Hugh Jackman to play Pal Joey in 2007?- Page 2

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 1:58pm

Take Me Out had fine directrion
Wicked has NO direction
The Odd Couple has even LESS direction than WICKED
Laugh Whore didn't NEED direction

I'm just left cold with his work recently.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 2:21pm

His LOVE VALOUR was somewhat clever and inventive, but shallow. I didn't realize how much until I saw an Off-Off-Broadway production of it last year that was infinitely superior to Mantello's original, managing to nail the quippy humor, but also peeling back and discovering layers of depth and feeling that Mantello never found.

Mantello's direction of WICKED was poorly paced, inefficiently blocked (he's clueless with crowd scenes), clunky in its transitions (nothing flows easily), and frequently listless in tone and energy. It's amazing what people will accept these days in terms of direction, score and bookwriting -- all of which are rather pedestrian in this show. Imagine what a Robbins or Bennett or Champion or Fosse (directors who were masters of epic theatre) would have done with this material. They'd have thrown out every single thing Mantello did and started over -- there's NOTHING distinguished about Mantello's work on that show.

I saw TAKE ME OUT three times, from early previews at the Public to late in the run on Broadway and he tinkered and tinkered with it until it was more or less competent (which it wasn't at the Public at all -- certain scenes were very awkwardly blocked).

His DESIGN FOR LIVING just sat there, unfunny (he has ZERO ability when it comes to creating clever comedic stage business) and unnecessarily sexualized. It's a light and frothy romantic comedy which requires a deft touch which is beyond him and his typically leaden approach.

FRANKIE AND JOHNNY was too slowly paced and lacked depth.

LAUGH WHORE? PLEASE. What did he do? Tell Mario where to put the stool? Mario's been on stage doing standup longer than Mantello has been in New York. Even if he gave Cantone some of his mediocre blocking, you really think he followed it exactly 8 times a week?

The GLENGARRY production was, to me, a shadow of the brilliant and very memorable original production which was electric, profane, laugh-out-loud funny and ultimately tragic. In this one, several roles were miscast (Fred Weller? Tom Wopat?) and his direction never captured the kind of propulsive force Mamet at his best contains. They should have grabbed Terry Kinney and let Steppenwolf (the Mamet experts) do the revival. Mantello somehow managed to make a terrific play bland.

I found ASSASSINS gimmicky, though some of it worked OK. Sorry, I just don't think he has a true musical sense and he approached the work academically rather than using the music to really organically tell the story.

Not sure how he managed to screw up ODD COUPLE, but screw it up he did. It lays there like a bad dinner theatre production. Where's the spark and electricity and excitement?

Sorry. I don't get his "success" at all. I've seen a dozen+ off- and off-off-Broadway directors with ten times as much talent, but no name recognition. It's pathetic Mantello gets seemingly every plum assignment on the Broadway stage these days. He simply is NOT very talented.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 3:27pm

Oooooo, I would KILL to see Christine Andreas as Vera.

[Plum]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 5:03pm

I loved Assassins. Loved it loved it loved it like a...lovely thing. Yes, I'm very articulate today.

That said, Margo, this sounds like it'll be a Follies situation, with Mantello doing the book scenes and Bourne doing the musical/dance ones, which should mitigate your problem with Mantello's musical sense a bit.

Oh, and if Idina Menzel and Kristin Chenoweth can be "high school students", Hugh Jackman can play a younger man. Geez.
Updated On: 3/1/06 at 05:03 PM

[Dollypop]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 5:08pm

I would kill to see Patti LuPone play Vera. LuPone and Jackman= swoon!

[Marguerite Chauvelin]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 5:27pm

Hugh back on Broadway? Heck yes!

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 5:32pm

Riedel lies,
Joey would marry Liza in a heartbeat if it would help his career!
Hey how bout' Liza as Vera, that would be confusing.
Who i really want as Vera? STOCKARD CHANNING!

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 5:49pm

It would not surprise me to see Caroline O'Connor, do this with Hugh if it was to happen, they have been looking at doing a show together for years.

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 6:09pm

Donna Murphy would be the hotness. Um... threadjack... but... how is Steppenwolf the Mamet expert?

kmc

[gettinhep]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 6:16pm

I agree that Donna Murphy would be great as Vera. I have a friend who saw the Huntington revival. He said that she was truly wonderful in a problematic production.

As much as I adore Caroline O'Connor, I can't quite see her playing taller than Hugh's Joey. I know, it is a silly observation. But, a certain line in 'Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered' will make no sense.

[BroadwayBaby6]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 6:21pm

Can you say SURE FIRE HIT?
And you'll all kill me for saying this, but I think Patti Lupone should do the role again (after doing a fabulous job in Encores)...but let's face it, there is are so many amazingly talented actresses in their 40's and 50's who can play Vera and pull it off beautifully.

