Laurie Metcalf and Rupert Everett in WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?

[persephone88]

When can I get a ticket? Metcalf and Everett are both a draw for me, and interested in seeing Russell Tovey as well.

[JBroadway]

Huh. I do really like Rupert Everett - he was exquisite in The Judas Kiss a few years ago. And I bet he’ll be really good in this role.

But Eddie Izard struck me as a more out-of-the-box choice, and I was looking forward to seeing his take on the role. Oh well!

[The Distinctive Baritone]

I'm always baffled by these things. George in Virginia Woolf is one of the greatest stage roles ever written for a male actor. What TV gig could possibly make him back out of playing it on Broadway? I mean, I know...MONEY...but seriously...

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

The Distinctive Baritone said: "I'm always baffled by these things. George in Virginia Woolfis one of the greatest stage roles ever written for a male actor. What TV gig could possibly make him back out of playing it on Broadway? I mean, I know...MONEY...but seriously..."

I'm inclined to believe it is indeed a scheduling conflict, but they also could have done a reading/workshop and realized Izzard isn't the right fit. (Why they announced it so early is another matter...)

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Possibly, but he was so well received in Joe Egg years back, and this seems like a really similar role and would be right in his wheelhouse.

[Jordan Catalano]

Has Everett ever done an American accent in anything?

[devonian.t]

This is definitely an upgrade!

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Everett means nothing at the box office, and we already know Laurie Metcalf means very little at the box office. There are so many guys who could play George, but Mantello/Rudin must have a specific idea for the character.

Social media isn't a perfect barometer, but Eddie Izzard has 4.5 million Twitter followers (more than Bette Midler and Bryan Cranston combined). 

[ggersten]

Jordan Catalano said: "Has Everett ever done an American accent in anything?" Well, Richard Burton didn't do an American accent in the film version of Virginia Woolf, for what that's worth.

 

[Jordan Catalano]

That’s a fair point. :)

[bdn223]

Izzard seemed like a very interesting take on George. It had me really excited to see how an over the top personality’s take on George played against such Metcalf’s great yet traditional stage craft. His personality made up for his lack of acting prowess in my opinion.
Everett makes this goes from one of my highlight I was looking forward too, to I’ll catch it when its on TDF. Letts and Moreton might not be marquee acting names, but they had just come off of August: Osage County, so they had buzz. Everett just seems like they needed someone and he was the last name on their list. What I would pay to see Laurie go up against Nathan Lane, John Goodman, Mark Rylance, Bryan Cranston, aka an actor of her caliber.

[Stephen75]

I imagine they are going for a queer-themed production of this show, between the casting and the artwork. It seems very pointed. Not to imply that Izzard or Everett aren't good enough for it, but it does seem like their is a very specific vision for this production/the dynamic of George and Martha. 

[ErmengardeStopSniveling]

Tom Hanks has always been my dream-cast for George.

[bdn223]

Stephen75 said: "I imagine they are going for a queer-themed production of this show, between the casting and the artwork. It seems very pointed. Not to imply that Izzard or Everett aren't good enough for it, but it does seem like their is a very specific vision for this production/the dynamic of George and Martha."

I agree in the casting of Izzard, Everrett and Tovey, but isn't there a bigger gay/queer name to play George. Cough*Nathan Lane* Cough Cough.... Or  Dennis O'Hare, David Hyde Pierce, or even Joe Mantello himself. Honestly at this point, I'm more instrested in seeing Tovey then I am Everett, which is an issue. 

[Stephen75]

Obsessed with all of your suggestions.

[givesmevoice]

The Distinctive Baritone said: "I'm always baffled by these things. George inVirginia Woolfis one of the greatest stage roles ever written for a male actor. What TV gig could possibly make him back out of playing it on Broadway? I mean, I know...MONEY...but seriously..."

Where did you read that it was a TV gig that's the scheduling conflict?


I'm a little bummed, to be honest. I was really looking forward to seeing Izzard, who I love as a comedian. I can practically hear Metcalf's performance in my head now, but wasn't quite sure what Izzard would bring to George. 

[Mike Barrett]

Having never seen this, I personally am sure my first experience of Virginia Woolf is going to be a good one. 

 

Also regarding theatre, I believe when it was originally announced it said it would be playing The Golden, as I recall myself and others on here joking they should just recall it "The Metcalf" 

[The Distinctive Baritone]

The "queerness" of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, as far as I know, has always just been the wishful thinking of others, and Albee himself (if I remember correctly) refuted any ideas that George and Martha are stand-ins for a gay male couple. It was a tad unusual to have queer actors cast as both George and Nick, but both are (were) good fits for the parts and I imagine it was mostly a coincidence. I will say from experience though that many gay male directors do seem to prefer to work with other gay men - show business, like every other business, is built on relationships, and people generally prefer to surround themselves with people they identify with. Someone should do a statistical study, but it seems that in most businesses, theatre-related or not, the people who do the hiring tend to lean towards hiring someone of their "group," especially if it is a minority group.

