Whoopi to play DELORIS in Sister Act London (confirmed - delayed to 2021)- Page 4

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/29/19 at 12:45pm

Listen, I ADORE Whoopi, but sometimes it appears she even has trouble just walking around The View’s set.

[George in DC]

Posted: 11/30/19 at 12:17am

That is really pathetic. Deloris is supposed to be a kept woman. Are they making the mobster 100 years old, because that is the only person who would keep a 65 year old. Dear Whoopi, act your age and stop doing roles that are too young for you.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 11/30/19 at 12:36am

George in DC said: "That is really pathetic. Deloris is supposed to be a kept woman. Are they making the mobster 100 years old, because that is the only person who would keep a65 year old. Dear Whoopi, act your age and stop doing roles that are too young for you."

It has been noted in the press material they plan on "reinventing the role of Deloris for an older actor." We won't know until April what exactly they plan to change.

[George in DC]

Posted: 11/30/19 at 9:08am

I just think its so wrong when actors try to go back into parts that they have aged out of.  Robert Preston was offered the chance many times to reprise "The Music Man" for a ton of money and he always declined. He said the character was in his late 30s-early 40s and he was too old for the part. To play the part at his age would be a disservice to the character and he loved "Harold Hill" far too much to do that. I always admired him for that.

Updated On: 11/30/19 at 09:08 AM

[Highland Guy]

Posted: 11/30/19 at 11:54am

This place reeks of ageism.  

Updated On: 11/30/19 at 11:54 AM

[superiska123]

Posted: 11/30/19 at 7:54pm

In general, I am a big fan of age appropriate casting. However, i feel like it's more than ok to make an exception when a legendary actor is willing to reprise their iconic role in a musical. Sure, Deloris should be and usually is younger, but this is a special event/version of the show for Whoopi's fans and I for one think it's a great idea.

Ellen Greene was also "too old" to play Audrey in 2015 opposite Jake Gylenhaal but she knocked it out of the park...

Updated On: 11/30/19 at 07:54 PM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 11/30/19 at 8:38pm

superiska123 said: "In general, I am a big fan of age appropriate casting. However, i feel like it's more than ok to make an exception when a legendary actor is willing to reprise their iconic role in a musical. Sure, Deloris should be and usually is younger, but this is a special event/version of the show for Whoopi's fans and I for one think it's a great idea.

Ellen Greene was also "too old" to playAudrey in 2015 opposite Jake Gylenhaal but she knocked it out of the park..."

You can add Ted Neeley to that list. All things considered he still sounds pretty good. I'm still bummed I missed his last tour.

[SouthernCakes]

Posted: 11/30/19 at 8:42pm

I don’t get the age hate. They’re clearly reworking the show. So it’ll make sense...

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 12/1/19 at 1:00pm

But Whoopi also has the vocal range of a rock. They're rewriting it specifically for the things she cannot do and then Brenda Edwards has to deal with that and the physical/vocal limitations they're now baking into the show to accommodate Whoopi. It's not ageist to say someone who can't sing, barely move, & nearly died this year isn't the best person to tailor your entire show around now because she'll be in it for 6 weeks.

[Tag]

Posted: 12/1/19 at 1:05pm

While they are rewriting the entire show, can they just put the Shaiman score back in?

[Dave28282]

Posted: 12/1/19 at 4:22pm

The Little shop of Horrors and JCS comparisons are not accurate, because those performers have sung that songs ever since the movies came out.

Whoopi has nothing to do with the musical, scenes and songs as they are written. They are rewriting the entire show.

I can understand people liking a movie, but what on earth does it have to do with the musical except the name?

 

[Highland Guy]

Posted: 12/1/19 at 4:43pm

George in DC said: "Dear Whoopi, act your age "

 

What does that even mean??

 

 

 

[John Adams]

Posted: 12/1/19 at 11:05pm

Highland Guy said: "This place reeks of ageism."

superiska123 said: "i feel like it's more than ok to make an exception when a legendary actor is willing to reprise their iconic role in a musical."

