TOO OLD For the Role?- Page 2

[Princeton2]

Posted: 6/26/18 at 3:02pm

something that has bugged me for a while is how we seem to be so accepting of ageism but when it comes to race or sexuality people are all over it. I remember when the whole Kevin Spacey thing ignited and the scenes in a movie were reshot with Christopher Plummer no one was questioning why an older actor wasn't cast in the first place. why is it acceptable to use prosthetics when there are plenty of older actors who could play the role and who often don't get a shot as Hollywood is so youth orientated

People also seem to be so happy to mock and stereotype older audience members, again that wouldn't happen with other sections of society.

Dolly Levy isn't a role I associate with an age personally so someone in their 70s seems just as believable as Barbra was in the movie. Something like Frozen however probably does require it's two leads to be closer to a certain age

[mamaleh]

Posted: 6/26/18 at 3:07pm

Not to put too fine a point on it, but I saw Ethel Merman play a mature Annie in ANNIE GET YOUR GUN on a school trip to Lincoln Center in 1966, not the early ‘60s. (Please, I’m old enough.)

Updated On: 6/26/18 at 03:07 PM

[broadwayboy223]

Posted: 6/26/18 at 3:26pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "Jennifer Holliday (now 57) continues to play Effie White in productions of DREAMGIRLS, a role she originated on Broadway in 1981 when she was 21 years old.





"

Hasn't she retired Effie tho? I think the last time she did it was 2012 right?

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow2]

Posted: 6/26/18 at 3:39pm

Obviously, there are some roles where the actors have become too old for, BUT who am I to judge casting when people are buying tickets to see them and people are still casting them in the parts. I mean everybody has to make a living. As Forbidden Broadway put it re: Channing, "Some people sing, some people dance, some people act...I do Hello Dolly!"

[missthemountains]

Posted: 6/26/18 at 4:29pm

It's insanely subjective. I think honestly the biggest crime here is when people who are too old play teenagers. It's so cringey, and then I think it also gives teenagers unrealistic expectations of what their bodies and voices should sound like. I understand that the reasons this is in place is because of the liability/headache of working with actors under 18, which I understand all too well as a director myself but I wish we could maybe adjust some of the laws to make it easier. I have sometimes put strict height restrictions on calls requiring these roles so that it looks more believable--even though I know there are several teens out there that are about 6 foot. But, I don't think it does anyone any favors to see actors in their 30's play teenagers on stage. Generally, Spring Awakening was pretty good about this--but like, recently I saw The Mad Ones and all of those actors were basically in their 30's. It was so stupid, and besides K&L being total hacks and that show being one of the pinnacle reasons why I think modern musical theatre is so insipid; it would've at least felt more authentic to have had younger actors who passed a lot better. 

I do think like I said earlier though--everything its in context. Like, there are some theatre legends out there that can play a role up until they are wayyy past their prime, and we, as audience members forgive the rules of the world and allow it because our want to be entertained is much greater than our need to be let into the dramaturgy of the story. Like, to see Ted Neeley in JCS, Ellen Greene in Little Shop, Richard O'Brian in Rocky Horror, Bette as Dolly--these people are so iconic that the only people who would be taken out of it is those unfamiliar with those people as performers, or the show being performed, and most of the time it's diehard MT fans who could give a crap less. But again, there are some limitations--such as when a role requires revealing clothing or nudity that it might not be in the best interest of the performer. But the again, Ellen Greene for instance when they did the Little Shop concert looked incredible. So who knows?

[Rainah]

Posted: 6/26/18 at 4:51pm

missthemountains said: "It's insanely subjective. I think honestly the biggest crime here is when people who are too old play teenagers. It's so cringey, and then I think it also gives teenagers unrealistic expectations of what their bodies and voices should sound like."

Not only that, but seeing dozens of 25 year old actresses with fully developed bodies playing 14 year olds really does promote the sexualization of youth. People who hear about, say, a statutory rape case or even just adults being creepy around kids and think "They're practically an adult anyway" "age is just a number"

I just wrapped up a project with a 16 year old actor. I'm in my early twenties, and my goodness did he make me feel old. I cannot fathom people in their early twenties dating highschoolers as anything other than creepy. (And, while working on the show, he did have to fend off some creepy messages despite being a minor, playing a minor, in a role that was not in any way sexualized)

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 6/26/18 at 6:03pm

Hasn't she retired Effie tho? I think the last time she did it was 2012 right?

In a 2017 interview Jennifer Holliday mentioned that she would consider again playing her signature role, Effie White in DREAMGIRLS if she were joined by the musical's original Deena Jones, Sheryl Lee Ralph.

“Maybe she could do Deena for a week or for one night only but maybe not want to tour with it,” Holliday told STLTODAY. 

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 6/26/18 at 6:13pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "Hasn't she retired Effie tho? I think the last time she did it was 2012 right?

In a 2017 interview Jennifer Hollidaymentioned thatshe would consider again playing her signature role, Effie White in DREAMGIRLS ifshe were joined by the musical's original Deena Jones, Sheryl Lee Ralph.

“Maybe she could do Deena for a week or for one night only but maybe not want to tour with it,” Holliday told STLTODAY."

Loretta Divine would like a word...a very high, belted word.

[faceleg]

Posted: 6/26/18 at 7:07pm

I'm slightly surprised no one mentioned Chicago. IIRC, Roxie is supposed to be in her 20s, but Fosse wanted Gwen to play it. Of course now, Roxie is usually played by an actress in her late 30s to 40s. The only young Roxie I can think of is when Ashlee Simpson played it. 

