is Madeline Martin still in August?

[JulianHookbucks]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 1:30am

Molly Ranson was supposed to replace her last month, but all the major sites, including the website for August say that Madeline is still playing Jean.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 8:20am

Martin's last performance (I believe) was the show's final night at The Imperial. She left to film the second season of Showtime's CALIFORNICATION opposite David Duchovny, but I believe she is supposed to return once that is finished.

The Playbill listing has Molly Ranson credited as the new Jean, so I would assume it's safe to say she has indeed assumed the role.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 9:26am

I saw the show sunday (mother's day!) and she was very good. Fit right in, you'd assume she'd played it for months.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 10:45am

At first I Thought it said Madeline Kahn, and I got happy for a second.

[winter_sky]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 1:48pm

Isn't Madeline Kahn dead?

[Amneris]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 1:58pm

Actually Madeline left before they exited the Imperial. I saw Mollys first performance as Jean and she was So outstanding. I was a little upset to have missed Madeline because I think she is so talented but Molly definately rocked.

[verynewyorkcurious]

Posted: 5/16/08 at 2:13pm

spoilers

Really? I saw AUGUST again a couple of weeks ago, and really disliked Molly Ranson as Jean. She has no comedic timing whatsoever, unlike Madeleine Martin, who made that funny voice. An example was that scene in the attic in Act 1 when Jean was telling Johnna that her dad was having sex with a student, and that all the guys in Humanities department were..and then she added an "Lolita!!" No one in the audience got it, or found that it was funny when Molly Ranson said it because of her tone and delivery, but everybody got it when Madeleine Martin said it.

Molly Ranson got the crying and screaming at the end of Act 2 down though.. That she was good at.

[dramasleuth]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 9:02am

I've seen Madeline Martin and Molly Ranson both do the role of Jean. Couldn't even hear Madeline Martin up in the attic. Could not truly believe she was a part of that family. Molly Ranson delivered the lines from a true place of sorrow and damage, covered with indifference and sarcasm. Jean's character is pitiful and Miss Ranson let's us know that the blood line will continue in dysfunction. She also looks and behaves like a daughter of the Amy Morton character. She's believable. Bravo to the director for casting someone so unlike Madeline Martin, and allowing the audience to see a newcomer who has a real... "je ne sais quoi..."

[jordangirl]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 9:19am

unlike Madeleine Martin, who made that funny voice

If she's "making a funny voice" she's doing it all the time. She uses the same one in Californication. I think it's probably her real voice.

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 9:25am

dramasleuth, thanks for joining today just to give us your strong opinion on the matter.

[NuggetMonkeys]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 10:26am

Bustedsockpuppetsayswhat?

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 12:18pm

Saw Molly Ranson on Friday night. She was good, not great, but good. You could feel her trying to "act" some parts which is always a turn off, but she is rather young and has plenty of potential. I agree that nobody really got the "Lolita" line.
She was quite good in her interactions with Steve (can't remember the actor's name), and loved her watching what Amy Morton's character calls "The Phantom of the F*CKing Opera."

[Weez]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 12:24pm

Oh, I see. When people say you should lurk on a message board before joining in, it's not because it's a sensible idea to get a feel for the place so you can join in conversations smoothly and maximise your time there, it's because nothing you say in your first couple of weeks or so will be taken seriously, because half the board will assume you're just a sockpuppet for another poster. Goodbye common sense, hello raging cynicism!

[NuggetMonkeys]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 2:02pm

And hello to you too, Weez.

[Weez]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 2:25pm

Howdy, fella. ^_^ Is that a Warhol Sondheim?

[NuggetMonkeys]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 4:42pm

Indeed it is. Is that a half-living, creepy body exhibit piece?

[ahmelie]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 4:57pm

I believe I saw Molly Ronson (I saw the show May 9th, I think) and I absolutely hated her. She didn't seem to be listening to what any of the other characters were saying and she didn't respond to anyone. It was always as if she were playing a different scene then the rest of the cast.

This 15-year-old actress was getting pissed off.

[Weez]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 5:22pm

It's a Shakespearean curse-induced hallucination popping out of a seal carcass. It appeals to my somewhat-twisted sense of aesthetic. I do like your Sondheims though. :)

[NuggetMonkeys]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 5:39pm

Lovely. Why wouldn't a Shakespearean curse-induced hallucination pop out of a seal carcass?

[gustof777]

Posted: 7/13/08 at 7:04pm

while Molly Ranson is far from amazing, she's a god send compared to the travesty that was Madeline Martin's "performance" as Jean. That voice had me and everyone I ever saw that show with in the Imperial cringing. I never for a second believed anything that she was doing and felt like she was working way too hard to "be 15 and childish." To be honest I can't stand her on Californication either and don't understand how she keeps getting work. Everyone I know that has seen the show always goes on about how amazing it is but then adds "but the little girl was just AWFUL"

I was so relieved to hear that Martin was leaving and praying that she stays FAR AWAY from a stage and hope that they either bring Ranson over for London or find someone else.

[Sondheim_Geek]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 10:16pm

I just looked at the pictures from the A:OC 300th performance party and saw Madeleine Martin. Then I checked the official site and saw that she is listed as playing Jean. When did she reclaim the role from Molly Ranson?

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 8/14/08 at 10:28pm

Madeline's pic is up at the Music Box so She's BAAAAck.
I thiunk she is a one-trick-pony at this point, after AUGUST I saw her on some TV stuff and she was doing the same trick.
But a young Carol Kane did that also early in her career and she managed to turn it into an Emmy Winning somewhat respected crazy ass working Actress reputation.

[Sondheim_Geek]

Posted: 8/17/08 at 8:39pm

Well, she left to do some stuff with David Duchovny for his show Califnornication. I guess that's all done with now...

[winston89]

Posted: 8/17/08 at 8:50pm

I actually liked Martin as Jean. I thought that Ranson's performance however, was disconnected from the rest of the people on that stage.

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 8/17/08 at 9:50pm

I found both of the performers to be totally unconvincing. It was like seeing a middle schooler's attempt at speaking on stage.