METCALF, COOPER, RASHAD leaving A DOLL'S HOUSE PART 2

[Skimbleshanks2]

JULIE WHITE will take over the lead beg. July 25...

 

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Laurie-Metcalf-Chris-Cooper-and-Condola-Rashad-to-Exit-A-DOLLS-HOUSE-PART-2-20170705

 

Glad TONY voters didn't fall for SCOTT RUDIN's extension ploy...

[gypsy101]

why does that make you glad 

[@z5]

Unfortunately, I don't know if I see this making it to January. 

[ACL2006]

I highly doubt it last until January.

[Huss417]

What was the "ploy"?

[IdinaBellFoster]

What do you mean "extension ploy"? The production is still extending, just without the entire original cast.

White will be fantastic, but I was more excited at the announcement of Stephen McKinley Henderson.

[AC126748]

The ploy was that Rudin announced that the show was extending until January right before the end of Tony voting. Announcing an extension and actually getting there are two totally different things. I expect there will be a drop in box office once Metcalf et al leave, and by September (maybe October), a closing notice will be posted.

[Huss417]

Based on the reviews why not risk it and announce an extension? I see nothing wrong with doing that. He's a producer after all.

[AC126748]

He can do whatever he wants. But he definitely had an agenda in mind. And many of us highly doubt that the extension will actually play itself out until January. That's all.

[AC126748]

I love Julie White, and I'm going in with an open mind, but on paper she doesn't scream "ideal Nora" to me.

[Bettyboy72]

Julie runs the risk of going "too big" on this one. I adore her, but Metcalf was the perfect combo of levity and comedy. We'll see. 

[Skimbleshanks2]

AC126748 said: "The ploy was that Rudin announced that the show was extending until January right before the end of Tony voting. Announcing an extension and actually getting there are two totally different things. I expect there will be a drop in box office once Metcalf et al leave, and by September (maybe October), a closing notice will be posted.

 

"

Yes - it was a total ploy to win BEST PLAY. Glad OSLO triumphed!

[Huss417]

Still see nothing wrong with it. He is a Producer trying to do whatever is best for his show. 

[bfreak]

When he announced the show was extending, I remember him stating that replacements would occur after the cast's initial contracts. He is still extending the production, just not with the original cast. If it makes it to January depends on how it does in the Fall. Stop over analyzing all of Rudin's actions and just go with it at this point guys.

[henrikegerman]

Bettyboy72 said: "Julie runs the risk of going "too big" on this one. I adore her, but Metcalf was the perfect combo of levity and comedy. We'll see. 

I certainly agree that Metcalf is perfection (in anything and certainly in ADH2).  And though I greatly admire White I also agree she runs the risk of going "too big" (an unpopular dissenting opinion of mine is that she went way too big in Little Dog Laughed - maybe it was just the performance I saw but...).

But White gave a gorgeous performance replacing Sigourney Weaver in Vanya and Sonya... and I think she will likely do very well as Nora in ADHD... er, ADH2.  

Frankly, I think she's a wonderful idea to replace Metcalf.  And I hope a great many people who have yet to see this very fine play will see it between now and January.

 

"

 

[AC126748]

I respect your opinion, Henrik, but White's Masha really didn't work for me. If it's possible, she was both too big and too small in that role. There was a stridency to her performance that Weaver didn't bring to the role--a level of broad comedy that didn't really gel with the character. But at the same time, she didn't bring the same star quality that I got from Weaver. Weaver's Masha was a movie star (not surprising); White's Masha came across as an actress playing a movie star.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

I'm a little confused by how this play continues to be cast - if Nora is around 30 in the first part, fifteen years later she would be 45. And Torvald would probably be a couple years older than Nora, but not what appears to be at least a decade older. Someone like say, Mary Louise Parker would make a lot more sense, opposite a man of a similar age.

[Jordan Catalano]

I'm very excited to see White in the role. But without a "name" or a Tony award winning performance to help sell tickets I can't see this lasting long at all. Its nothing against anyone in the new cast, it's just science. 

[Ado Annie D'Ysquith]

Am I the only one shocked that they're all leaving so abruptly? It came across as very odd to me, like something was up. Granted, I'm probably off-base with that.

[nasty_khakis]

All three are in demand actors with other projects lined up and couldn't extend. Metcalf alone has to film Roseanne in the fall and the Three Tall Women revival next spring.

[AC126748]

And Rashad is also on a TV show (Billions) that starts filming soon. Cooper's IMDB page lists two films in pre-production.

[TerrenceIsTheMann]

This simply won't sell with the new names attached, and I love Stephen McKinley Henderson.

[haterobics]

Skimbleshanks2 said: "Yes - it was a total ploy to win BEST PLAY. Glad OSLO triumphed!"

Doll's House was supposed to end on July 23, and Oslo is still ending on July 16. Not sure what the thinking is here as far as ploys. Let's just give the Tony to whichever play stays open longer?!

[little_sally]

Skimbleshanks2, shouldn't you be fretting over how long Groundhog's Day is going to run?

[nasty_khakis]

haterobics said: "Skimbleshanks2 said: "Yes - it was a total ploy to win BEST PLAY. Glad OSLO triumphed!"

Doll's House was supposed to end on July 23, and Oslo is still ending on July 16. Not sure what the thinking is here as far as ploys. Let's just give the Tony to whichever play stays open longer?!"

Voters (allegedly) do take things like if it's still running into consideration. They know it will help a show sell tickets.Obviously there are examples of closed shows winning, but people think it makes a difference and it usually seems to.