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| re: Bobby Cannavale as Nicky Arnstein? | |
| Posted by: BroadwayTonyJ 10:54 am EDT 08/16/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Bobby Cannavale as Nicky Arnstein? - PlayWiz 08:47 pm EDT 08/15/21 | |
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| I think I love and admire Eydie Gorme just as much as you do. I always enjoyed her appearances on programs hosted by Steve Allen and Johnny Carson because she sang show tunes. As a pop or nightclub singer, absolutely no one ever performed numbers like "If He Walked into My Life" and "What Did I Have That I Don't Have" better on TV talk and variety shows than Gorme. I agree that she was superb, and her renditions were thrilling. Nevertheless, IMO there is nothing that can equal the insight and effectiveness (especially in the context of their stories) that Angela Lansbury and Barbara Harris brought to these same numbers on their respective cast recordings. To me it's like comparing apples to oranges. I think from the get-go Andrews and Streisand had serious acting ambitions in addition to wanting singing careers. When Gorme was considered for Funny Girl, she apparently told Stark, Styne, and Robbins that her acceptance of the role was contingent on her husband playing Nick. I cannot imagine Julie Andrews saying to Lerner, Loewe, and Moss Hart, "Okay, guys, I'll play Guinevere but only if Tony is the costume and scenic designer for Camelot." Or Streisand telling Stark, Styne, and Robbins, "Sure I'll play Fanny, but only if Elliott is Arnstein." That's the difference I see between Gorme and the two actresses you named. Just to be clear, I respect your opinions immensely and enjoy reading and (occasionally) responding to your posts. |
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| re: Bobby Cannavale as Nicky Arnstein? | |
| Last Edit: PlayWiz 11:26 am EDT 08/16/21 | |
| Posted by: PlayWiz 11:18 am EDT 08/16/21 | |
| In reply to: re: Bobby Cannavale as Nicky Arnstein? - BroadwayTonyJ 10:54 am EDT 08/16/21 | |
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| Feel free to keep on keeping on, Tony. I enjoy your posts, too. Now Steve and Eydie were both big names back then, and Lawrence actually probably resembled Nick more than Sydney Chaplin, so it's not too extraordinary for her to have wanted him to play opposite her. They had a very long-lasting marriage (until she died), and besides her own recordings, usually more than not appeared with Lawrence as a team. Streisand didn't (most likely) suggest Elliot, but she did, after she was cast, realize how essential her casting was, and she began to tell people if she felt necessary (big names) to fuck off, etc. and assert herself strongly. She and Gould and likewise Andrews and Tony Walton weren't known by their first names as a team like Steve and Eydie either. Steve ended up on Broadway at the same time as "Funny Girl" anyway, in 'What Makes Sammy Run", getting a Tony nomination! Of course, Gwen Verdon did get Bob Fosse his first directing gig on Broadway in "Redhead" by insisting on him. He had previously solely done the choreography. So those kind of things do happen, but she already had 3 Tony Awards by then, soon to add a 4th. Yes, I love Angela Lansbury and Barbara Harris as well! You can almost perfectly visualize Harris on the "Apple Tree" recording, so strong is her vocal acting performance throughout, in particular. |
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