Female Sweeney Todd?

[FlySkyHigh]

Posted: 8/10/18 at 7:55am

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/09/t-magazine/allison-janney-idina-menzel-female-actresses.html

Yesterday, NYT posted an article about five actresses (Janet McTeer, Idina Menzel, Audra McDonald, Allison Janney, and Judith Light) who have been able to transition smoothly between different acting mediums and still dominate. In the video clip, they were asked what their dream roles are, and Audra stated she would love to play Sweeney Todd. I personally love the idea and I think Audra would kill it (pun intended)!

What do you guys think of an all female or gender reversal cast and which actors would you cast for each role?

[Melissa25]

Posted: 8/10/18 at 8:34am

 

http://nyti.ms/2OpO0p2

 

 

Updated On: 8/10/18 at 08:34 AM

[Theatrefanboy1]

Posted: 8/10/18 at 9:20am

Alice Ripley or cher or Meryl

[Valentina3]

Posted: 8/10/18 at 9:52am

FlySkyHigh said: "Janet McTeer, Idina Menzel, Audra McDonald, Allison Janney, and Judith Light"

Ugh I hate that Hello, Dolly! is closing. I'd pay good money to see all of these women in this production.

As for female Sweeney Todd - it could be very interesting. The drives of Sweeney are so traditionally masculine (wanting to avenge his lover, anger over stupid stuff, etc) that, if played by a woman, it could throw a pretty harsh light on how we think of gender in the society. When Pierreli was recast as a woman in recent revivals (even though the actress is playing it AS a man), it was still fascinating to see his fear when Sweeney executed him. 

As for dreamcasting, Mrs. Lovett would be incredibly challenging to both cast and play. Yet again, her mannerisms, character choices and drives are so inherently feminine - if done by a man, the character has the potential of changing into either a slimy horny dude or someone like Boq. The femaleness of Mrs Lovett is what makes us root for her even though she's...well, problematic. The best name I can honestly think of is Alan Cumming. Or a Lin-Manuel type. You can't help loving them even if they're playing someone you cannot relate with at all.

[Charley Kringas Inc]

Posted: 8/10/18 at 11:14am

Oh, I've been thinking about a female Sweeney for years, it'd be awesome. An all-woman Sweeney, even! I think it'd be a lot of fun, they're such meaty roles.

[John Adams]

Posted: 8/10/18 at 11:58am

I think that Lin-Manuel Miranda changed the game, and completely reset the bar for when and how substituting "traditional" or expected casting of roles should be undertaken.

The choices he made regarding the roles and musical styles in Hamilton created something so, so incredibly interesting and intelligent; choices that maintained all of the original characters' intents, motivations, goals, relationships, etc., yet produced a recreation of the story that expanded what could be found and explored within the narrative.

Although it's the exact, same narrative, with the exact, same characters and plot, the finished product is something completely new that stands as its own creation, with expanded ideas and perspectives that allow the audience to see, learn and experience something so much MORE.

Held up against that kind of yardstick, the notion of gender-swapping roles in shows like Glenngarry/Glen Ross or an all-female Sweeney Todd don't interest me so much. I just don't think that they could bring that LMM kind of brilliance. [EDIT: I think that's because the purpose behind each of his choices was so incredibly profound.]

For my tastes, I'd be OK with seeing Audra McDonald as Sweeney because I love her work and her talent, but it wouldn't be anything more than a novelty that satisfied my own, personal whim. It wouldn't pass my (personal) "LMM Test".

Updated On: 8/10/18 at 11:58 AM

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 8/10/18 at 12:01pm

Betty Buckley tried for a good long while to get a revival of Sweeney going in which she was to play the title role. Don't know what ever happened to that...

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 8/10/18 at 5:24pm

Betty Buckley is the only woman I would be okay with playing Sweeney Todd.

He's not an everyman character like say, Hamlet, or many other classic characters from which can be played as female or done with other radical reintrepretations. The character is very male, and is a bass-baritone. I think experimenting with the classics is fine, but...please no.

[binau]

Posted: 8/11/18 at 4:15am

Betty Buckley in her prime would have been amazing. But how can she possibly do it today?