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

Posted: 6/26/18 at 7:45pm

What does it mean when a musical theatre writer etc. is called a "hack?" I always thought K&L were quite well-regarded, so it was surprising to hear them referred to as such in this thread.

[SomethingPeculiar]

Posted: 6/26/18 at 8:25pm

The entire cast of the recent revival of THE FRONT PAGE.

Perhaps Allison Pill's age was a factor in some of the criticism of her performance in 3TW. I thought she was very good, but she does not look 26.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 6/26/18 at 10:56pm

Musical Theatre Frenzy said: "And how believable was this: John Travolta and Stockard Channing played High School Seniors when they were in their 30s in the film version of Grease."

John Travolta was 24 when Grease was released, and would have been 23 or 24 during filming (depending on what the shooting and post-production schedule was). 

 

[markypoo]

Posted: 6/27/18 at 9:52am

As much as I appreciated John Raitt, his reprising Billy Bigelow in a 1980 summer tour of Carousel was a bit much.

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 6/27/18 at 10:20am

Musical Theatre Frenzy said: "And how believable was this: John Travolta and Stockard Channing played High School Seniors when they were in their 30s in the film version of Grease."

Per casting director Joel Thurm, the casting of older actors (in their early 30s) in the film adaptation of GREASE was in order to help make then-29 year old Olivia Newton-John look younger (and more high school age), which even she agreed was far-fetched.  Dinah Manoff (who played Marty) and Kelly Ward (who played Putzie) at age 21 (in 1977, when the film was being shot) were both the youngest of the principal cast.  As mentioned above, John Travolta was 23 at the time of filming.  

[Broadway61004]

Posted: 6/27/18 at 10:25am

Both Kerry Butler and Marissa Jaret Winokur were in their 30s when they first did Hairspray (and Corey Reynolds was 28).  But it somewhat worked, as when everyone looks order, you start to believe that they can pass for high schoolers.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 6/27/18 at 10:47am

Most actresses cast as Blanche Dubois are too old -- Blanche is thirty in the text.

 

[JBroadway]

Posted: 6/27/18 at 11:04am

Roscoe said: "Most actresses cast as Blanche Dubois are too old -- Blanche is thirty in the text."

I feel like Blanche is one of those roles like Hamlet; by the time you're old enough to understand it fully, you're too old to play it. 

[mamaleh]

Posted: 6/27/18 at 5:16pm

Blanche's 30 at the time of STREETCAR's opening is akin to 40-45 today.  

[David10086]

Posted: 6/27/18 at 6:51pm

Norma Desmond is supposed to be 50 in SUNSET BOULEVARD.

I believe Glenn Close's first go-round and Betty Buckley were the only two 'close enough' in age...

Patti Lupone was 44 when she debuted on the London stage in 1993 of this production.

Diahann Carroll was 60, while Petula Clark was 63. Rita Moreno was also in her mid-60s when she took over the role in London.  Last year's revival had a 70 year old Glenn Close. Other "celebrities" Andrew Lloyd Webber was interested in as the third 'Norma' in late 1996 were also in their 60s (Barbara Eden was one - she was 65). 

But I think Norma Desmond can be of any age over 40. 

[jo]

Posted: 6/27/18 at 7:12pm

The age difference between Norma Desmond and Joe Gillis should be wide enough to make any physical/romantic relationship seem at the very least awkward or even a little cringey. Since Joe is supposed to be a screenwriter who has had considerable work experience in Hollywood without any success, his age is not likely to be in his early twenties.  I think a more credible age for him would be closer to 30...which would make Norma closer or at around 50.  Joe could be in his late 30's or early 40's, which can push the age of Norma closer to 60 but that may not sound ideal. I think the casting in the original film noir classic ( William Holden as Joe and Gloria Swanson as Norma) was the most credible. Acting-wise, the film beats any stage adaptation production!

[AntV]

Posted: 6/27/18 at 11:52pm

Anyone else think Sasson Gabai in the production photos is a bit too old looking for Katrina Lenk to be pining after?

I was surprised to find out Tony Shaloub is only 6 years younger than him, but he looks much younger.

Updated On: 6/27/18 at 11:52 PM

[bfreak]

Posted: 6/28/18 at 12:18am

I don't think age is a big problem for Tewfiq, since it is partly his maturity and life experience that draws him to her. She even sings about her unexpected and almost confused attraction in Something Different where she sings "those are not young hands."

[Cesare2]

Posted: 6/28/18 at 10:13am

BuddyStarr said: "So there's still hope for Sarah Jessica Parker reprising her Annie???





Kidding."

Maybe when Andrea McArdle leaves:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSpbmstfWHk

[Babe_Williams]

Posted: 6/28/18 at 10:33am

Rainah said: "missthemountains said: "It's insanely subjective. I think honestly the biggest crime here is when people who are too old play teenagers. It's so cringey, and then I think it also gives teenagers unrealistic expectations of what their bodies and voices should sound like."

Not only that, but seeing dozens of 25 year old actresses with fully developed bodies playing 14 year olds really does promote the sexualization of youth. People who hear about, say, a statutory rape case or even just adults being creepy around kids and think "They're practically an adult anyway" "age is just a number"

I just wrapped up a project with a 16 year old actor. I'm in my early twenties, and my goodness did he make me feel old. I cannot fathom people in their early twenties dating highschoolers as anything other than creepy. (And, while working on the show, he did have to fend off some creepy messages despite being a minor, playing a minor, in a role that was not in any way sexualized)"

Watching that Mean Girls performance at the Tony's the thing that struck me was how they all seemed way too old to play high schoolers.