Laura Linney and Cynthia Nixon alternating in LITTLE FOXES

[WayTooBroadway]

http://www.broadway.com/buzz/185088/laura-linney-cynthia-nixon-will-alternate-roles-in-lillian-hellmans-the-little-foxes-on-broadway/

WOW.

[QueenAlice]

I must be honest and say I don't see either being well-cast as Regina, but the premise of two actresses switching roles is exciting.

[gypsy101]

please let someone convince Patti and Bernadette to do this in a revival of Mame.

[little_sally]

This is very, very exciting.

[10086sunset]

Love this..

Love the fact this play is finally getting revived again. Believe the last time was 1997.

[VintageSnarker]

Ooh, I agree with QueenAlice about the casting but still, very intrigued. I'm only familiar with the Bette Davis movie. 

[wonderfulwizard11]

So here for this. I do wonder if it'll be able to top the NYTW production with Elizabeth Marvel, which to this day is one of the best performances I've ever seen. But I love this play and the casting is really intriguing. 

[fflagg]

They're both miscast. 

[Call_me_jorge]

This will be a headache for the tony awards committee 

[wonderfulwizard11]

Call_me_jorge said: "This will be a headache for the tony awards committee "

Not really- they'll probably do what they did with John C. Reilly and Phillip Seymour Hoffman in True West and consider them separately. Though I suppose this situation is slightly different since Regina is the lead and Birdie is definitely featured. 

[CarlosAlberto]

Laura Linney and Cynthia Nixon as Regina?!?!?!?

I don't see it AT ALL.

But I've got to see if they are able to pull it off.

 

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

I imagine most likely they'll both be billed above the title and hence be considered in the Lead Actress in a Play category.

[gypsy101]

probably something like: LAURA LINNEY as REGINA/BIRDIE in LITTLE FOXES

CYNTHIA NIXON as REGINA/BIRDIE in LITTLE FOXES

(both for leading actress)

[Kad]

Call_me_jorge said: "This will be a headache for the tony awards committee "

No it won't.

They will have two options:

Consider *four* performances separately, or consider both of the women Leading Actresses for both their roles.

The latter is the most obvious and easiest solution.

 

[JBroadway]

If they are using the logic of something like Billy Elliot, could each role be considered jointly eligible? I.e Linney and Nixon share a nomination in Featured actress for Birdie, and share another nomination for Leading as Regina? 

I'm more excited by Linney than Nixon. She seems right for Birdie IMO, and though I wouldn't have thought of her as Regina, I think she could be good. Not sure about Nixon, to be honest. I only saw her in The Real Thing, which I'm assuming was not a great showcase of her talent. Wish I could have seen her in Wit. 

 

[Cupid Boy2]

JBroadway said: "If they are using the logic of something like Billy Elliot, could each role be considered jointly eligible? I.e Linney and Nixon share a nomination in Featured actress for Birdie, and share another nomination for Leading as Regina? "

Like Billy Elliot, such a choice would be recognizing the role within the context of this particular production more than the actors themselves if they were to receive a nomination in that way. 

 

[QueenAlice]

Isn't the traditional Tony rule that whoever plays the role on opening night is eligible (for that role)?

I don't think you can jointly nominate the actress for each role because presumably Tony voters will be seeing   each play one - not both- parts.

[gypsy101]

maybe this production will receive special consideration under the special circumstance 

[skies]

There is a steely , controlled tightly wound persona to Regina I find hard to imagine either actress conveying,  Laura Linney did do the movie version of the "House of Mirth"  years ago evoking that same era , so I'll wait and see, she would be my gut reaction preference as to who I would buy a ticket to see.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

When True West was on Broadway with Philip Seymour Hoffman and John C. Reilly alternating in the two leads, the Tony committee did go by their opening night roles - Hoffman as Austin and Reilly as Lee.

But let's get through the 2016 Tonys first!

[carnzee]

I was thinking maybe two days ago how much I would like to see this revived on Broadway. Love the alternating roles idea, but I too am skeptical about the cast. I feel like Regina needs a 'voluptuous' quality (and I don't mean physically, if that makes sense). I could see Vanessa Williams, Marcia Gay Harden. Has anyone seen Linney or Nixon in a role that would lead them to believe they could be a Regina?

[QueenAlice]

Laura Linney attempted Marquise de Merteuil in LES LIAISONS.... a few years ago - a role with the steely resolve of Regina- and most thought she was rather miscast in that production. Linney just doesn't project regal aristocracy (Regina you could say is Southern aristocracy).  Come to think of it - you know who would be a great Regina is Janet McTeer who is of course coming to Broadway as Marquise de Merteuil  next season...

[Borstalboy]

It would have been interesting if they had gone outside the box with casting for this one.  I think Donna Murphy or Kelli O'Hara could have really stretched themselves with these roles.

[nasty_khakis]

QueenAlice said: "Laura Linney attempted Marquise de Merteuil in LES LIAISONS.... a few years ago - a role with the steely resolve of Regina- and most thought she was rather miscast in that production. Linney just doesn't project regal aristocracy (Regina you could say is Southern aristocracy).  Come to think of it - you know who would be a great Regina is Janet McTeer who is of course coming to Broadway as Marquise de Merteuil  next season..."

Is the Donmar production officially transferring? I thought McTeer was just as miscast as Linney in the role.I know she's a tad too old but I'd love to see Annette Bening take a stab at the role now.

[henrikegerman]

If Linney can bring something of what she brought to her unforgettably stylish, venal, scheming two-faced Bertha Dorset to Regina, she might just surprise us.  These are two steely women.  Nixon I'm having trouble imagining in the role, but I'm willing to keep an open mind.

I do think both of them might succeed brilliantly with Regina's particular style and brand of motherhood, which is what's most needed to make the final curtain of Foxes so tragic and chilling.

[BobbyBubbi]

QueenAlice said: "Laura Linney attempted Marquise de Merteuil in LES LIAISONS.... a few years ago - a role with the steely resolve of Regina- and most thought she was rather miscast in that production. Linney just doesn't project regal aristocracy (Regina you could say is Southern aristocracy).  Come to think of it - you know who would be a great Regina is Janet McTeer who is of course coming to Broadway as Marquise de Merteuil  next season...

 

"

That's putting it nicely. That production of LIAISONS was GOD AWFUL. I honestly felt rather embarrassed for Linney, who was completely miscast and out of her depth. 

I think Nixon can handle Regina, but I wouldn't pay to see Linney. I've never seen the appeal, as I've been thoroughly underwhelmed by everything I've seen her in (Liaisons, Crucible). 

Anyone see Stockard Channing do it at Lincoln Center? I've always been intrigued by that production. I'm sure she was fantastic.