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| re: Parallel observation: "Larger than Life" performers like Channing, Merman even LuPone. Do we still cultivate them? | |
| Posted by: JereNYC (JereNYC@aol.com) 04:47 pm EDT 06/26/18 | |
| In reply to: Parallel observation: "Larger than Life" performers like Channing, Merman even LuPone. Do we still cultivate them? - Marlo*Manners 04:29 pm EDT 06/26/18 | |
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| Part of the issue is that many of the actresses you mention who followed Channing as Dolly became household names as the stars of Hollywood musicals and HELLO, DOLLY! came around at exactly the right time for these ladies, who'd seen their film careers end as screen musicals went out of style. There was a deep bench because those women were specifically cultivated by Hollywood studios and had careers in an art form that largely does not exist anymore (although we do get a film musical every couple of years or so). Even stage musicals were evolving at that time and Martin and Merman were grande dames who were nearing the end of their stage careers by the time they took on DOLLY. If they'd continued to work into the 1970's on Broadway, I'm not sure what roles they'd have been playing. |
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| " If they'd continued to work into the 1970's on Broadway, I'm not sure what roles they'd have been playing." | |
| Posted by: RobertC (robertcollier930@gmail.com) 04:58 pm EDT 06/26/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Parallel observation: "Larger than Life" performers like Channing, Merman even LuPone. Do we still cultivate them? - JereNYC 04:47 pm EDT 06/26/18 | |
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| Believe it or not, it was proposed that Ethel Merman and Mary Martin play the batty sisters in a musical version of Arsenic and Old Lace. I believe the year was 1973 or so. I found this information in one of Steve Suskin's books. | |
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| re: " If they'd continued to work into the 1970's on Broadway, I'm not sure what roles they'd have been playing." | |
| Posted by: BruceinIthaca 07:52 pm EDT 06/26/18 | |
| In reply to: " If they'd continued to work into the 1970's on Broadway, I'm not sure what roles they'd have been playing." - RobertC 04:58 pm EDT 06/26/18 | |
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| Yes, I remember reading that. First of all, Arsenic and Old Lace does not cry out for music (and I played Teddy in high school--probably my favorite role, so I know what is fun in the show). Second, the idea of Merman and Martin in the same book show (not a revue or special concert, such as they did a few times) just feels wrong--shockingly wrong, as Mrs. Stephen Haines might say! That's what makes the Forbidden Broadway parody of them singing "An Old Fashioned Wedding" so droll--while they can inhabit the same worlds (Annie GYG, for example), they can't be there at the same time. It would do something frightful to the time-space continuum. | |
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| re: " If they'd continued to work into the 1970's on Broadway, I'm not sure what roles they'd have been playing." | |
| Posted by: PlayWiz 08:07 pm EDT 06/26/18 | |
| In reply to: re: " If they'd continued to work into the 1970's on Broadway, I'm not sure what roles they'd have been playing." - BruceinIthaca 07:52 pm EDT 06/26/18 | |
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| Ye gads, what would Ethel Merman and Carol Channing have been like if they had co-starred in "Legends"? | |
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| "Ye gads, what would Ethel Merman and Carol Channing have been like if they had co-starred in "Legends"?" | |
| Posted by: RobertC (robertcollier930@gmail.com) 08:17 pm EDT 06/26/18 | |
| In reply to: re: " If they'd continued to work into the 1970's on Broadway, I'm not sure what roles they'd have been playing." - PlayWiz 08:07 pm EDT 06/26/18 | |
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| Well, first of all they would turn it into a musical to take advantage of the stars. The obvious choice to write the score, would of course be Jerry Herman ;-) | |
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| re: Parallel observation: "Larger than Life" performers like Channing, Merman even LuPone. Do we still cultivate them? | |
| Last Edit: Marlo*Manners 05:03 pm EDT 06/26/18 | |
| Posted by: Marlo*Manners 04:55 pm EDT 06/26/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Parallel observation: "Larger than Life" performers like Channing, Merman even LuPone. Do we still cultivate them? - JereNYC 04:47 pm EDT 06/26/18 | |
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| Actually Ginger Rogers, Ann Miller, Martha Raye and even Betty Grable had been on Broadway slightly before or during their careers in Hollywood in the thirties and forties. Obviously Merman, Martin and Pearl Bailey were almost exclusively Broadway stars. However, Jere you are right in the main: they were more famous as stars of golden age Hollywood musicals. I would also mention that the 1970's was when I think that old school big glamorous style went out of style. "I AM big, it's the movies (musicals, plays, TV shows) that got SMALL!!" The 70's stars were very different from the glamorous sixties stars. 60's stars like Jane Fonda changed their look and style in the 70's. More naturalistic, more human, less mannered. Lady Gaga has been suggested as a possible Mame (she wouldn't do it - she would want to do something original and her own if she wanted to be on Broadway). Pop stars and stand-up comediennes can be larger than life these days. (Also, I apologize to Kristin Chenoweth for mispelling her first name for the 1000th time) Marlo Manners (Lady B) |
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| re: Parallel observation: "Larger than Life" performers like Channing, Merman even LuPone. Do we still cultivate them? | |
| Last Edit: PlayWiz 05:14 pm EDT 06/26/18 | |
| Posted by: PlayWiz 05:04 pm EDT 06/26/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Parallel observation: "Larger than Life" performers like Channing, Merman even LuPone. Do we still cultivate them? - Marlo*Manners 04:55 pm EDT 06/26/18 | |
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| Why wouldn't Lady Gaga consider a revival? She's doing the latest retread of "A Star Is Born" in the movies. Btw, how come nobody has ever recast that old chestnut and made Vicki Lester into Victor Lester and made Norman Maine into Norma Maine? I think reversing the sexes might be at least an interesting spin on this oft-told story, having an over-the-hill lady star help a newcomer male. Mary Martin and Ethel Merman, had they continued, perhaps might have done the musicals that Lauren Bacall did, among some other things. There might have been a musical version of "Arsenic and Old Lace" written for these two ladies, along with stories of madcap grandmas, and a musical "Harold and Maude", among other kinds of things. I still think if it were musicalized well, Bernadette Peters and Patti LuPone (if she could still crawl after her surgery) would be incredible as Jane and Blanche, respectively, in "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane". I've heard the existing musical isn't so hot, but there are various versions of properties like "Phantom", "La Boheme", etc. so you never know if someone else might try to attempt a new treatment. I could just visualize Bernadette doing an equivalent placed song for "I've Written a Letter to Daddy"! |
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| re: Parallel observation: "Larger than Life" performers like Channing, Merman even LuPone. Do we still cultivate them? | |
| Posted by: BruceinIthaca 07:53 pm EDT 06/26/18 | |
| In reply to: re: Parallel observation: "Larger than Life" performers like Channing, Merman even LuPone. Do we still cultivate them? - PlayWiz 05:04 pm EDT 06/26/18 | |
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| Norma Maine sounds like a role the late Bobbi Adler (RIP Debbie!) SHOULD have played! | |
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