I've only seen Victor Garber in serious roles, and honestly can't picture him bringing any warmth or humor to Horace Vandergelder. Not that Horace should be ha-ha funny, but he shouldn't be a one-not grouch a la Walter Matthau. David Hyde Pierce, to his credit brought a lot to the table, much more than I expected and proved a great match for Bette and Donna. I know there are a lot of Garber fans on here, what do you think?
He'll do just fine. Victor is a wonderful actor with an extensive career, and I can imagine he can play funny. At least his multiple theater credits say so.
I was a teenager when I saw him in TENOR, but that performance has stayed with me over the decades. He was sharp, hilarious and had threw himself into the physicality of that farce fearlessly.
I have to admit I'm a little less than enthused about his casting. I think because DHP is so terrific in the role. I'm not sure I can see Garber as a grouch or as someone who will be as funny in the role as DHP. But then again, I was skeptical of DHP.
A little swash, a bit of buckle - you'll love it more than bread.
He also was Mayor Shinn in the Television version of Music Man which is quite similar to Horace. I think he's going to be sensational. Can't wait to see his Penny in my Pocket.
I saw him when he did Present Laughter. He can definitely do funny. I'm looking forward to seeing him in this...and chalk me up as another more excited about his casting than Bernadette's (and I'm very eager to see Bernadette).
He's doing a bit of a dry, witty humor right now in Legends of Tomorrow. I'm in the "more excited about Garber than Peters" camp as well. I wonder what will happen to his role there because he's directly tied to another character.
I feel like aside from "Alias" I really only know him from lighter roles. Even his current gig on DC's Legends of Tomorrow has a lot of comedy in it. (By the way, how is he going to both shows? Unless it means his time on the TV show is cut short...
"Hey little girls, look at all the men in shiny shirts and no wives!" - Jackie Hoffman, Xanadu, 19 Feb 2008
I haven't personally seen him in many comedy roles but I'd be surprised if any skilled actor (even if comedy is not their strength) couldn't take on the comedy in this role. Playing an old grump seems a bit easier to me than something like the larger-than-life high-energy comedy roles that say Nathan Lane often plays?
"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
I've seen several productions of Noises Off and Lend Me A Tenor, and no one has ever surpassed his performances in the original productions. He can do anything.
Peters -- I saw her at the Barks thing about a month ago -- looks at glamorous and gorgeous as she did 20 years ago, no hyperbole. And Garber, distinguished in the best sense, still exudes sexuality. This is a hot pairing, I'll bet the whole show plays very differently as a result. This is the first time we've seen an obvious Irene Molloy type as Dolly, so the two widows side by side, scheming, will seem peers of a sort, despite the age difference. It makes the entire 2nd marriage-grab story more immediate and ... again ... sexy.
"I'm a comedian, but in my spare time, things bother me." Garry Shandling