This isn't about ageism, and Whoopi isn't re-creating her iconic role in a musical. Without knowing how drastic the re-write will be to account for Whoopi's age, first (logical) impression is that Whoopi playing Delores could look a lot like "Baby Jane".

She's not re-creating an iconic musical role. In the movie, Delores barely sang (thankfully). The other nuns (the characters who actually sang enjoyably), and Shaiman's arrangements were what stood out in the original film. The movie and the musical are two, different animals. Too different to be able to say "re-creating" the role.

Since it seems there will be a re-working of the book to accommodate for Whoopi's age, there's even less reason to be able to consider this engagement as a re-creation.

When Ellen Greene performed Audrey again, it actually was a re-creation of her iconic performance of both her stage and screen work.

[binau]

Posted: 4/24/20 at 6:58am

Been delayed a whole year now.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/24/20 at 9:13am

*sigh*
I was so looking forward to this. At least it’s still happening next year.

[Plannietink08]

Posted: 4/24/20 at 12:38pm

George in DC said: "That is really pathetic. Deloris is supposed to be a kept woman. Are they making the mobster 100 years old, because that is the only person who would keep a65 year old. Dear Whoopi, act your age and stop doing roles that are too young for you."

I can’t speak for everyone but I’d assume most of us who have bought tickets for this are doing so not to see an age appropriate actress play the role well and sing it out of the park - we’ve done so to see Whoopi, a legend of the screen, in person. We’re all aware that she doesn’t fit the role and that she won’t sing the role particularly well either but she’ll bring that bit of Whoopi magic that has made her so successful. 

I’ll catch the tour in Glasgow with Brenda Edwards to see how the changes work with an older actress in the role but I’m seeing Whoopi in London purely to see Whoopi. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 4/24/20 at 3:20pm

qolbinau said: "Been delayed a whole year now. "

As expected. And it has to be done in the summer as long as Whoopi is on The View. 

[SweetLips22]

Posted: 4/24/20 at 9:54pm

Why would anyone rush to see WG as Deloris?--Mother Superior, yes, but Jennifer Saunders has that part. And running from gangsters[that was the worst part of the musical], that's not gonna happen.

Watch Whoopie on TV and if that isn't enough then you deserve all that you get in the musical-the fans will yell and scream as usual, so that is all that matters[and the $s of course].

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 4/27/20 at 10:37am

I got an email from Ticketmaster this morning that my same seats for the show were automatically transferred to a new date in August of next year and I have to say I’m relieved. I had been stressed out at the thought of the frenzy of getting tix again so this is nice.

[GiantsInTheSky2]

Posted: 2/16/21 at 12:39pm

Delayed until 2022 - and Whoopi has dropped out.

I’m confused as to why “This necessary change of date now means that Whoopi will no longer be able to appear”. Does Whoopi have gigs lined up through next summer? 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/16/21 at 12:59pm

Maybe she’s just “done” with it? Or maybe she’s working on the new Sister Act film? Either way, this one really bums me out. They’re saying how it’s still going to happen next year with a big star and all so I guess I won’t get a refund just yet but yeah, I had really been holding onto this as something to look forward to this year.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 2/16/21 at 1:06pm

Off topic, I know, but has The Jake Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford Sunday in the Park given any indication of delaying?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 2/16/21 at 1:09pm

No, there hasn’t been any update on it. The website still says “2021” but now that Ashford’s sitcom got picked up I doubt it’ll happen, either.

[LesWickedly]

Posted: 2/16/21 at 1:27pm

Whoopi is obviously older so I wouldn't be shocked if fear of doing theatre in a (hopefully) post-covid world is still a little worrisome for her, so pulling out instead of continuing to prolong it makes sense. Re: Sunday, I feel like it'll also be postponed since we've still got a ways to go, even if the West End is trying to open up more shows by the summer. And like you said, Annaleigh has her show, (and if Jake can make the time, I'm sure she can too) but they both seem so committed to doing it still, I think Summer 2022 would be most likely. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 2/16/21 at 2:19pm

She does have some projects on the horizon that have likely gotten delayed due to covid-19. The next season of Star Trek, Sister Act 3 plus a few other movies.