| re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? | |
| Posted by: | AlanScott 11:28 pm EST 11/21/14 |
| In reply to: | Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - GrumpyMorningBoy 11:20 pm EST 11/21/14 |
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| She starred in a Broadway musical in 1977. See link. | |
| Link | Happy End |
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| But why no musicals after she became famous... until recently? | |
| Posted by: | GrumpyMorningBoy 02:21 am EST 11/22/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - AlanScott 11:28 pm EST 11/21/14 |
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| That production of HAPPY END was news to me! But my intent behind the question still stands... why didn't she do musicals (onstage or on screen) in a major production after she'd achieved major fame? Does anyone know of any attempts to bring her back to Broadway in the 1980's or 1990's in a major starring role in a musical? - GMB | |
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| re: But why no musicals after she became famous... until recently? | |
| Posted by: | portenopete 05:41 am EST 11/22/14 |
| In reply to: | But why no musicals after she became famous... until recently? - GrumpyMorningBoy 02:21 am EST 11/22/14 |
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| Because she probably knew she'd be pigeonholed. Look at Patti LuPone. Juilliard graduate, terrific actress, but after EVITA she was a goner. A spectacular career, mind you, and legend status, but no one is going to remember LIFE GOES ON or DRIVING MISS DAISY or THE OLD NEIGHBORHOOD. | |
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| re: But why no musicals after she became famous... until recently? | |
| Posted by: | AlanScott 02:34 am EST 11/22/14 |
| In reply to: | But why no musicals after she became famous... until recently? - GrumpyMorningBoy 02:21 am EST 11/22/14 |
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| I remember a rumor that they approached her to replace Peters in the original production of Into the Woods, hoping that she might be willing to jump in for a short run. But it was just a rumor, might not have been true. Actually, I'm not even positive it was a rumor. I think I may have simply thought at the time that it would have been a good idea, and later got confused and thought it was a rumor that I really heard. But the simple fact is that once she became a movie star, she did very little stage work. And when she did do it, it was always for short runs. She was not willing to commit to a long run. So even if you wanted her to star in a musical you were writing or producing, and even if she was actually interested, it would have been a bad idea financially to cast her if she was only willing to do a very short run. And when she occasionally did venture back onstage, it was to the Delacorte for Chekhov (directed by Mr. Nichols) and Brecht. And for most of the period during which she has been a star, there haven't exactly been a whole lot of movie musicals. | |
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| re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? | |
| Posted by: | WaymanWong 01:39 am EST 11/22/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - AlanScott 11:28 pm EST 11/21/14 |
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| Here's audio of Meryl Streep giving an interview about ''Happy End'' from 1977. | |
| Link | Meryl Streep: ''Happy End'' interview (1977) |
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| "Remember that name!" | |
| Posted by: | Ann 09:13 am EST 11/22/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - WaymanWong 01:39 am EST 11/22/14 |
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| That was great. | |
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| re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? | |
| Posted by: | lowwriter 11:58 pm EST 11/21/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - AlanScott 11:28 pm EST 11/21/14 |
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| I saw her in Happy End. She was great. | |
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| re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? | |
| Posted by: | AlanScott 12:00 am EST 11/22/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - lowwriter 11:58 pm EST 11/21/14 |
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| Yes, she was brilliant. Completely transformed the production when she took over. | |
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| re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? | |
| Posted by: | garyd 11:41 pm EST 11/21/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - AlanScott 11:28 pm EST 11/21/14 |
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| And she sang "Surabaya Johnny". Pretty well, actually. | |
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| re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? | |
| Posted by: | AlanScott 12:02 am EST 11/22/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - garyd 11:41 pm EST 11/21/14 |
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| Her "Surabaya Johnny" was good. Her "Sailors' Tango" was great. Too bad she didn't perform on the Tonys. I've heard two different stories about why, but I can remember only one of them. | |
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| re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? | |
| Posted by: | garyd 12:04 am EST 11/22/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - AlanScott 12:02 am EST 11/22/14 |
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| I don't know either story. Please share. | |
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| re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? | |
| Posted by: | AlanScott 12:21 am EST 11/22/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - garyd 12:04 am EST 11/22/14 |
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| The story I heard long ago was that when she didn't get a Tony nomination, she refused to perform on the Tonys. Although if anything, I'd think that might have made her want to perform there all the more. So I'm not sure that I buy the story. Wish I could remember the other one. | |
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| re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? | |
| Posted by: | garyd 01:26 am EST 11/22/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - AlanScott 12:21 am EST 11/22/14 |
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| Hmm. Interesting. Well, she would have been up against Martin's "I'm Still Here" (not that it has anything to do with why Streep did not perform) . Not to mention Loudon. I still like Martin's interpretation. She just sings the song trusting the lyrics and the music to convey the implied two distinct sections with very little "indicating". Well done. "Bilbao Song" came across a bit flat with Lloyd. It would have been wonderful to see Streep perform either of her big numbers on the broadcast if only to have a public record of either one. | |
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| re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? | |
| Posted by: | AlanScott 04:10 am EST 11/22/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - garyd 01:26 am EST 11/22/14 |
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| Yes, it certainly would have been great to have a record of either song performed by Streep. Do you mean that Streep would have been up against Martin as one of two ladies performing a big, dramatic solo? Or do you mean that she would have been in competition with Martin for a Tony? If you mean the latter, Martin was nominated in featured or supporting, while Streep would have been nominated in leading. It's too bad that they couldn't have had five ladies nominated that season. Clamma Dale had to be nominated. Loudon had to be nominated, even though the truth is she was in the wrong category. It's a supporting role. But there are times when the size of a role is irrelevant, and we all know that was one of them. McArdle had to be nominated because it would have been a terrible snub not to nominate her. Ernestine Jackson, who was wonderful, really luminous as Sarah Brown, perhaps did not have to be nominated in the way(s) that the other three ladies had to be. They should have been allowed to nominate all five. | |
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| re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? | |
| Posted by: | garyd 11:43 am EST 11/22/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - AlanScott 04:10 am EST 11/22/14 |
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| Yeah, I meant she would have been doing another dramatic solo. That telecast was rather top heavy with dramatic solos anyway. The theme was "survival' and most of the group of "hosts' sang big solo numbers. | |
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| re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? | |
| Posted by: | AlanScott 01:26 am EST 11/23/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - garyd 11:43 am EST 11/22/14 |
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| Oh, dear, yes. There were some ill-advised choices made for that year's Tonys. Forgot it was that year that Bea Arthur gave us "Don't Rain on My Parade." | |
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| Raining on Bea's ''Parade'' | |
| Posted by: | WaymanWong 03:07 am EST 11/23/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - AlanScott 01:26 am EST 11/23/14 |
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| Here's that clip of Bea singing ''Don't Rain on My Parade'' at the Tonys. Nearly the end, an overeager conductor comes in too early and drowns out her last word. (You can find the sassy Seth Rudetsky deconstructing this moment on YouTube.) | |
| Link | Bea Arthur: ''Nobody is gonna rain on my ...'' |
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| re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? | |
| Posted by: | bobby2 02:55 am EST 11/22/14 |
| In reply to: | re: Why did Meryl wait so long to do musicals??? - garyd 01:26 am EST 11/22/14 |
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| Did they do another number from Happy End that year on the Tonys? One without Meryl? Weird she wasn't nominated. What was the buzz as to why? | |
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