I was just watching The Sixth Sense and like I always do, teared up at the 2nd to final scene (thank you, Toni Collette) and was wondering, does anyone think we'll see Toni back on Broadway anytime soon? I think if 9 to 5 held around long enough for a replacement cast, she would have made a great Violet.
Collette just signed on to do a television pilot for CBS. Between that, her constant film work, her horrible experience with THE WILD PARTY, and the fact that she predominantly lives in Australia when she's not working, I'm sad to say the odds of her being back on Broadway anytime soon are slim.
don't know the details, but the answer to what made Collette's - and perhaps much of the rest of the cast's - WILD PARTY experience unbearable was: Mandy Patinkin.
When she was in The Wild Party I had to stage door for her (big fan) and of course, the great Eartha Kitt. I didn't bother even approaching Mandy. I had heard the stories and did not want to get read by him. Well, when I approached Toni, early in the run, she seemed suprised that anyone would want her picture and autograph. I said to her, "but you're Toni Collette". She answered, "big deal". She was so funny, we both laughed at it.
Wasn't she ready to do BILLY ELLIOT right before US of TARA was picked up to series? Maybe at some point something will spark her interest, she truly is one of those wonderful but hugely underrated actresses. But I agree, no to 9 TO 5, she'd be wonderful as Mame.
Just started watching United States of Tara and had no idea she was Australian until I watched the video of her winnin her Emmy. I think she'd be a great Diana if the Next to Normal movie ever comes around.
I really do like Toni Collette but I do it find it a little bit interesting/amusing that she is so endlessly suggested on this board for some of the most challenging roles in the musical theatre- all of this presumably based on a performance she gave in an ensemble musical over a decade ago. I'm not at all convinced shed actually sing these roles as well as many of you are fantasizing,- but I can think of a number of straight roles shed likely be wonderful in. I'd love to see her as Maxene in Night of the Iguana.
She's also sung on screen in Cosi and in Connie and Carla. And she has a band.
And, if I recall correctly, Marshall said that she gave a phenomenal audition for Chicago.
But the reason I think of her as ideal for Mame has less to do with her musical creds and more to do with her acting, comic flare and sophistication, likability, joy, and presence.
Mandy was mean to poor Toni. It made the papers. Eartha spoke out against his antics too. I hope it didn't soil Toni's perception of the Broadway experience in general. I'd love to see her back.
I still insist that Toni Collette should have been cast as Roxie in the film version of Chicago (she and CZJ would have made a much more incendiary pair than whatshername) and/or Mrs. Lovett in the film Sweeney Todd (does anyone else find HBC'd poor diction to be insufferable??)
PS: I know we only know her musically from TWP but don't forget she also sang in that movie with the Greek Wedding woman!
She would be a great Diana, if not a very obvious choice.
Not an obvious choice? I remember people constantly suggesting she do it both on stage and in the hypothetical film version. Not to mention the fact that she's already played a very high-profile character with mental illness.
I would welcome a stage return from her in anything, play or musical, comedy or drama--name it and I'm there.
I do it find it a little bit interesting/amusing that she is so endlessly suggested on this board for some of the most challenging roles in the musical theatre- all of this presumably based on a performance she gave in an ensemble musical over a decade ago.
What an uncharacteristically condescending comment from MichaelBennett. As others have explained her, there is a reason people trust her singing. The NEXT TO NORMAL connection makes a lot of sense given her rock band, and Mame is not Momma Rose and Collette clearly has the range for it, same for Roxie Hart. J52, while I'm sure Collette would have worked as Roxie (so would have Charlize Theron who was apparently cast when Nicholas Hytner was set to direct), there was something about casting someone so different from Catherine Zeta Jones as Roxie that was a brilliant touch from Marshall. Zellweger played up the trashy part of Roxie so well and it's a performance that for me only improves the more I watch it. And I actually think her and Zeta Jones have the perfect Roxie/Velma chemistry. Now SWEENEY TODD is a completely different case, it's outrageous that Collette didn't get cast, she would have been a killer in the role.
Ray-I'm not meaning to be condescending at all- merely pointing out that much of the enthusiasm here in the suggestions for casting her in musicals are based on fantasies of performances she's never given or rumours of strong auditions she has given that nobody but a very select few have ever witnessed.
I'm simply trying to temper a little levity in the argument.
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joined:8/27/12
Posted: 2/2/13 at 04:00pm