That said, I doubt Rupert Everett was cast because he is gay. They just needed a famous film actor that was willing to sacrifice TV/film money to do a play on Broadway, and that was appropriate for the part. Rupert Everett seems like a good choice for George and will do fine I'm sure. Besides, if the Albee estate goes nuts whenever a theatre company tries to do a POC Virginia Woolf, I seriously doubt they will allow queer-themed Virginia Woolf. How would you do that anyway without changing the script?

[darquegk]

Rupert Everett did SOMETHING of an American accent in "Inspector Gadget" (which I know because it was filmed in my hometown), but it was more of a "classical sophisticated sissy" thing, so not QUITE full American.

[Highland Guy]

givesmevoice said: "I'm a little bummed, to be honest. I was really looking forward to seeing Izzard, who I love as a comedian. I can practically hear Metcalf's performance in my head now, but wasn't quite sure what Izzard would bring to George."

 

I saw Eddie's show a few weeks back here in Southern California (he looks incredibly fit, by the by).  I was aware that he was scheduled to do "Woolf," but I don't think he mentioned it that evening.  However, recently I watched  Everett's movie "The Happy Prince" (as Oscar Wilde in his final days), and he has really come into his own as an actor.  I think he will do splendid justice to the role of George. 

 

[carnzee]

The Distinctive Baritone said: "The "queerness" of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, as far as I know, has always just been the wishful thinking of others, and Albee himself (if I remember correctly) refuted any ideas that George and Martha are stand-ins for a gay male couple. It was a tad unusual to have queer actors cast as both George and Nick, but both are (were) good fits for the parts and I imagine it was mostly a coincidence. I will say from experience though that many gay male directors do seem to prefer to work with other gay men - show business, like every other business, is built on relationships, and people generally prefer to surround themselves with people they identify with. Someone should do a statistical study, but it seems that in most businesses, theatre-related or not, the people who do the hiring tend to lean towards hiring someone of their "group," especially if it is a minority group.

Besides, if the Albee estate goes nuts whenever a theatre company tries to do a POCVirginia Woolf,I seriously doubt they will allow queer-themedVirginia Woolf.How would you do that anyway without changing the script?"

After the dust settled from that controversy, it turned out that the estate (and Albee, when living) objected to Nick being a POC and the other three being white. There have been authorized productions with POC in other roles. 

[carnzee]

The Distinctive Baritone said: "The "queerness" of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, as far as I know, has always just been the wishful thinking of others, and Albee himself (if I remember correctly) refuted any ideas that George and Martha are stand-ins for a gay male couple. It was a tad unusual to have queer actors cast as both George and Nick, but both are (were) good fits for the parts and I imagine it was mostly a coincidence. I will say from experience though that many gay male directors do seem to prefer to work with other gay men - show business, like every other business, is built on relationships, and people generally prefer to surround themselves with people they identify with. Someone should do a statistical study, but it seems that in most businesses, theatre-related or not, the people who do the hiring tend to lean towards hiring someone of their "group," especially if it is a minority group.

Besides, if the Albee estate goes nuts whenever a theatre company tries to do a POCVirginia Woolf,I seriously doubt they will allow queer-themedVirginia Woolf.How would you do that anyway without changing the script?"

After the dust settled from that controversy, it turned out that the estate (and Albee, when living) objected to Nick being a POC and the other three being white. There have been authorized productions with POC in other roles. 

[DramaTeach]

I gotta say that Rupert Everett, who has very famously expressed his regrets over coming out because it ruined his career, working with Russell Tovey, a young actor who has played many interesting gay characters and is open about his own sexuality, has me wondering what that dynamic will be like.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

carnzee -

That is interesting. I know that when he was alive, he allowed one or two African American actresses to play Martha in professional productions, but was otherwise very strict about it.

We talked about this in another thread several months ago, but the play is so very much about "white people problems" that doing it with POC seems silly. Having George wear a dress onstage though...this whole Eddie Izzard thing has really got me thinking...I'm going to crack this play open and make people see it a way they've never seen it before!!!....Actually, never mind, I'll just do a different play

[carnzee]

I kind of wish he had written that play- a young black professor in an interracial relationship meet an older white couple- but he didn't. Maybe someone else should.

And yes to all of your points about the casting of gay men in these roles.