Tarzan Article w/ Pictures Covers NY Times Arts & Leisure Section

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 8:19am

Just a heads up for anyone who wants to see Josh while swinging....my scanners on the blink, so I can't scan it in.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 9:11am

Thats it...

Is not Tarzan a big hunk of muscle, sorry gay man fantasy coming out..

[CharlieBrown]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 9:15am

Here...

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/16/theater/16mcki.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 9:17am

Looks like the cable is hooked to his um . . . "branch"

[CharlieBrown]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 9:18am

Here's more
Updated On: 4/15/06 at 09:18 AM

[dirty rotten guy]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 9:23am

Sorry, mabye its just the picture, but he looks NOTHING like Tarzan should. He looks more like a skinny emo kid rather that an ape-man. Heres hoping thats just a really bad picture...


On another note, is it just me or does it seem like Tarzan would have worked better with a skin colored muscle suit. I mean, the ammount of muscles he is supposed to have is pretty unrealistic for a Broadway actor, but Tarzan is Tarzan, and he needs to be huge. I think it might work well, unless they really wanted to go realistic and felt it would look too cartoonish.

[Kevinoes]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 9:36am

What? Cartoonish with apes covered in torn rags. OH!

[Phantom2]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 9:41am

Interesting overall article. I see they went with the hairy dude.

Updated On: 4/15/06 at 09:41 AM

[Broadway_Boy]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 9:53am

I'm really mad I paid full price for this.

[stylinbohemian]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 9:59am

IS that really their set and swing effect?.....once again disney oh how you've let me down

[PK2]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 10:18am

No, No skin colored muscle suit please...

This is a Broadway show and not a christian theatre. Give me real skin either muscle or not.

[jedwards]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 10:53am

Yah, he pretty much looks just like that picture. Not at all a Tarzan in my book. Sure he has a beautiful voice and can kinda act, but Disney dropped the ball on this. Its the difference between Josh trying to be a Tarzan and Josh embodying the role. Look at John Lloyd Young in Jersey Boys. He IS Frankie Valli. Whomever plays Tarzan has to 'be' Tarzan in every aspect of their performance, and in their life.

The funny thing is, that after reading that article, I'm wondering who the other 5 guys were. So you are telling me that out of the hundreds of people they saw, NO ONE had a good body and could sing? No one walked in and just 'looked like a Tazan'? I find that hard to believe. Even if their acting wasn't first rate, if you look the part and sing the part, and can move the part, its not hard to coach someone into a role with 6 months lead-time. I know line-readings are looked down upon, but just as Schumacher was helping tighten dialogue, a director 'can' help an actor create a performance.
Updated On: 4/15/06 at 10:53 AM

[susieq3c]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 10:58am

I'm thinking that maybe he doesn't look like YOUR version of Tarzan should. But you didn't cast this musical. Think about it, would a man who grew up in the jungle with no access to steroids, creatine, and tons of steak really be that beefy? I know for a FACT that the creators wanted a Tarzan with a swimmer's build, not Mr. Olympia. Try to be a little more open minded.

[Hawker]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 11:00am

Last time I recall seing a major spring piece about the remarkable skill necessary to get the sets right was in April of 1990 before "Aspects of Love" opened.

When the Times invests three pages on set design rather than music, book, or cast, you know you 're in trouble.

[zepka102]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 11:25am

iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii think he looks great

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 11:31am

See!!!!! HOW SH*TTY DOES THAT LOOK!

[best12bars]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 11:34am

Pretty... um... what you said.

[nomdeplume]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 11:47am

Updated On: 4/15/06 at 11:47 AM

[CJWesselman]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 1:50pm

To try and justify what might not be, in some people's opinions, an "ideal looking Tarzan," I present the following "techincal" support to the look of the Tarzan in this production.

