Who'll play "Pirate" Jenny now??- Page 2

[children&art]

Posted: 12/14/05 at 5:03pm

1. Alice Ripley
2. Ute Lemper
3. Jennifer Jason Leigh (just because I'd like to see her and Alan on stage together again)
4. Bebe Neuwirth
5. Betty Buckley

[Garland Grrrl]

Posted: 12/14/05 at 5:03pm

this whole cast seems strange to me. i don't understand the texture of it. i vote for natasha richardson. or how about tonya pinkins?

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 12/14/05 at 5:05pm

Tonya Pinkins would be...interesting. I could also definitely see Richardson doing it. I'm going to stick with Buckley for now, though. She's astounding in the role.

[Kringas]

Posted: 12/14/05 at 5:06pm

I like the idea of Natasha Richardson, too.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 12/14/05 at 5:17pm

Most of these people are too "clean". Jenny is a prostitute. She has to have a hard edge about her.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 12/14/05 at 5:20pm

Most of these people are too "clean". Jenny is a prostitute. She has to have a hard edge about her.

I hate to start sounding like a broken record, but...Betty Buckley. I mean come on, she shot a man in Reno just to watch him die...

I'm just waiting for someone to suggest Rosario Dawson... Updated On: 12/14/05 at 05:20 PM

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 12/14/05 at 5:25pm

I don't think Jennifer Jason Leigh could be described as too clean or lacking in edge. Tralala anyone?

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 12/14/05 at 5:26pm

JJL is appropriately hard-edged, but I don't think she'd be able to handle the role vocally, especially if "Pirate Jenny" is in this translation.

[children&art]

Posted: 12/14/05 at 5:26pm

too clean? you know Jenny is a role, played by an actor - right? i know it's weill, brecht and all that - but it's still ACTING.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 12/14/05 at 5:27pm

"I hate to start sounding like a broken record, but...Betty Buckley."

Buckley's too much of a star. She won't take second billing to Alan Cumming. Besides, I don't think there is anyone on Broadway who will work with her. She's too crazy.

[broadwayboy81]

Posted: 12/14/05 at 5:29pm

100% ALICE RIPLEY!

Get her back on Broadway! She'd be great in this!

[The8re phan]

Posted: 12/14/05 at 5:31pm

Gothampc ---

thou i do agree with the 'crazy' part..... i disagree with u about her refusing a 'second-billing' role. Her last Broadway outing, Triumph of Love, she took 2nd billing to Susan Egan & Christopher Sieber.

Actually, I'd love to see a truly 'crazy' Jenny

Updated On: 12/14/05 at 05:31 PM

[Gothampc]

Posted: 12/14/05 at 5:39pm

"but it's still ACTING."

Yes it is acting, but there's a certain realm of believability. For example, not everyone can play Glinda in Wicked because it takes a certain type which requires more than acting.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 12/14/05 at 5:45pm

When Betty did Threepenny at WTF two years ago, she shared equal billing with several other (Jesse L. Martin, Melissa Errico, Karen Ziemba). Also, she shared billing with her co-stars in Elegies. I don't think she would have a problem sharing billing with her.

Hell, Edie Falco is WAY more famous than Betty Buckley today and she shared...

What about Karen Akers? Updated On: 12/14/05 at 05:45 PM

[children&art]

Posted: 12/14/05 at 5:51pm

"but it's still ACTING."

Yes it is acting, but there's a certain realm of believability. For example, not everyone can play Glinda in Wicked because it takes a certain type which requires more than acting.

No, I totally disagree and I know this thread is specifically about 3PO, but maybe my education has given a certain amount of fearlessness and unbridled enthusiasm. I think if you are a good enough actor, with enough craft, that anyone can play any part.

Jenny is not a "Glinda" part - Glinda was written with a certain (horrible) actress in mind and crafted around her style. Jenny was written with Lenya in mind but it wasnt molded around her, she made an impression with that role but anyone can play Jenny if they just take the time to get into her skin.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 12/14/05 at 5:54pm

100% ALICE RIPLEY!

Get her back on Broadway! She'd be great in this!



Alice is living in California now and working on non-theatre related projects (specifically, her band). I doubt you'll see her back on the boards in New York any time soon.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 12/14/05 at 6:14pm

"I think if you are a good enough actor, with enough craft, that anyone can play any part."

I agree that a good actor can play any part. However, the audience has to believe the actor in the part. Kristin Chenoweth may be able to act Joanne in Company, but she will never play the part because nobody would believe her in it.

Same with Matthew Broderick in Streetcar Named Desire. He may be able to act Stanley, but nobody is really going to take him seriously in the role.

[isntitromantic]

Posted: 12/14/05 at 8:45pm

Anyone who heard/saw Donna McKechnie sing this in her tribute to Joe Papp knows that hers would be the definitive performance, second only to Lenya or Schlamme. I had never heard the words before hearing McKechnie sing them. And her world-weariness slash rage: brilliant.

[Liz_Bennet]

Posted: 12/14/05 at 8:52pm

I like the idea of Ute Lemper. She knows her way around this kind of music.

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/14/05 at 10:41pm

I found this interview with Ute.. and she talks about being approached for the role of Jenny. But I'm not sure if she is talking about the Bway revival.

JF: Do you have a desire to return to the theater anytime soon?

UL: Actually, I've been approached to play Jenny in an upcoming production of The Threepenny Opera. But Jenny doesn't get to sing "Pirate Jenny!" It's a song for Polly, who is the young and innocent character. Lotte Lenya got to do it in later productions after she begged to do it, but this production would give "Pirate Jenny" and "Barbara Song" and all those great songs back to Polly, and Jenny would just get "Solomonsong" and one other number ... so I'm not sure if I really want to do it! (laughs) I would rather do my Kurt Weill evenings in which I get to do whatever songs I want to sing - including the men's numbers!
-https://www.talkinbroadway.com/cabaret/lemper.html

All her favoite songs aren't for Jenny. but this is obviously right up Ute's alley! Man I wish they could get her.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 12/15/05 at 1:54am

luba mason?

[Garland Grrrl]

Posted: 12/15/05 at 12:39pm

i love donna mc but as pirate jenny? hmmm... that takes a bit of work for me to wrap my brain around. polly bergen before donna for me.
anyway, isntitromantic, shouldn't you be off transubstantiating your lunch or something?

[touchmeinthemorning]

Posted: 12/15/05 at 12:43pm

Probably either Brooke Shields or Harvey.

[OtherDaryl]

Posted: 12/15/05 at 12:54pm

Here's a thought - Rondi Reed - Chicago's very own Morrible - she was preparing the role years ago for a Steppenwolf Threepenny that was cancelled.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 12/15/05 at 1:22pm

"Bea Arthur.

She is positively haunting on the JUST BETWEEN FRIENDS CR."

That is the greatest thing I have ever read in my entire life. Thanks for the smile. I needed it.