Printer Friendly - Rob Ashford Is Directing Upcoming CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF REVIVAL
Posted by ray-andallthatjazz86 2012-08-10 13:31:33
According to Playbill.com, no official word on Johansson's casting but I imagine it's a done deal:
Tony Award winner Rob Ashford will direct a Broadway revival of Tennessee Williams' Cat On a Hot Tin Roof, which will be produced by Tony Award winner Stuart Thompson, according to an Equity casting notice.
Rob Ashford Is Directing Upcoming CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF REVIVAL
Posted by The Josh 2012-08-10 13:50:07
So is everyone going to dance the whole time?
Rob Ashford Is Directing Upcoming CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF REVIVAL
Posted by SonofRobbieJ 2012-08-10 13:50:15
Imagine the athletic choreographical possibilities for the no-neck monsters' rendition of Skinamarinky Dinky Dink.
Rob Ashford Is Directing Upcoming CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF REVIVAL
Posted by wonkit 2012-08-10 14:02:27
April 1st already??
Rob Ashford Is Directing Upcoming CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF REVIVAL
Posted by ray-andallthatjazz86 2012-08-10 14:18:36
SonofRobbieJ, I laughed so hard at your post.
At first Ashford seemed like a terrible idea, but didn't his production of A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE in the U.K get good reviews? Rachel Weisz won an Olivier for her turn as Blanche, so that makes me a little bit more hopeful about what kind of performance he could get from Scarlett Johansson
Rob Ashford Is Directing Upcoming CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF REVIVAL
Posted by Jonwo 2012-08-10 14:21:11
Rob Ashford did A Streetcar Named Desire at the Donmar Warehouse which got good reviews so he's a capable play director but I think it's a bit soon to have yet another revival of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, the last one was only four years ago.
Rob Ashford Is Directing Upcoming CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF REVIVAL
Posted by SonofRobbieJ 2012-08-10 14:21:17
I was just being snarky. I'd be interested in seeing what he could bring to it. Was there discussion about who would play Big Daddy in this?
Rob Ashford Is Directing Upcoming CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF REVIVAL
Posted by Kad 2012-08-10 14:23:30
Has John Goodman played the role yet?
Rob Ashford Is Directing Upcoming CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF REVIVAL
Posted by SonofRobbieJ 2012-08-10 14:24:41
THAT'S who we were talking about on this board. Didn't he do the role in LA to lukewarm reviews?
Rob Ashford Is Directing Upcoming CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF REVIVAL
Posted by egghumor 2012-08-10 14:40:55
How about Lea DeLaria?
Rob Ashford Is Directing Upcoming CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF REVIVAL
Posted by Princeton Returns 2012-08-10 14:50:31
Streetcar at the Donmar is still one of the best things I have ever seen on stage. Rachael Weisz was mesmerising. The guy can direct plays no question
Rob Ashford Is Directing Upcoming CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF REVIVAL
Posted by humbugfoto 2012-08-10 15:06:12
I've lost track of what will be available when - what theater is this likely to go into?
Rob Ashford Is Directing Upcoming CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF REVIVAL
Posted by jeffmiele 2012-08-10 15:35:44
It'll probably go into the Cort after Grace
Rob Ashford Is Directing Upcoming CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF REVIVAL
Posted by ray-andallthatjazz86 2012-08-10 15:55:16
Goodman seems almost too much on an obvious choice. I'd love to see what someone like Frank Langella could do with the role, alas he's a very different type of actor from those who have played the role before.
Rob Ashford Is Directing Upcoming CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF REVIVAL
Posted by dexter3 2012-08-10 16:49:45
Yeah, I'll second the sentiment: We don't need another revival of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. Great play: too long. Let's put some newer and more adventurous work on stage...
Rob Ashford Is Directing Upcoming CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF REVIVAL
Posted by aaronb 2012-08-10 16:56:12
I feel like this play gets revived way too often.
Rob Ashford Is Directing Upcoming CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF REVIVAL
Posted by MrMidwest 2012-08-10 17:02:01
Big Daddy: Christopher Plummer, Al Pacino, Jack Nicholson
Big Mama: Jane Fonda, Julie Andrews, Swoosie Kurtz, Ann-Margret, Susan Sarandon, Barbara Hershey, Jessica Lange, Kathleen Turner
Rob Ashford Is Directing Upcoming CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF REVIVAL
Posted by jv92 2012-08-10 17:23:08
Isn't this the third revival in ten years? I mean, aside from Ashford directing it, which doesn't seem promising, isn't there another Tennessee Williams play they could do?
Rob Ashford Is Directing Upcoming CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF REVIVAL
Posted by EricMontreal22 2012-08-10 19:19:24
Yeah, the Sweet Bird revival that was meant to happen and now is opening regionally has me much more interested. Still, the past couple of Cat revivals haven't gotten it right (IMHO), and I like the casting.
