Anyone see The Best Man Replacement Cast?- Page 2
Anyone see The Best Man Replacement Cast?
#25Anyone see The Best Man Replacement Cast?
Posted: 8/20/12 at 9:15pm
Lenstersf2, I like your old cast vs. new cast review. Fun way to break it down. I saw the original cast and hope to catch the new one. I wasn't crazy about either McCormack or Butler so I'd love to see their replacements.
But I must disagree with you about the role of Alice Russell being boring. I think the writing is wonderful for all the characters. In fact, Alice has some of the sharpest lines in the play--made all the more interesting and complex given that she's still clearly in love with her husband. Candice Bergen just doesn't have the acting chops to pull it off, and apparently, neither does Shepherd.
After ten minutes of Bergen's performance, all I could think was "Why didn't they think to cast Cherry Jones as Alice!" she would have been brilliant in the role. Larroquette was excellent, despite having to play off Bergen's Murphy-Brown-one-liner delivery. With Cherry Jones, that quietly seething dialogue between the Russells would have started a fire in that theater!
#26Anyone see The Best Man Replacement Cast?
Posted: 8/20/12 at 9:36pmIn the right hands Alice can be a very strong role. I saw Bergen and was somewhat disappointed. I truly disliked Butler. Thought her performance and hammy accent were trite.
"Through The Sacrifice You Made, We Can't Believe The Price You Paid..For Love!"
aaronb
Broadway Star Joined: 6/3/12
#27Anyone see The Best Man Replacement Cast?
Posted: 8/20/12 at 10:00pm^^ I agree. Alice is composed, repressing her unhappiness, but not boring. Too bad Cybil bombed.
Lenstersf2
Swing Joined: 8/3/12
#28Anyone see The Best Man Replacement Cast?
Posted: 8/20/12 at 11:27pmI definitely could envision Alice's role in the play to be more substantial than it is. I agree that her character is complicated, but both Candice and Cybil have chosen to portray her in very similar ways - cold, distant, unsure about her feelings toward her husband. I wouldn't say that she's in love with him. I think she wants to love him, but can't get past the barrier that their lives have built throughout the years.
MrMidwest
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/8/05
#29Anyone see The Best Man Replacement Cast?
Posted: 8/20/12 at 11:53pm
To be fair to Candice Bergen, she did have a stroke a few years back, so that might have hindered her performance:
"The gods who nurse this universe think little of mortals' cares. They sit in crowds on exclusive clouds and laugh at our love affairs. I might have had a real romance if they'd given me a chance. I loved him, but he didn't love me. I wanted him, but he didn't want me. Then the gods had a spree and indulged in another whim. Now he loves me, but I don't love him." - Cole Porter
