Will and Jada Pinkett Smith to star in STREETCAR??- Page 3

[Q]

Posted: 7/16/10 at 8:12pm

Munk - do you know when that picture of Ms. Newton was taken? She'll be 38 in November, and if that pic is recent, she looks incredible!

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/16/10 at 8:21pm

Thandie always looks incredible. It boggles my mind how she isn't votes the Most Beautiful Person In The World every year.

[Q]

Posted: 7/16/10 at 8:32pm

I remember seeing her for the first time in INTERVIEW WITH A VAMPIRE. I was already squirming in my seat, and then she had her brief scene, and I almost stopped breathing - she was so powerful!

[AC126748]

Posted: 7/16/10 at 8:37pm

The idea of Carla Gugino as Blanche makes me wet.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 7/16/10 at 8:47pm

[AC126748]

Posted: 7/16/10 at 8:57pm

Please, God, somewhere...let this woman be Blanche.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 7/17/10 at 12:10pm

I think a white Stanley cast opposite a black Stella and Blanche would be great. I'd love to see that. That's more interesting than an all-black production, but at the same time, there's some great black actors who should get a crack at Stanley, Will Smith is not one of them.

[Q]

Posted: 7/17/10 at 12:17pm

When Treat Williams was Stanley, I certainly wanted a crack at him

[Unknown User]

Posted: 7/17/10 at 12:34pm

Try as I might, I can't think of anyone better suited to playing Stanley in an all-black version of Streetcar, than Denzel. One of the big problems for anyone playing Stanley, is that the spectre of Brando is always there (I saw an interview with John C. Reily after he played Stanley, as poor Reily was exasperated at the fact that nobody let him forget the "real Stanley" was Marlon Brando). Denzel is one of the few stars who is nearly as iconic as Brando, and has the sheer masculinty, sexuality, presence and acting chops to take Stanely out of Brando's shadow, in the same way some people believe Cate Blanchett has done a bit to reclaim Blanche from Vivien Leigh.

And of course, as many have noted, Viola Davis is perfect for Blanche. It feels sad and predictable since they both just starred in Fences, but maybe it's just a case of Denzel and Viola being the best actors around. Will Smith lacks the incipent danger to be a great Stanley.
Updated On: 7/17/10 at 12:34 PM

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 7/17/10 at 2:32pm

Some other ideas for Blanche (or just black actresses I'd like to see on Broadway): Kimberly Elise, Erika Alexander, Naomi Harris

[Brick]

Posted: 7/17/10 at 3:40pm

Stanley is 25 in the script. Just putting that out there.

[Holbee]

Posted: 7/17/10 at 4:06pm

Entertainment Weekly online is saying that Will and Jada have never even been approached about starring in "Streetcar" on Broadway.

Slow summer season of theatre gossip, Michael?

[eatlasagna]

Posted: 7/17/10 at 4:26pm

I saw a production of Streetcar YEARS ago (maybe mid 90s) with Sabrina Labeouf (aka Sondra from the Cosby Show) and I believe she was Stella opposite a white Stanley and she did a pretty good job from what I remember... the woman playing Blanche was also black

[Burgos1969]

Posted: 7/17/10 at 9:46pm

My dream cast for a multi-racial ASND...

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 7/17/10 at 9:54pm

There are definitely plans for an all black STREETCAR (I'm with those that say its a shame we just didn't get the Blanchett production transferred) but Will and Jada are frankly too smart to ever commit to something like this - neither has a theatre background and they would be the first to tell you that they would be in over their heads making their Broadway debut in this.

[Kad]

Posted: 7/17/10 at 10:04pm

I don't understand the desire to do all-black productions of Tennessee Williams works. It just seems to me like it goes against the intent of many of his plays. Particularly Streetcar, which makes it very clear that Stanley should be of Polish descent. Stella and Blanche, you could arguably get away with it, even if it doesn't make a lot of sense in the period the play is set (and would arguably go against the theme of the collapse of old South).

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 7/17/10 at 10:12pm

Williams was supportive of multi-ethinic and all black productions of his works while he was alive, so we can't really argue that doing these productions goes against his intentions.

I understand the desire to do his works with all black casts - besides the fact that the works are frequently revived and are classic plays at this point (and therefore open to non traditional reimaginings) - Williams' stories, with their heightened sexuality and melodramatic story lines are particularly appealing to the black culture, which traditionally has supported artistic works (like Tyler Perry and black gospel musicals) that tend to take on soap opera like proportions.

An all black STREETCAR can definitely be justified - but an all black FOLLIES to me is a dumb idea.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 7/18/10 at 2:29pm

Good, I'm glad Jada and Will aren't a part of this, they would be terrible.
I agree that Denzel and Davis are pretty much the perfect pairing for this. And sorry but I can't imagine Jennifer Lopez being able to act on stage for a second, she can barely do it on screen.

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 7/18/10 at 2:38pm

Though too old now, Laurence Fishburne would have made a pretty amazing Stanley (at least IMO).

[Q]

Posted: 7/18/10 at 3:05pm

Denzel's no spring chicken, either!

[YouWantitWhen????]

Posted: 7/18/10 at 3:08pm

True dat.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/18/10 at 3:12pm

I think Nick Cannon and Mariah Carrey would do a bang up job in this.

[Patash]

Posted: 7/18/10 at 4:40pm

A quote from A Tuna Christmas by character Joe Bob Lipsey, the director of the Tuna Little Theatre:

"I haven't had this many problems since that all white production of A Raisin in the Sun".

I think I'll pass on the Smith version of Streetcar and hold out for the Tom Cruise and Katy version of Raisin.