Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Irritating!

This is irritating!

Why are these articles irritating me? Let me count the ways:

1. Scarlett Johansson is a fine actress. I enjoyed her performance in both Lost in Translation and Girl with a Pearl Earring and sure she has Golden Globe nominations but does that automatically make her a Broadway star? I think not. Especially when it comes to the Rodgers and Hammerstein masterpiece South Pacific. South Pacific has never been revived on Broadway. Doesn't it deserve an experienced stage actress?

2. It is pointed out that "Johansson is known to be a huge fan of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein." Well, so am I! But does that qualify me to star in a Broadway production?

3. The Post throws out the name Dimitri Hvorovstovsky for the role of Emile De Becque. Come on. Dmitri on Broadway? Yes, he can do anything, but he is fairly booked for years to come...in something called OPERA. Not that I don't like a little crossover now and then, but I find it quite unlikely that a Russian baritone would take on a Lincoln Center Theatre role, when the Metropolitan Opera is next door and practically gives him carte blanche.

4. Playbill teases us once again with news about Gypsy...or is it un-news? "Johansson's agents, the Post also reports, have been telling Broadway producers that the actress is eager to make her Main Stem debut. There have also been reports that the 22-year-old actress might join Patti LuPone for a limited run of Gypsy this summer at City Center. Johansson would play the title role of stripper Gypsy Rose Lee opposite the Rose of Tony and Olivier Award winner LuPone". Come on. While Mama Rose is arguably the greatest female role ever written for the musical theatre, Gypsy Rose Lee is hardly a role for big enough for stunt casting. Or is it?

1 comment:

Isn't it rich...? said...

Yes, irritating! But at least it's finally offically Patti's Turn in NYC as Rose. She's ready and so am I!