Melissa Errico would be a gorgeous Clara, I think. I'm a *huge* Julia Murney fan, but somehow, I'm having a hard time picturing her as Fosca. Not that she probably wouldn't be fabulous.
O'hara is 36. Marin Mazzie was only a year younger than that when she played it. This I did not realize. I thought Marin was so much younger when she did it. I guess not.
Right, Clara's supposed to be older, I always assumed she was in her 30s. This is true. OK then, I retract my statement! Bring on Kelli!
I think Kelli would be perfect for Clara because some people complain that she comes across as cold onstage (I heard that during LitP's run, anyway). To me Clara needs to come across as slightly cold because if she's super warm like Audra's was you don't want Giorgio to leave her for Fosca.
Of course, you may disagree. Btw, love the idea of Leslie Kritzer as Fosca.
In the Donmar version, Clara was certainly not played older - and indeed Scarlett Strallen was the same age as David Thaxton as Giorgio - 28. Elena Roger was certainly the older woman. I'm not sure that that the relative ages has a great deal of bearing on the story.
I'm pretty sure she doesn't sing but I think Rachel Griffiths would make a wonderful Fosca, otherwise. Her MURIEL'S WEDDING co-star Toni Collette, who does have a brilliant singing voice, would be my other choice.
The age differences I think while not completely pivotal to the story certainly make it more compelling. I can't imagine a 22 year old Clara singing with any conviction the passages about Clara's concern over aging (the grey hair, etc.)
If I recall correctly, Fosca is mentioned as being in her late twenties, but appears severely aged and haggard due to illness. I wouldn't be surprised if Giorgio (a career soldier by this point) and Clara are in the same age range. Clara is concerned over aging, but she also has a young son (young enough to not yet be in school), and the play is set in the 1850s--so what we consider young now wouldn't have exactly been young then.
Looks like Clara is 37 is in the original Tarchetti novel. I'm not sure how young her son is - I don't think any version of the story tells us if he is 4 or 14.
'I can't imagine a 22 year old Clara singing with any conviction the passages about Clara's concern over aging (the grey hair, etc.)'
I'd agree, but it's only one hair - there's a degree of self-dramatization there that gets underlined by the rhymes in the lyric wear/stare/hair/unaware/bear - as a rather vain creature, she's probably looking for attention at this point, rather than worrying about the onslaught of old age.
Both the film and novel have her as older - although Laura Antonelli, is certainly youthful looking - but I can't remember a great deal of direction in the libretto, and it plays well with Clara in the same age bracket, as Giorgio.
Possibly, but I think the character is more compelling if she's not that superficial, which a 22 year old would be singing it.
It's a real fine line with this material; Clara represents on some levels a more conventional kind of love and at the end she is not willing to sacrifice all for love, but I don't think that should render her petty,unsympathetic or the villain of the piece.
The story and emotional complexities of the characters in the musical are far deeper than that.
I'm not sure where the 22 came from - I was pointing out that Scarlett Strallen was 28, the same age as David Thaxton at the time of the Donmar production.
I've always wanted to see Kuhn perform. I hope I can make it up to NYC for this show.
Didn't Ana Gasteyer play Fosca in Chicago?
I did see Gasteyer in Wicked and Passion and she was...okay. Kathy Voytko's Clara actually outshone Gasteyer's Fosca. It was the first time I truly saw Clara as a complex character on an even level with Giorgio and Fosca, truly completing the love triangle. The show is far more interesting when Clara is a bit more sympathetic and the audience shares in Giorgio's emotional struggle. Otherwise, Giorgio comes across less interesting as either shallow or naive for allowing Clara to string him along for so long.
She has played it before and was brilliant; what's to yawn about? I swear sometimes posters on this board seem to just live for the excitement of an unexpected news announcement without thought as to the actual production. Kuhn is great casting. And I was just thinking the other day that Errco is perfect for Clara. I'm thrilled with this announcement.
It seems like Kuhn is suggested as being ideal for roles all the time on here, but never seems to actually play any of them. I for one am excited to see her in this, though I will admit I have very little knowledge of this show/how Kuhn will actually be in the role. I'm happy that I'll get to see her in anything.
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joined:7/15/06
Posted: 1/19/12 at 10:52am