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 6:33pm

True! There are SO many awesome potentials for this! It should be pretty crazy hot.

kmc

[FoscasBohemianDream]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 6:33pm

I am so excited about this show. Donna Murphy would be a great Vera if she plaid opposite someone in his 20s, but Murphy looks too young to be Hugh Jackman's Vera. Patti LuPone already played Vera, she was amazing in the Encores! production and sounds great in the recording, but as much as I admire her I want a new Vera in the role. Marin Mazzie is a magnificent performer and hopefully we'll see her on Broadway soon, but her "Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered" on My Favorite Broadway:The Leading Ladies missed all the laughs, not that it should only be played with comedy but there is some comedy in the song that she missed.
Bernadette Peters sounds like a good choice to me.
Bebe Neuwirth's "Zip" was great in the Encores! production but I doubt she would reprise this role in a revival, I think this is the kind of number Sara Gettelfinger sells the best so she would be a fine choice as Melba.
Hugh Jackman is a bit too old for Joey and this is a role that has been played by Gene Kelly and Bob Fosse, I believe it should be performed by a true triple-threat, can Jackman pull it off?

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 6:58pm

I didn't like Bebe doing that.
But Gettlefinger is a great choice.
I think Bernadette is interesting but almost too sexy, remember Joey leaves her and who could leave Bernadette.?
I'm stickin with Stockard Channing.

[circusliz]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 7:33pm

Fosca--

I agree with your thought that Hugh Jackman may not be a strong enough triple threat.

My first choice was, is, and always will be Michael Berresse. He's even mentioned the show in past interviews (around the time of Kiss Me Kate. Of course, he will apparently be busy with some *other* show in the near future....

[Danielm]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 7:41pm

Best12bars, Hugh is NOT too old for Joey. Joey has been working for a long time in the clubs, he's desperate, he's made a lot of mistakes. Also, Hugh is only in his 30s, if you think that's too old then you have seriously challenged perceptions.

[Demitri2]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 8:31pm

Hey Dollypop...hate to say it but you're slipping. LORETTA SWIT AS VERA! I saw a pic of her the other night and her face... like time...has stood still.

[TheaterAddict7652]

Posted: 3/1/06 at 11:52pm

Is it certain that Hugh Jackman will play Joey? I remember reading in a Playbill.com interview with Norbert Leo Butz a while ago, and I think that he said that he was a fan of Rodgers and Hart and wanted to do Pal Joey.

Obviously, he isn't as big of a name as Hugh Jackman...but if his sitcom is a hit...(and hopefully it will be)...does anyone think that there is a possibility that someone else besides Hugh Jackman would be in this?

[jo]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 1:06am

It took me three days, Plum

In September 2004, Michael Riedel wrote a tribute article to Hugh at the time of his departure from TBFO. He mentioned two roles that could be in the process of being revived where he thought Hugh would be an excellent match. One was Bobby in COMPANY and the other one was that of PAL JOEY. I hope this is not wishful thinking on Mr. Riedel's part


Jo

[alterego]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 1:24am

How old was Sinatra when he did the movie? I'm sure he was older than Jackman. I'd love to see Patti LuPone, Stockard Channing in too. I don't want to see Donna Murphy or Bernadette Peters. Caroline O'Connor recently got her Green Card so why not?

[Plum]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 1:27am

Sinatra was born in 1915 and the Pal Joey film was released in 1957, so he was probably 41 while filming it, 3 years older than Jackman will be by spring next year.

I <3 IMDB.

[krytak]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 6:14am

No, Hugh Jackman is not going into Pal Joey but into the new musical, Leap of Faith. Straight from one of the horses' mouths.

[keatonbynumbers]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 11:26am

Not only is Mantello a mediocre director to begin with, it seems like he takes on so much work that he spreads himself thin. As a result, his direction is even sloppier than it normally would be. I enjoyed both Assassins and Take Me Out, but in spite of the direction (and because of the amazing potential in both of them, had they been directed properly).

Hugh Jackman may be a little old, but he's definitely always struck me as having this youthful energy that makes him seem years younger. I'd love to see him in the role. And I love all the names being kicked around for Vera. I'd die over the hotness that is LuPone, but Stockard Channing actually sounds really, really awesome.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 11:56am

Does the Horses' mouth know who's directing LEAP OF FAITH?

[kyle33nyc]

Posted: 3/2/06 at 1:36pm

Mantello is most likely so in demand and so popular as a director with various playwrights and comapanies (such as Roundabout) because he forfeits control to the other parties. Whatever the playwright wants to see up on stage will be honored. I think this has largely worked out well for Mantello, because he has been fortunate to direct some quality material. I can't help thinking that many of his productions would have been much stronger with a visionary director holding the reins.

Does anyone know why George C. Wolfe is not more often on the boards since leaving the Public? Lakawanna Blues couldn't have taken that much time to direct...