Toni Collette in THE WILD PARTY

[morosco]

Posted: 7/8/15 at 9:33pm

Her Broadway debut was astonishing.  She friggin' owned that stage!

 

[Robbie2]

Posted: 7/9/15 at 12:36am

I also thought she was amazing...you never took your eyes off of her...I wanted her to win as she deserved the TONY but Heather Headley won for Aida.  

Toni would make a great Miss Mona in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas.

Updated On: 7/9/15 at 12:36 AM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 7/9/15 at 9:00am

Headley could sing the roof off the joint in a couple of songs, but otherwise, there wasn't much else to her performance.  I was shocked Audra or Toni didn't win that year, but Headley did seem quite popular with the public.

[LarryD2]

Posted: 7/9/15 at 9:04am

I never understood Brantley's love letter to Headley. Yes, she could sing. But in addition to not being a very good actress, she didn't have much presence either. It was a hollow performance except when she was belting.

Collette was a revelation -- I realize that term is overused, but it really does apply to her work here. I saw her three times and even the most minute details of her performance are etched in my memory. Even though the show was playing a theater that was way too big for what they were trying to do, watching her felt so intimate.

At the time, it seemed like the award would go to either Headley or Marin Mazzie, but I would have voted for Collette in a heartbeat. I hope she does another musical.

Updated On: 7/9/15 at 09:04 AM

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 7/9/15 at 9:32am

Last year when she did REALISTIC JONESES, I asked her if she would mind signing my WILD PARTY CD and window card. We all know it wasn't the best experience for her and I was a bit timid asking her, but she was very very gracious about it said that she really wants to do another musical soon. I'm hoping she does, because there's just so many roles that she'd be perfect for!

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 7/9/15 at 10:33am

She definitely needs to return in a musical A.S.A.P.

[BIG BALONEY]

Posted: 7/9/15 at 11:06am

The Broadway production was a mess and Mandy appeared to be totally out of it. It effectively drove all the other actors crazy. Toni was marvelous but the show sunk her chances.  As far as The Tony Award goes it's all politics and parties, etc.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 7/9/15 at 11:09am

Mandy " appeared". He was , flat out, out of his friggin mind.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 7/9/15 at 11:27am

"Toni would make a great Miss Mona in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas."

That would be fantastic.

[HorseTears]

Posted: 7/9/15 at 11:33am

"Last year when she did REALISTIC JONESES, I asked her if she would mind signing my WILD PARTY CD and window card. We all know it wasn't the best experience for her and I was a bit timid asking her, but she was very very gracious about it said that she really wants to do another musical soon. I'm hoping she does, because there's just so many roles that she'd be perfect for!"

 

Jordan, that's wonderful to hear!  Was she once rumored for Cabaret or am I making that up?  

 

So, for those of us who weren't there, can we get more details on what Mandy being "out of it" actually means?  Was he phoning it in?  Overdoing it?  Babbling incoherently?  Paint us a picture here, please. 

[Fantod]

Posted: 7/9/15 at 11:33am

I have 6 different versions of the OBC because it fascinates me so much. Not a great show, but it featured some great performances (and some terrible ones) and a wild and sometimes wonderful score. During the first preview, Toni and Mandy were both fantastic and played perfectly off of each other. As the show progressed, Mandy went crazy and their chemistry disintegrated. I wish I could have seen it live.

[Fantod]

Posted: 7/9/15 at 11:39am

And horsetears, it was more like he did a ton of coke before every performance. He became Jerry Lewis violent onstage sometimes, too. I think it was a miserable experience for everyone involved. I'd love to see her in Cabaret or Chicago, or maybe even The Rink. 

[LarryD2]

Posted: 7/9/15 at 11:40am

Jordan, that's wonderful to hear!  Was she once rumored for Cabaret or am I making that up?  

She auditioned and Sam Mendes wanted her to be the first replacement Sally. I can't remember if Equity vetoed her casting or if she didn't accept the offer in order to do The Sixth Sense. Either way, she passed and Jennifer Jason Leigh replaced Richardson, but Collette would have been a hell of a Sally. (Apparently George C. Wolfe decided to audition her for Queenie because he'd heard that her Cabaret audition was so strong)

[morosco]

Posted: 7/9/15 at 12:13pm

She'd be fierce as EVITA.

[Robbie2]

Posted: 7/9/15 at 3:58pm

[Gothampc]

Posted: 7/9/15 at 4:03pm

So, for those of us who weren't there, can we get more details on what Mandy being "out of it" actually means?  Was he phoning it in?  Overdoing it?  Babbling incoherently?  Paint us a picture here, please. 

The rumor is that Toni had to report Mandy to Actor's Equity because he was getting too much into his role as the abusive boyfriend.  Things like he really spit on her, that some of the violence was overboard and that he was actually hurting her.

[morosco]

Posted: 7/9/15 at 4:12pm

Cast members say that during previews, the actor has ad-libbed bits of physical and verbal abuse, including smacking people in the head, shoving them, spitting water in their faces and making offensive remarks to them under his breath.

 

Wild Behavior at Wild Party

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 7/9/15 at 5:26pm

I believe it has been confirmed on the board that Collette was all but set to replace Richardson in CABARET but Equity did not allow her to do it. A real shame as I imagine she would have been as definitive as Richardson.

It is also a shame we never got to see her Roxie Hart, another part she was all but set to play until Harvey brought in Zellweger (who was divine in the part). 

Then there's that blind item that came out around the time the SWEENEY film was being cast indicating that she had gotten the role...and then that didn't happen.

And who can forget the time she was offered to play Mrs. Wilkinson in the BILLY ELLIOT transfer and she had to turn it down when Showtime picked up US OF TARA?

That's 4 wonderful roles we didn't get to see her in. I adore her and wish she got to play all the great musical theatre roles. A MAME starring her would be out of the world (she practiced with Tonya Pinkins singing "Best Friend").

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 7/9/15 at 5:33pm

Plus it is time for a Mame revival instead of the millionth revival of Gypsy.

[jewishboy]

Posted: 7/9/15 at 7:07pm

There are a lot of roles that people suggest Toni Collette for that I don't believe she is right for. However, she would be a great Mame. I love that idea. Add Jane Krakowski as Vera!

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 7/9/15 at 7:17pm

Great combination

[Owen22]

Posted: 7/9/15 at 7:32pm

....or Jane Krakowski as Mame and Toni as Vera...

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 7/9/15 at 7:37pm

Do not go around complicating things. Have them alternate if you want.

[Stevie72]

Posted: 7/11/15 at 7:27pm

It would be so good if she did something like Chicago.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 7/11/15 at 7:30pm

Or anything for that matter.