so who would be good to replace Sunjata in TAKE ME OUT?- Page 2

[cmleidi]

Posted: 10/30/03 at 8:12pm

I have seen GO, and looking at IMDB, I've seen a good deal of Diggs's film roles, and I'm not convinced that he could pull off the role. He's attractive, and I wouldn't mind seeing him nude, but I don't think he would be able to capture the nuances of the character. Even if he were right for the role, he's too dark. Is Taye Diggs a big enough name to lure people into the theatre? For that matter, will a big name want to do the frontal nudity?

They need someone with a lighter complexion. Shemar Moore would have the attitude, but his cockiness always comes across as just crass. It's going to be a hard role to recast. It'll be much easier to recast Mason if O'Hare leaves.

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 10/31/03 at 1:03pm

Shemar would be interesting; it could be his "cockiness" is just one aspect of what he can play. Don't know about his stage technique, however. i just think mixed-race people have a variety of shades, and i've seen pigmented skin look various ways in various lighting. But looking at the WICKED opening night pictures brings up another possibility: Jesse L. Martin.

[cmleidi]

Posted: 10/31/03 at 1:30pm

"Shemar would be interesting; it could be his "cockiness" is just one aspect of what he can play."

I was referring more to his off-camera cockiness in interviews and the like. I do not think he has the talent to carry off the role.

"I just think mixed-race people have a variety of shades, and i've seen pigmented skin look various ways in various lighting. But looking at the WICKED opening night pictures brings up another possibility: Jesse L. Martin."

Bi-racial people do come in different shades, but the character of Darren Lemmings must be a certain shade. One of the points made in the play is that Darren hasn't suffered even though he is biracial. A significantly whiter or darker actor would not work. Lighting and make-up might help, but the actor has to remove his clothing as well.

I thought of Jesse L. Martin. He's another actor I'd like to see nude, but I don't think he has the physical build for it.

A younger Keith Hamilton Cobb would have been perfect, but he's a tad too old for the role now. A shame because seeing him nude would be worth the price of the ticket.

For all the talk about recasting Darren, I'm again convinced that Darren is the most difficult role in the play. I can come up with many actors who could play Mason. I can only think of a handful of actor who could possibly play Darren. If ever there were a perfect match between actor and character, it's Sunjata and Lemming.

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 10/31/03 at 1:44pm

i'm not sure the character Darren's ease with being biracial is about his skin tone, but about his talent as a ballplayer. i don't recall a specific line about the shade of his skin.

i guess we won't know about Shemar until he actually does a play, will we?

[tpdc]

Posted: 10/31/03 at 2:53pm

Shemar has done stage work. He has toured in some of those gospel comedy plays. He has the right personality for the role but I don't think he is nearly as good an actor as Diggs or Martin.

Diggs has done nudity in several films and said he would have done full frontal for STELLA GOT HER GROOVE BACK.

Is Cobb too old for the role now? He has done Shakespeare in DC and got good reviews.

[bwaylyric]

Posted: 10/31/03 at 3:05pm

How about Jason Raize, Lion King's original Simba (older)? What has he been up to since leaving the Pridelands?

[cmleidi]

Posted: 10/31/03 at 5:38pm

Keith Hamilton Cobb is starting to lose his hair so it does make him older, and I think he's in early forties. He has the physical bulk for the role. Although, he's in Los Angeles so it wouldn't be possible.

[Dude]

Posted: 10/31/03 at 6:55pm

Sutton or Aurda.

since their names always come up.