney?

[robbiej]

Posted: 8/14/03 at 12:03pm

I decided to check Merriman-Webster online. Now, their definitions did seem brief (to say the least), but it seems that neither 'essay' nor 'assay' are appropriate...at least according to these definitions and the intent of the original poster. 'Essay' means a tepid beginning or attempt. This strikes me as having a prejorative connotation that I do not believe TEACHEROFTHEATER intended (although, of course, I could be wrong).

I, myself, have used these words carelessly, and now, thanks to the debate, I will be far choosier in my word selection. I will stick with the word 'perform' or 'performing', though it doesn't quite as lovely. I love learning new things!

[Albin]

Posted: 8/14/03 at 12:06pm

What the hell is a "prejorative connotation?"

[robbiej]

Posted: 8/14/03 at 12:11pm

A sense of judgement. The definition I found (and I stated that it was a BRIEF definition) used the word 'tepid' in it. I don't think TEACHEROFTHEATER meant that he wanted to see Bernadette's tepid attempt at Mrs. Lovett. But I could be wrong.

[TEACHEROFTHEATER]

Posted: 8/14/03 at 12:16pm

MagicRoy, I think it is premature to have Nathan Lane in the same "suffered fate" category as Zero Mosel, Ethel Merman and Mary Martin. We can be certain about the deceased three mentioned, but obviously, Mr. Lane may have great film happennings in his future.

However, there is a chance that both Mr. Lane and Ms. Peters may suffer the film fates of Mostel, Merman and Martin. I hope not. I'd be delighted if her star shined as bright on the screen as onstage so more people were able to enjoy her performances.

[TEACHEROFTHEATER]

Posted: 8/14/03 at 12:21pm

Nah, RobbieJ, you are not wrong....:)

I used the commonly used and understood meaning of the term essay when referring to a performance.

[MagicRoy]

Posted: 8/14/03 at 1:11pm

I don't want Nathan Lane and Bernadette peters to suffer the fate....it's just what (as history shows us) ultimately happens to really BIG theatre actors. They are just too big for the screen, and they don't know how to tone it down (Kevin Kline was able to do it!). It is just not believable when done on screen, and, therefore, they are dismissed as bad actors. If only they would realize that the camera is 2 inches from their faces as opposed to a hundred feet away....

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 8/14/03 at 1:21pm

I think Martin Short would be a great Sweeny Todd.
Just because The Goodbye Girl did not go over well does not mean that Martin and Bernadette could not work well together. Truthfully though, I don't know that I would want to see her in that role anyway.

[sondheimfreak]

Posted: 8/14/03 at 1:25pm

HURRY! Some one get some water! "Burnadette"'s on fire!
-Sorry MagicRoy. I couldn't resist.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 8/14/03 at 1:29pm

Both Kevin Kline and William Hurt were too big for the screen in their early films. Very hammy. But they learned how to act for the camera and ended up being very good film actors. I have always found Bernadette very belivable on screen, she knows how to tone it down when needed. It would take a strong director to pull this film off in the first place and one that would surely know how to work with actors unfamiliar with film. I think she would be a wonderful choice.

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 8/14/03 at 2:03pm

Well, Sam Mendes has directed both film and stage; and obviously he knows how to get a great performance out of Bernadette. He would be the perfect Director for the film.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/14/03 at 2:13pm

They'll ask Barbra..who will wait ..and wait ...and then turn it down..

They'll then cast:

Streep...(not bad)

and as Todd..

.. Jack Nicholson

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 8/14/03 at 2:30pm

Don't forget that Cher is always another option. They'll ask her, she'll want too much money, and then they'll go with....Catherine Zeta-Jones. LOL

Jack will do it, but he'll insist on wearing his shades. If he and Barbra did it, it would be a Clear Day reunion.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/14/03 at 2:34pm

Keep Bernie far away from the role of Ms. Lovitt. COme on, if Sondheim wanted her she would've played the part already. I think she's not crazy enough to play the role.

Angela!
Patti!
were very animated. Angela, almost impossible to follow after, but Bernie is now an actress for the camera, with her inner emotions that don't shine outward enough, anymore. Therefore I think it best, and Sondheim as well, since he has never cast her, to leave Bernie outta the casting choices for Ms. Lovitt. But that's just my opinion.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 8/14/03 at 2:36pm

I never considered Meryl. That would be interesting.And Sam Mendes or Rob Marshall to direct, of course.

[Bwaybabie]

Posted: 8/14/03 at 2:53pm

I think she would be phenomenal. I've seen her in quite a few films and she has never come off as too "big" for the screen. That whole sexy kewpie doll image could actually really work as Mrs. Lovett.

BTW--what did everyone think of Patti LuPone's Mrs. Lovett on the concert version?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 8/14/03 at 2:56pm

i thought patti was a vocally phenomenal powerhouse, but many aid Patti acted to sexy for Ms. Lovitt, hey a different interpretation of the character. But also Patti didn't have much time to rehearse for the role but still blew me away. I'm not nor will I ever compare her to Angela but I enjoyed Patti VERY much, I thought it was one her best vocal performances. She was in top form.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 8/14/03 at 3:12pm

I agree with you, RAG. I am not a huge fan of LuPone’s and was pleasantly surprised by her performance. I don’t think that making Mrs. Lovett sexy is a bad thing. In fact, she is more than a tad horney for Sweeney. It is just that Angela does not come across as very sexy.

Maybe what people are saying about Bernadette being the first sexy Rose has more to do with her being the first sexy actress to play her on B’way rather than a real character choice.