"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
My initial thought was that he was too young for the role, what with older actors such as Garber and Cerveris preceding him, however I read (after thinking this) than Booth was only 26 when he committed suicide. More fool me!
I'm excited about this production; have tickets booked for two trips as it's my favourite Sondheim. However I do find this casting a little unusual. I'm more excited about Mike McShane as Sam Byck. And yesThirtyThirtyNinety, she's playing Sara Jane Moore.
THEATRE 2016:
Grey Gardens; SwkPlayhouse, Cats; London Palladium, Into the Woods; Royal Exchange, Show Boat; Sheffield Crucible, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Prsicilla Queen of the Desert; UK Tour, Narrative; RWCMD, Mojo; RWCMD, The Barber of Seville; WNO, Rabbit Hole; Hampstead, The Marriage of Figaro; WNO, Figaro Gets a Divorce; WNO, Tom: The Musical; UK Tour
Upcoming: Anything Can Happen; RWCMD, Cysgy'n Brys'ur, Long Day's Journey Into Night; Bristol Old Vic, Only the Brave, The Caretaker; The Old Vic, People Places and Things, Blue/Orange; Young Vic, Bernadette Peters, Carole King, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Parts I & II
*spoiler* His character was killed off at the end of the second season. *end spoiler*
This seems odd to me, to be honest. When my friend told me he was doing Assassins I assumed he was playing the Balladeer/Lee Harvey Oswald (which I think he's fairly ideal for).
That does indeed seem weird about killing off his tv show character, since he and Daniel Sunjata were the leads. I started out watching the show in its first season but stopped partway through because it was way too violent for me. I did hope that he would return to theatre and singing again, although not at the expense of having his show ended before he wanted it to. He said in his 54 Below concert last year that he wanted to do theatre again, so i wonder if he asked to be written off the show. Anyway, i hope the production will transfer to Broadway afterwards.
I don't like this bit of casting. Something about it irks me. His Lee? Absolutely. His Booth? He just reads too ... I-don't-know. Vocally, it's just an odd choice. The rest of the company is exceptional, though.
It's unlikely to be a mistake because it's on their website, and they've announced someone else for that role (which I just immediately assumed I had to do a second-take when I realised the detail).
I guess I can see it more after Les Mis, even if I can't hear it
I love change so am curious to know how he goes.
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
"*spoiler* His character was killed off at the end of the second season. *end spoiler* "
Actually, the creator never confirmed he is dead and isn't returning to the show. Assassins is only until March. They film March - June. It's a summer show. This will not conflict with Graceland if he is in the next season, and it gets renewed.