As for Ashford, since lately he's been obsessed with early 60s "Hullaballoo" style dancing (witness Promises, Promises being set back a few years, How to Succeed, even the wildly bizarre use of that style of dancing on the Kennedy Honours), I say he set Cat forward 5 or so years to the beginning of the 60s, and do clever transitions and commentary with a group of jazz dancers--adding pop and pizazz to punctuate key moments. Maybe they could even be all black, to play out the subtext of it being set on an old plantation--like the ghosts of slaves past (although they'd still have to do early 60s style dancing). I know Cocteau in his infamous first production of Streetcar in Paris already had black "jungle" dancers at the edge of the set to serve a similar function, but it's been so long, such a brilliant idea really deserves re-visiting!
Rob Ashford Is Directing Upcoming CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF REVIVAL
Posted by ray-andallthatjazz86 2012-08-10 20:08:09
Let's not forget Debbie Allen actually had a saxophone player (was it the saxophone?) during the transitions in the last Broadway revival :-P
I loved watching Anika Noni Rose's Maggie but I think it'd be unfair not to revive the play in 2012 with someone like Scarlett Johansson just because we had a crappy revival a few years ago. I'm so into this revival, I just hope they don't ruin the show by casting someone as bland as Chris Pine as Brick, Terrence Howard was already ridiculously blind.
Rob Ashford Is Directing Upcoming CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF REVIVAL
Posted by best12bars 2012-08-10 22:16:52
Cat On a Hot Tin Roof (play) = Gypsy (musical) for way too many revivals.
And in Streetcar and Guys and Dolls, and we're all set!
If we must, we must. I think I love the idea of Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer as Big Mama and Big Daddy if they're up for eight shows a week together (those are heavy-duty parts).
If you want to skew a little younger and use another "recognizable pair," how about Mandy Patinkin and Patti LuPone?
Rob Ashford Is Directing Upcoming CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF REVIVAL
Posted by random person 112 2012-08-10 22:22:07
best12, Andrews is wrong for Big Mama in every conceivable way. Big mama is supposed to be a large woman, she even has a physical comedy bit about how large she is. She's the picture of crude new money, Andrews is pure class and dignity. Plus i don't think she can ditch her English accent to save her life.
Rob Ashford Is Directing Upcoming CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF REVIVAL
Posted by MrMidwest 2012-08-10 22:25:58
Kathy Bates would be a fab Big Mama. Also, Margo Martindale and Miriam Margolyes.
Rob Ashford Is Directing Upcoming CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF REVIVAL
Posted by random person 112 2012-08-10 22:28:29
Margo was in the 03 revival, and was according to some of the reviews, one of the best things about it. I think Bates is a great if obvious choice, Kathleen Turner is possible, i myself would be interested to see Rondi Reed or Delta Burke have a crack at it.
Rob Ashford Is Directing Upcoming CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF REVIVAL
Posted by best12bars 2012-08-10 22:43:57
You do realize the original Big Mama was Mildred Dunnock, right?
Big, indeed. She probably weighed 90 pounds wet.
By comparison, Julie Andrews is a linebacker.
You can argue Julie is not right for the part if you want, but don't use size as your argument. You're way off there.
Rob Ashford Is Directing Upcoming CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF REVIVAL
Posted by best12bars 2012-08-10 22:45:54
Here's the original "Big Mama" around the time she created the part, too.
EDIT: By the way, Mildred Dunnock was neither fat, nor coarse, nor crude.
She was fine-boned, willowy, thin, refined, genteel, and perhaps a bit mousey, with a great deal of strength underneath. Did you ever consider those lines she says in "Cat" to be filled with irony when spoken by the right actress?
Rob Ashford Is Directing Upcoming CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF REVIVAL
Posted by random person 112 2012-08-10 22:50:48
Julie is very wrong for the part she can't drop that accent to save her life, she's also the picture of class and dignity and the audience will think of those things the minute she steps on stage.
Rob Ashford Is Directing Upcoming CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF REVIVAL
Posted by best12bars 2012-08-10 22:53:45
See my add from above;
Mildred Dunnock was fine-boned, willowy, thin, refined, genteel, and perhaps a bit mousey, with a great deal of strength underneath. Did you ever consider those lines she says in "Cat" to be filled with irony when spoken by the right actress as Big Mama?
As far as the accent, you may have me there. I've never heard Julie come close to dropping it.
Rob Ashford Is Directing Upcoming CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF REVIVAL
Posted by MrMidwest 2012-08-10 23:03:26
Oh, come on, what English actor can't do a Southern accent? (I'm sure somebody will have an answer.)
Rob Ashford Is Directing Upcoming CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF REVIVAL
Posted by random person 112 2012-08-10 23:14:13
Julie also doesn't exactly act like a rambunctious, bumbling, matriarch who ruins her families chance of being taken seriously. This is just not her show. And like you said before she's never come close to dropping the accent. Oh and correct me if i'm wrong, i don't have the play handy at the moment, but in the new version does she not have some light physical comedy bit where she falls on someone or gets frequently exhausted due to her girth.
