RANT and RAVE: The Replacements

This week, two high profile cast replacements were named for two hit Broadway shows.  One of them was so high profile, it was on the news!  When was the last time THAT happened (Spider-Man, not withstanding)?

The first, though, came the announcement that Adam Pascal would be replacing Tony-nominee Chad Kimball at the end of October in 2010's Best Musical, Memphis.  My first thought was, "really??"  I mean, there is no doubt that Pascal is talented and is a near expert in conveying chemistry.  Look at him and Daphne Ruben-Vega in RENT (or with Anthony Rapp) for that matter.  Or he and his AIDA co-star, Heather Headley - smoking hot and romantic, too!  That look in the final scene...mmmmm.  Yes. Mr. Pascal should have no trouble with the smouldering sexy chemistry with equally sexy and smouldering Montego Glover.

I guess I'm having trouble picturing the quirky, vulnerable, innocent-yet-worldly-wise Huey Calhoun in Adam Pascal.  Of course, he is an actor, a very good one, even if his prior roles have a certain similarity that is not really in this new character.  I guess I'll give him the benefit of the doubt.  Just as I did with Kristin Chenoweth when she departed from her "norm" and tackled (beautifully, in my opinion) a challenging out of the box role.  Instead, maybe I should wish him well and warn him that as much as critics (and some fans) bemoan the fact that actors rarely venture beyond the expected, they rarely embrace the brave ones that do.  Good luck!

The really high profile replacement announcement came today at a press conference live from Sardi's.  Looks like Nick Jonas will be Daniel Radcliffe's permanent replacement in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.  It is also now clear that producers are looking to fill the seats at the Hirschfeld with Tweens and their parents.

Let's not forget that the first replacement is actually Glee's Darren Criss, who will also appeal to the tween set, just as Radcliffe did before, and Jonas will after.  But there is a bit of an error in thinking here, and it has nothing whatsoever to do how well all three of them do or will do in the role.  I adored Mr. Radcliffe in the role, and have no doubt that both Mr. Criss and Mr. Jonas will do just fine, finding their own way with the role.

The error in thinking, I think, is that tweens and their parents will embrace these newcomers in the same magnitude, i.e. SRO crowds.  Radcliffe has something neither Criss nor Jonas has: international stardom cultivated by over a decade of growing up before our very eyes in the most successful movie franchise, based on the most popular book series of all time.  He played a character on film that kids and their parents read in those books.  Arguably as many adults kept up with Harry Potter as their kids did.  The appeal of Daniel Radcliffe is multi-generational, backed up by a star turn performance.

A pair of Finches: Darren Criss and Nick Jonas

Criss, with just a three week run, should draw the hordes of Glee-Kurt/Blaine fans, keeping interest and numbers high.  And, to some extent, Glee fans are multi-generational just as Potter fans are.  I bring this up because IF tweens are the target audience, someone has to BRING them to the theatre.  Radcliffe and Criss give parents as much reason to come to the show.  Now, I admit I know the least about the current appeal of Nick Jonas.  How much appeal does he have without his other brothers?  How much will his performance in Les Miserables, which divided fans and critics alike, effect the B.O. for H2$?  Will parents want to sit through the show just to keep their kids happy?  And does Jonas have the same appeal/acceptance by tween boys AND girls as Radcliffe?

Since Mr. Jonas has the most Broadway experience of the three  - he's been on the boards in Annie Get Your Gun, Beauty and the Beast and Les Miserables - I don't think his ability onstage is even a question.  But I do wonder about his ability to draw news-making crowds.

All bets are off if they can find a nostalgic appeal for the parents when the recast John Larroquette.
Do you plan to see Adam, Darren and/or Nick?  Write in and let us know!


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Jeff
3.009

A Broadway Hero: Trevor Project Honors H2S Star Daniel Radcliffe

How wonderful to have Broadway make national headlines for something truly great for a change!  It was announced today that Broadway's own Daniel Radcliffe will be the 2011 recipient of the Trevor Project's Hero Award.  He is being so honored for his tireless efforts on behalf of the organization, which provides a hot line and numerous resources for troubled and suicidal gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and questioning youth.  In recent months, he has filmed a PSA for the organization, and has been very outspoken about his beliefs on sexual orientation in general and the work that the Trevor Project does.

Arguably one of the most recognizable people on the entire plant, Radcliffe has said that he grew up knowing many homosexual people through his parents, and that it never occurred to him that there was any reason to think of them as different, let alone be against them or want to hurt them.   One might think that someone of his financial stature and celebrity would try to distance himself from even the whiff of controversy.  Not Daniel Radcliffe, who has taken the lead amongst his generation in the fight for equality for people of a sexual minority.  Other Broadway stars similarly honored in the past include Nathan Lane and Vanessa Williams.  But Radcliffe is the first honored at the same age as the Project's target "audience."

