Will and Jada Pinkett Smith to star in STREETCAR??- Page 2

[AC126748]

Posted: 7/16/10 at 3:56pm

Okay, There is one and only one possibility for Blanche in an African-American staging of STREETCAR.

That would be Ms. Viola Davis.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 7/16/10 at 5:04pm

Viola Davis was the first name to come to mind for me too, but at the same time I think she's almost too strong for the role, she would sweep the floor with Will Smith, frankly it's hard to think of someone who could match her. I haven't seen FENCES but it seems like Denzel was able to do well opposite her, so more reason to cast her as Stanley. Smith is simply an awful choice for the role.
And by the way, CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF could have worked wonderfully if only the cast hadn't been led by an awfully awkward Terrence Howard and a misguided James Earl Jones. Anika Noni Rose was a brilliant Maggie, I'll never forget the experience of watching her carry the play on her shoulders, she also swept the floor with Howard which was a shame.
For the record, Jada was offered the role of Stella, not Blanche.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 7/16/10 at 5:10pm

I directed an all-black production of STREETCAR in college. If you commit to the performances given and suspend your disbelief, it works.

However - this casting idea is atrocious. Why Will Smith? So there's an excuse to see his chest? Taye Diggs'd be better. Not as big a name, but he'd be better. Probably not by much... but some.

[Daniel2]

Posted: 7/16/10 at 5:16pm

I agree that Viola Davis would be great as Blanche. I always have trouble remembering who Jada Pickett Smith is--I get her mixed up with Viveca Fox. I don't see Will Smith as Stanley--I've always thought of him more as a movie star than an actor--but who knows.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 7/16/10 at 5:19pm

I don't think it's a horrible idea at all.

It's one of my favorite plays, and I think that Will Smith is an interesting choice for the role.

Viola Davis came to mind immediately for Blanche...she'd be amazing.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 7/16/10 at 5:34pm

I'm not saying, by the way, that because I directed it in college that it works. (I did it because I saw an opportunity to work with some peers that I respected on something we'd probably never otherwise get to do...) It most certainly has it's flaws and makes the Polack references a bit awkward. But the play has NOTHING to do with race when it all comes down to it. It's still just as sexy, ferocious and thrilling, black, Asian, white, whatever.

[ObiHave]

Posted: 7/16/10 at 5:49pm

I have no problem with them doing a Broadway show, I'd just rather they choose something a little better suited to their talents. Blanche is a terribly demanding role. There are actresses who have worked on the stage for years who won't touch Blanche. There are plenty of great plays out there for them tackle...this just isn't the one.
I'd like to see them both in a comedy personally. Now if they staged the Streetcar musical from the Simpsons...

[Daniel2]

Posted: 7/16/10 at 6:01pm

Wait, I assumed Jada PS is playing Stella--I don't see her as Blanche at all.

[AC126748]

Posted: 7/16/10 at 6:12pm

I'd love to see Taraji P. Henson as Stella.

[Burgos1969]

Posted: 7/16/10 at 6:15pm

Call me crazy, but I have never understood the whole "So And So Is Not Right For The Role" argument based on things like "he isn't butch enough" or "she is too butch" ; Isn't that why they are ACTORS? Actors play people who are not like them all the time. Yeah, radical, eh? A soft-spoken, shy, effete actor can play a loud, foul-mouthed street hooligan character, and an abrasive goofball can play a painfully shy character, because that's what acting is. Sometimes these big-star vehicles on Broadway "don't work" more because of audiences expectations than because of any real inadequacies on the performers' part.


In any case, looking forward to see these two stretch their acting muscles, and I will reserve judgment until AFTER I see the play. Sure, maybe they will be terrible, or maybe they will astound us, but I will go in with an open mind.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/16/10 at 6:23pm

I could see Vanessa Williams as Blanche.

[Q]

Posted: 7/16/10 at 6:26pm

I think Audra could do blanche, as well.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 7/16/10 at 6:43pm

AC, Taraji P. Henson would make a divine Stella, now THAT'S great casting.
And Burgos, some people are just better suited for a role than others, not all actors are able to transform themselves into almost any role. Stanley needs the presence of an incredibly masculine, tough, and of course in other ways vulnerable, man, a combination that I highly doubt Smith could bring to a role. Just like you wouldn't cast Angelina Jolie as Stella for example, she's too strong a presence and might be better suited for an all-female version of STREETCAR as Stanley. Stars bring in their personas to the parts they play, it's a basic fact.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 7/16/10 at 6:48pm

Yeah, I do agree that Jada is too strong for Stella.

Taraji P. Henson would be the perfect Stella.

For Blanche, I'd be interested to see:

Thandie Newton
Vanessa Williams
Viola Davis
Anika Noni Rose

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/16/10 at 6:52pm

I will say that Thandie Newton on Broadway is one of the only times I could see myself lining up at a box office ready to pay whatever they're asking for front row center seats.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 7/16/10 at 6:55pm

She's the best suited one for the role that I can think of.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 7/16/10 at 7:10pm

Viola Davis as Blanche would get me front row center as many times as possible. She would be incredible.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 7/16/10 at 7:12pm

Audra, Viola or maybe even Vanessa Williams for Blanche for me.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 7/16/10 at 7:12pm

Oops, double post. And I sure need a new avatar. Been a looooong time since I posted actively.

Updated On: 7/16/10 at 07:12 PM

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 7/16/10 at 7:24pm

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 7/16/10 at 7:30pm

Years ago, I think Phylicia Rashad would have actually made a brilliant Blanche.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/16/10 at 7:37pm

She can play Stanley.

[Kad]

Posted: 7/16/10 at 7:43pm

I just don't think that it makes sense based on the text to have an all-black cast- particularly for Stanley. Particularly when his ethnic background is rather important. And he's referred to as a polack.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 7/16/10 at 8:08pm

I think Carla Gugino would also make a terrific Blanche.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/16/10 at 8:10pm

But she's white. That would be "non traditional" casting.


Duh.