1. Musculature
Why should the guy be cut with rippling muscles? The kind of exercise he gets (lots of running, swinging around on vines, climbing trees, etc) suggests that he'd be a lean individual, with with very little body fat. He'd be toned (which Josh appears to be), but there'd be no reason for him to look like a professional body builder. Tarzan wasn't doing clean and jerks with tree trunks. Heck, to be historically significant, just google Johnny Weissmuller and check out some of his pics from when he did Tarzan. Looks a bit flabby if you ask me.

2. The Hair
Of course he's gonna be hairy. If not simply because most men are quite hairy all over their bodies, but also because he's the "ape-man!" Now, that's not to say this is some support of Lamarckian Inheritance (Inheritance of acquired traits) or anything. He didn't become hairy because he hung around with apes or anything, but if a guy is known as an "ape-man" I'd be surprised if he was anything other than hairy. If Tarzan was some metrosexual who's glistening body didn't have one stray hair on it, we'd have to assume the plane that crashed was also carrying a lifetime supply of Nair and Baby Oil. Which is more realistic?

Now, about 10 minutes after I began typing this, I laugh at how I began this post as a joke, but by the time I started the "Hair" paragraph, I was getting into it, thinking, "Yeah, yeah! Of course this is what Tarzan would look like!" lol. Sometimes you just let yourself get carried away, I guess.

**EDIT: UPDATE**

3. Personal Hygiene
Not to mention the fact that this guy would be dirty and stink. He hangs out with apes all day! And wearing the same loin cloth day in and day out? Geez. Jane must like it dirrty (or however Christina Aguilera spells it.)

4. Hair, con'td
And who the hell gave him dreadlocks??!!! You're telling me monkeys know how to dreadlock hair? Oh come on! Talking, okay, I can buy talking, but hair maintainance? Pleeeeease. Willful suspension of disbelief accounted for, but geez. I mean, does Disney really expect us to buy this????

*The preceding comments to do necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of the poster. He was just trying to be funny. "Trying" being the operative word. Thank you.*

Updated On: 4/15/06 at 01:50 PM

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 2:01pm

I hate the dreadlocks. It just looks incredibley chesy. And who said he can't be a bodybuilder? Obviously Disney isn't going for realism. If they were they wouldn't be so obvious about the flying tools. I think he should be bigger and cut more. That's what people are expecting with the movie and whatnot. I don't know. That picture just reeks of cheesiness to me.

[RobbO]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 2:19pm

you kids are being quoted on just jared (a gossip site)
broadwayworlders quoted on website

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 2:30pm

First off, I'm with CJ on this one. Although I can understand the dreadlocks. I mean, it's not like he knows what a brush is, so of course the hair is going to be wild. And except for the fact it covers his face too much, it's appropriate.

Take a look at other actors that have played Tarzan. They've always been trim people, not heavily muscular. Also, if you've seen the show, you see that he spends a lot of time doing rolls and crawling around the floor. In this respect, he has to be limber, a gymnast's body. Of course, a little more muscle is asthetically pleasing. But it's not necessary here. In fact, I think he's probably more relatable to younger audiences if they try to play up the young love angle. Look at the love for Orlando Bloom! Young, fair, not overly muscular. I can see why they went this route.

Now to be fair, Josh is definitely an asset, very surprisingly. Singing is extremely good, acting is good enough and getting better. That said, he's hardly the reason to complain about this show. Because this show is a really a trainwreck. And I'm just afraid the blame will be put on Josh.

[zepka102]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 2:36pm

i don't think any blame will be put on Josh. from everything people have said about how he performs, he's great. from what people are saying about the show, it sounds like they went about visualizing it all wrong. i don't know yet, and i'll be able to judge it for myself in 2 weeks. ignoring what people are saying, i really can't wait to see it.


but i still think he looks fine!

[xM3L24x]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 2:38pm

I think he looks fine. Sure, Tarzan should have more muscles, but whatever. I haven't seen the show, but hopefully his performance is what matters.
Updated On: 4/15/06 at 02:38 PM

[timote316]

Posted: 4/15/06 at 2:45pm

Save for the dreads, I think he looks fine, too.