And his humility sets a new standard among young Hollywood types.  About his work for the Trevor Project he says, "Out of everything that I’ve done so far in my career, I think this is absolutely one of the most important, if not the most important, thing that I’m associated with.”  And about this latest honor: "The people that are doing the heroic things are the people answering phones 24 hours a day in the Trevor call centers."

The star of the soon-to-open How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying, has really made a name for himself in the Broadway community, much like frequent visitor and fellow international superstar Hugh Jackman.  In 2008, then starring in Equus, Daniel generated quite a bit of money for Broadway Cares when he'd strip off his jeans, autograph them and auction them off on the spot.

With a guy like this on their side, the work of the Trevor Project, and indeed the world, gets one step closer to a society of full acceptance for everyone.  Radcliffe will receive this honor on June 11, 2011.


Comments?  Leave one here, email me at jkstheatrescene@yahoo.com or Tweet me!

Jeff
2.202

Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows-Part One

So, I've finally caught up with the rest of the world and have seen the highly-anticipated Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows part one of two.

I came to this film in a different situation to a lot of other young people, I think. By the time Deathly Hallows as a novel came out my interest in the Harry Potter series had faded, I had found other books which I enjoyed more, and other books that spoke to me more. Since, I have not re-read any of the books, meaning I entered this film not really remembering what had happened in the novel; and so had less of the issue of constantly comparing it to the text.

The basic plotline is that after the death of Dumbledore at the end of Half-Blood Prince, the wizarding world has become a far more dark and dangerous place to be. The Ministry of Magic becomes infiltrated by Voldemort's forces and it becomes reminiscent of a dictatorship, with a purge of 'mudbloods', people who are born to a wizard/witch and a non-wizard/witch eerily like the eugenics programmes favoured by Hitler. Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) are forced into hiding, as Voldemort (Ralph Fiennes) and the Ministry of Magic join forces to track him down and destroy him.

However (and this is where the plot gets a little complicated) in order to destroy Voldemort, Harry needs to find the 'horcruxes', which contain aspects of Voldemort's soul (bringing to mind Chamber of Secrets, where Tom Riddle's diary contained part of the soul). On top of this, they must also find a way to prevent Voldemort gaining the 'Deathly Hallows'-the invisibility cloak, elder wand and resurrection stone, as this would make him the 'Master of Death'. (This is where you realise there is a very good reason for the film being in two parts!)

Deathly Hallows is much, much darker than any other of the other films and novels in terms of the plot. In the very beginning of the film we see Hermione removing her parents' memories of her, in order to save them from any horrors that might happen in the coming weeks. There is also a scene at an inn where the Death Eaters meet Voldemort where the owner is essentially being tortured by Voldemort and is then murdered and later on in the film Hermione is tortured by Bellatrix Lestrange (Helena Bonham-Carter). We are also worlds away from the Hogwarts-based action that has dominated the first films, Harry, Ron and Hermione instead spend much of their time in deserted woodlands.

Performance-wise, things are pretty much the same as they have been for the past few films. Radcliffe still shows little signs of actually being able to act-this may seem cruel, but there seems precious little character development for him. Yet, I will admit that the scene where all the other characters turn into him shows that he at least had some comic skills. Grint is a good actor, even if he is saddled with playing grumpy Ron for much of this film; but he does still provide some light relief, and is a reminder of the sacrifices that Harry's friends have made for him throughout their years of friendship. The biggest change for me was that Emma Watson delivered the best performance out of all the films, she was funny and bought a maturity to some pretty tough scenes.

There was precious little screentime for anyone else in this film. As Bellatrix, Bonham-Carter continues to produce the type of performance she is known for and Fiennes has perfected the soft voice and snake-like characteristics of Voldemort. Toby Jones, who voices the house elf Dobby, had me in tears. As the twins Fred and George, James and Oliver Phelps manage to inject charisma and humour into the few scenes that they appear in; and a special mention should go to David O'Hara, Steffan Rhodri and Sophie Thompson, for playing the bodies possessed by Harry, Ron and Hermione when they break into the Ministry of Magic.

I'm really eagerly awaiting the second part, in my head its the bit that I remember more clearly (but we won't mention the epilogue). I'm looking forward to seeing more of Alan Rickman (Snape), Tom Felton (Malfoy) and Matthew Lewis (Neville), especially. I really enjoyed this first half, I enjoy the darkness and the fact you now have to pay attention to the plotlines. Roll on July 2011...!