Rob Ashford Is Directing Upcoming CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF REVIVAL
Posted by Playbilly 2012-08-10 23:22:27
Big Mama. Lansbury. "Period".
Rob Ashford Is Directing Upcoming CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF REVIVAL
Posted by best12bars 2012-08-10 23:24:55
Oh and correct me if i'm wrong, i don't have the play handy at the moment, but in the new version does she not have some light physical comedy bit where she falls on someone or gets frequently exhausted due to her girth.
If she does, Tennessee Williams is rolling over in his grave.
That's a terrible notion and completely inappropriate behavior for the character and the play.
This isn't "Hee-Haw on a Hot Tin Roof."
Rob Ashford Is Directing Upcoming CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF REVIVAL
Posted by best12bars 2012-08-10 23:32:47
Even Judith Andreson, who was considerably more "substantial" than the diminutive and wispy Mildred Dunnock, could hardly be called "heavy," let alone "fat."
She was also British (aka Dame Judith Anderson), and incredibly poised and refined.
And they both played opposite Burl Ives as Big Daddy, who did the part on Broadway and in the film.
Rob Ashford Is Directing Upcoming CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF REVIVAL
Posted by random person 112 2012-08-10 23:43:55
Keep in mind that is achieved with the help of a corset, and a dress chosen to hide her size. In that role she was certainly not the picture of poised and refined. It's also a role that has been played by Phylicia Rashad, and Margo Martindale. Not exactly small women. Maybe it wasn't exactly like that it's the first scene we see with her Gooper and Mae all together and she does something that embarrasses them, i can't think of what it is at the moment.
Rob Ashford Is Directing Upcoming CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF REVIVAL
Posted by best12bars 2012-08-10 23:50:26
I never limited the possibilities, you did. I'm not saying women of various sizes, ages, ethnic backgrounds, or "classiness" shouldn't attempt to play the part. It's open for a fresh interpretation.
But don't rule out actresses because they're "too thin" or "too refined" to play it when both the actress who created the role and the actress who played it on film are neither heavy nor crude.
Rob Ashford Is Directing Upcoming CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF REVIVAL
Posted by MrMidwest 2012-08-15 15:04:13
If Chris Pine does play Brick, can they add a scene where he undresses in front it Maggie? It would be totally germane to the story!
Rob Ashford Is Directing Upcoming CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF REVIVAL
Posted by SonofRobbieJ 2012-08-15 15:26:42
Is Jeremy Renner not doing this? Subject matter hit too close to home?
How 'bout some Southern authenticity with Delta Burke and Gerald McRaney?
Though a Robert Duvall/Kathy Bates pairing would be delicious.
Rob Ashford Is Directing Upcoming CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF REVIVAL
Posted by Wilmingtom 2012-08-15 16:26:24
With Andrews and Plummer, Brick is way too old to start having children.
Rob Ashford Is Directing Upcoming CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF REVIVAL
Posted by MrMidwest 2012-08-15 16:34:09
Tuesday Weld would be an interesting Big Mama.
Rob Ashford Is Directing Upcoming CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF REVIVAL
Posted by ray-andallthatjazz86 2012-08-16 02:15:35
I really don't see how Andrews would be right for Big Mamma, there's nothing about her sensibility that shows me she could play a Southern woman who's in her situation; love Andrews but nothing she has ever done makes me think she'd be able to do the role justice. However, Christopher Plummer as Big Daddy is inspired, so would be Tom Skerritt or Gene Hackman.
For Big Mamma my main choice would be Jean Smart. I do hope Jeremy Renner is cast, Chris Pine would be as wooden and boring as Terrence Howard was in the last revival. I'm disappointed that they didn't cast a Brick before casting Maggie; I wouldn't want another production of this play in which Brick is the less relevant character.
Rob Ashford Is Directing Upcoming CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF REVIVAL
Posted by MrMidwest 2012-09-14 13:18:58
I could see Sally Field, Betty Buckley, Judy Davis, Annette Bening, or Ellen Barkin being great Big Mamas as well.
Rob Ashford Is Directing Upcoming CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF REVIVAL
Posted by ray-andallthatjazz86 2012-09-14 13:51:25
Mr.Midwest, great list, I think Sally Field would be particularly great!
Rob Ashford Is Directing Upcoming CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF REVIVAL
Posted by EricMontreal22 2012-09-14 14:10:55
Cat is interesting because it's always cast (for good or bad) based on our ideas of Brooks' film. Yet Brooks' film perverts the original themes and stories so strongly (granted, not to the extent he did with Sweet Bird), that I think a complete re-imagining, casting wise, even knowing that he cast largely (Liz aside) from people who had done the play. It hasn't yet...
