I think his teeth are nice, but he's too old for the part.
Salve, Regina, Mater misericordiae
Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra
Salve, Salve Regina
Ad te clamamus exsules filii Eva
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
O clemens O pia
I too would like to see Whoopi as Lena. I didn't take to Rashad. However; I'd like to see Condola as Beneatha. She'll be a good Ruth in a few years too.
This is a very disappointing choice for Washington, considering how recent the last revival Kenny Leon did was and the fact that ABC made a television movie of that version directed by Leon with the same cast. That's not even mentioning the fact that (as others have said) that Washington is too old to be playing Walter, though I will say it's crazy to think it will already have been ten years since the last revival by the time this one happens. What is with this trend of bringing back things so quickly? Where are the new plays being produced on Broadway? Both GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS and THE BEST MAN came back this season very quickly after their last revivals too.
All that being said, if this really is what this particular team ends up doing, I can almost guarantee they'll go after Viola Davis for Ruth and Condola Rashad for Beneatha, both of whom would be inspired. I love Whoopi, but she is way too young to play Lena to Washington's Walter (he's one year older than her, so how could she ever play his mother?) The issue becomes the fact that now all the characters will have to age up. Walter is supposed to be 35, Ruth is supposed to be 30, Beneatha is supposed to be 20, and Lena is supposed to be 55. With Washington, Beneatha will have to be closer to 30, Ruth will have to be closer to 40, and Lena will have to be closer to 70.
I'll never understand why Kenny Leon is the sole director of choice when it comes to plays with African-American themes on Broadway. I generally find his work lazy and uninspired, and I think he's coasted by on the talent of his actors and their ability to turn in strong work rather than any genius of his own.
Tonya Pinkins: Then we had a "Lot's Wife" last June that was my personal favorite. I'm still trying to get them to let me sing it at some performance where we get to sing an excerpt that's gone.
Tony Kushner: You can sing it at my funeral.
Oh, yes, a black show! Let's cast famous black people that are all wrong in every way for every role.
Denzel Washington - Walter Michelle Obama - Ruth Condoleezza Rice - Lena Whoopi - Beneatha Gary Coleman - Travis (if he can still be in Avenue Q postmortem, why not?) Allen West - Bobo
Scratch and claw for every day you're worth!
Make them drag you screaming from life, keep dreaming
You'll live forever here on earth.
I know it was much debated, but I think Sher was pretty inspired with "Joe Turner." I'd love to see him handle "Raisin," and I'd love to see the performance he gets from Washington.