SOAP DISH The Musical Reading with Chenoweth, Krakowski, Milioti, Stamos and Shor- Page 2

[bobs3]

Posted: 10/17/12 at 1:09pm

Stamos will definitely play Jeffery (the Kevin Kline role). Difficult to decide who will play Celeste and Montana -- I could see Chenoweth or Krakowski in either role. There are quite a number of comedic character actors who could play David (the Robert Downey Jr. role).

[wickedfan]

Posted: 10/17/12 at 1:33pm

sondheimfan2- Watch Soap Dish again. From the very first frame it practically screams to become a musical. It's not out of date and it's not an 80's movie. As Jordan said, it's actually a 90's movie, though with the decadence of an 80's movie, however that's more just to set the tone for the absurdity that happens rather than being a truthful homage to 80's soap opera.

As someone who has never watched a soap opera one day in my life, I can say that I found Soap Dish hysterical on every level and completely engaging. The only thing that could make this musical seem out of date is if they plug in numerous 80's/90's references ala The Wedding Singer, which there is no need for as the movie is funny enough as is.

If they're smart about how to musicalize it and how they cast it, this could be one of the funniest musical farces this side of Little Me. The opportunity is there. Now they just need to do it right.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 10/17/12 at 1:52pm

^ The "How do I write dialogue for a guy who's got no head?" moment is screaming to be a song about the ridiculous plot complications of soap operas.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 10/17/12 at 2:21pm

The biggest question is who will be playing Tawny, Celeste's all suffering wardrobe supervisor?

"Tawny!! Tawny!!! Where the HELL is that woman?"

[madbrian]

Posted: 10/17/12 at 2:30pm

I assumed Ann Nathan would be playing Tawny.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 10/17/12 at 4:19pm

Soap Dish, while a 90s film, is basically built around the excesses of 80s primetime soaps, Dynasty especially. But I don't see how it's out of touch--as mentioned, the things it mocks are things even non soap viewers know, and seem to find funny. This could be great!

So it already had a reading some years back in London? I'm surprised I never heard anything about it...

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 10/17/12 at 4:27pm

This has been in development for a long time now. I remember Robert Harling (the writer of the movie and is adapting it himself) talking about it in an interview years ago. I remember announcements albeit preliminary ones were made and I got really excited only to never hear of the project again until today.

I guess working with Chenoweth and Shor on GCB inspired him to pick it back up again.

[Owen22]

Posted: 10/17/12 at 4:40pm

The show is completely out of date if its set in the milieu of its original time period. And its too soon for a soap "period piece". Hopefully they will update the material to the present and include America's clear disinterest in the form and make the engine of the musical trying to save "The Sun Also Sets" (the hilariously named soap of the piece) in a TV landscape where soap opera is a disappearing genre.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 10/17/12 at 4:47pm

Actually, adding that element is not a bad idea...

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 10/17/12 at 5:07pm

I agree the making the show within the show a musical for a ratings gimmick could be a great catalyst if they set the show in the modern day. It would be The Sun Also Sets producers trying to make the show more like Glee/Smash/etc and "current."

Even if they didn't use that ploy the show is still relevant. YES soaps are a dying daytime genre, but there are still enough on the air. Also, shows like Desperate Housewives, Revenge, Secret Life, etc are all very popular are use classic soap troupes. The jokes will still land. I guarantee you people (especially the tourist crowd) still very much know who Susan Lucci (who Celeste is essentially) is and would get an "evil twin/new face/town exploding" joke. They use them all the time for Wendy Malick's character on Hot in Cleveland.

[SonofRobbieJ]

Posted: 10/17/12 at 5:10pm

For verisimilitude, my dearly departed soap (ONE LIFE TO LIVE), in fact, did musical episodes. They were terrible and I loved the F*CK out of every second of them.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 10/17/12 at 5:17pm

All My Children was always my fave, with One Life a close second--but yes those musical episodes were campilicious. The first was a clear attempt to appeal to the High School Musical phenomenon (no matter the fact that the audience would all be in school...), and the second used the Glee pop song format. I still have them saved, lol.

I agree with Khakis. The soap tropes that are mocked in Soap Dish are a huge part of pop culture--and as daytime soaps die, soap opera seems to be thriving more than it has in at least a decade on primetime. Nevermind that as mentioned, though Sun Also Sets was meant to be a daytime soap, its clear inspiration--and prob why 1991 audiences would get it (though I'm not sure how well the film did before it became a cult fave) were the 80s primetime soaps anyway which took all those soap cliches and reved them up to the ninth degree.

[sondheimfan2]

Posted: 10/17/12 at 5:35pm

wickedfan - I will take a look at it again and see if it changes my mind.

Owen22 - I can see your take on the disinterest in soaps helping to make the show relevant to today's audience.

[bobs3]

Posted: 10/18/12 at 7:38am

"Yes, I am guilty. Guilty of love in the first degree."

And love those jungle red nails!

It seems as though Sally Field studied Susan Lucci performances as Erica Kane to play this role. Updated On: 10/18/12 at 07:38 AM

[Auggie27]

Posted: 10/18/12 at 1:40pm

If the show is era-specific, it might work. But as enjoyable as the film is, ask anyone who's toiled in the industry trenches: it bears little relationship to the actual business of creating, producing and maintaining soap operas. It was a fantasy, and didn't bear any resemblance to the way shows are kept running. (TOOTSIE was far closer, and even it had to go live to create needed drama.) So to work, the musical needs to eschew reality and aim for something more meta. (They would make me happy if they'd simply tell the truth about how many effing writers it takes. Whoopi was the sole scribe in the film, and she sat around in nice clothes. Good luck with that.)

Updated On: 10/18/12 at 01:40 PM

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 10/18/12 at 7:29pm

I'm sure some people thought it was a reflection of reality (though everyone must have known it was at least an exageration), but you're right. I remember at the time soap actors (specifically from AMC, as that was the only show I watched back when it came out) being interviewed on some show about it, and trying to be polite as possible, gritting their teeth while saying they enjoyed it but it doesn't remotely reflect real life experience. As you seem to be saying--why should it, but it is always funny how many people seem to think films like this do.

I mean even Aaron Sorkin needed coke to write more than 12 episodes of a tv show a YEAR, let alone two hundred +

[wickedfan]

Posted: 10/18/12 at 8:18pm

Of course Soap Dish isn't a realistic reflection of the soap opera world. It was never meant to be. It's incredibly over the top. From the color scheme, the over the top acting and the melodramatic plot points. Soap Dish is an over the top meta approach to soap operas.

I don't see how anyone can look at it as reality. It's so fantastically, knowingly over the top. If the musical keeps that tone then it should be just fine.

[Playbilly]

Posted: 10/18/12 at 8:49pm

Why would anyone expect a "realistic treatment of the soap world" in a musical comedy. C'mon.

[chris d]

Posted: 10/19/12 at 10:57am

OMG! I can't believe my guiltiest pleasure will be a musical. can't wait to see how they musicalize Celeste's big breakdown scene ("I ruined three lives! THREEEE LIIIIVES!!")

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 10/19/12 at 6:49pm

After rewatching the movie I think the tone/themes are perfect and relevant for a modern musical. They could keep it 80s to have fun Nolan Miller-esque costumes to add to the camp/fun, but it could easily be "now" especially with soaps having to compete more and more with soap-like reality shows.

What is ultimately puzzling me is casting. Montanna says she's 28 and Ariel is supposed to be younger (I believe). Even if they're lying or playing for a laugh neither Shor nor Krakowski look near that age. They look good for 40, even on stage. Chenowith IS the correct age (Celeste is 42) she still reads younger, bubblier, cutsier and honestly fits the Susan Lucci stature more than Field. She could go either way in the role, I think. I think it's a mistake to have Ariel and Montana be the same age as Celeste (which, let's be honest they all read similar in age). Montana is the younger, hotter up and comer who wants to take Celeste's place and Ariel is the young hot bimbo girl.

I can honestly see Stamos NAILING David. He is charming, handsome, but can play slimy and skeevey incredibly well. If he is indeed playing Jeffrey then it could work, but he's not in the Kevin Kline bumbling but handsome buffoon mold.

[Younger Brother]

Posted: 10/19/12 at 7:01pm

Who is Cristin Millioti playing?

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 10/19/12 at 7:04pm

I assume the Elizabeth Shue role of the daughter.

[PattyO'Furniture]

Posted: 10/19/12 at 9:51pm

Over 24 hours after reading this post and re-visiting it, I am JUST NOW realizing that my mind was misinterpreting "Jane Krakowski" as "Christine Baranski". Ok...now I get the suggestions of Jane playing Montana!

Chenoweth will be perfect. Will they keep her blonde?

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 10/25/12 at 12:22pm

According to Playbill:

Kristin Chenoweth is Celeste
Jane Krakowski is Montana
John Stamos is Jeffrey
Cristin Milioti is Lori
Michael Park is David
Miriam Shor is Rose
Adrienne Warren is Ariel
Jim Newman is Tex
Anne Nathan is Tawny
Brooks Ashmanskas is Burton

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/171521-Soap-Dish-Musical-Gets-NYC-Reading-With-Kristin-Chenoweth-Jane-Krakowski-and-John-Stamos-Rob-Ashford-Directs

[wickedfan]

Posted: 10/25/12 at 12:34pm

Sounds pretty much like what we were expecting. Although I thought for sure Miriam Shor was going to be Carrie Fischer. Maybe they combined her role with Rose. What character is Tex, though? I don't remember a Tex. Is that the guy who leaves Celeste at the beginning of the movie (though we never actually saw him)?

But those words of doom: "Directed by Rob Ashford."

God in heaven, no. Why can't it be someone like Michael Blakemore? Or Jerry Zaks? Hell, I'd settle for Christopher Ashley (this property is actually in his wheelhouse) over Rob "Never met a backflip I didn't love nor solo musical number I didn't want to turn into a showcase for my dancers" Ashford.