[Owen22]

Posted: 8/11/18 at 3:08pm

The Distinctive Baritone said: "Betty Buckley is the only woman I would be okay with playing Sweeney Todd.

He's not an everyman character like say, Hamlet, or many otherclassic characters from which can be played as female or done with other radical reintrepretations. The character is very male, and is a bass-baritone. I think experimenting with the classics is fine, but...please no."

Aren't most of these Hamlets and Lears played by woman still male characters in their productions?

[MarkBearSF]

Posted: 8/11/18 at 3:55pm

Besides having typically "masculine" motivations, if the character is played as a woman, she'd have to be a lesbian for "Pretty Women" to work (also a male Lovett would be difficult in scenes with Toby)

[gleek4114]

Posted: 8/11/18 at 6:22pm

Alice Ripley has been saying she wanted to play Sweeney for years, and honestly, I'd love to see that.

[ladypresent]

Posted: 8/12/18 at 9:17am

what about a male GYPSY!!
or an adult ANNIE!!!!!
Or a kid who plays don quixote in Man of la mancha because he has a child like sensibility!!!!!
Or a female Jekyll and Hyde!!!

Such amazing and innovative ideas!!! Lets take an iconic role and switch it with the exact OPPOSITE!!!! BRILLIANT!!!! OMG!!! That would sell tix and people will think its art!!!

ya'll are sad

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 8/12/18 at 9:25am

Actually, a male Gypsy has been done, albeit in parody; the late, much-missed Barry Dennen once played "Papa Rose" in West Hollywood Gypsy. 

Having pointed that out, if you've got a better idea, maybe share it instead of pissing in everyone else's cornflakes? Seems more productive to me.

[FlySkyHigh]

Posted: 8/12/18 at 12:43pm

ladypresent said: "what about a male GYPSY!!
or an adult ANNIE!!!!!
Or a kid who plays don quixote inMan of la mancha because he has a child like sensibility!!!!!
Or a female Jekyll and Hyde!!!

Such amazing and innovative ideas!!! Lets take an iconic role and switch it with the exact OPPOSITE!!!! BRILLIANT!!!! OMG!!! That would sell tix and people will think its art!!!

ya'll are sad" 

This thread isn’t about innovative theatre ideas. It is about taking a comment from a well known theatre actress and expounding upon it. And while you apparently frown on the idea, switching genders can be brilliant and artul, if it brings a different context or opens people’s eyes to looking at a piece of work in a new light.  

The only poster in this thread that is sad is you for even bothering to take the time to post on a subject that clearly doesn’t interest you in the first place.

 

[ladypresent]

Posted: 8/12/18 at 3:10pm

this isn't an "innovative" theatre idea. Its changing the gender of the lead character. 

Thats not innovative. 

[Sondheimite]

Posted: 8/12/18 at 3:29pm

ladypresent said: "what about a male GYPSY!!
or an adult ANNIE!!!!!
Or a kid who plays don quixote inMan of la mancha because he has a child like sensibility!!!!!
Or a female Jekyll and Hyde!!!

Such amazing and innovative ideas!!! Lets take an iconic role and switch it with the exact OPPOSITE!!!! BRILLIANT!!!! OMG!!! That would sell tix and people will think its art!!!

ya'll are sad"

[Theatrefan2]

Posted: 8/12/18 at 4:14pm

How about Guys and Dolls?  You could get the Chippendale men for the Hot Box Guys.

This is such a stupid thread.  Patting yourselves on the back  with your vision.  Just sounds like theatre snobbery to me.

 

[broadwayboy223]

Posted: 8/12/18 at 4:19pm

Interesting that people seem to be in arms over a female sweeney todd when they did an all male cast a couple years ago..

[FlySkyHigh]

Posted: 8/12/18 at 5:23pm

ladypresent said: "this isn't an "innovative" theatre idea. Its changing the gender of the lead character.

Thats not innovative."

I see reading comprehension isn’t your forte either. Never claimed the idea was innovative and even pointed out that innovation wasn’t  the point of the thread.

[NoName3]

Posted: 8/12/18 at 6:21pm

Nathan Lane IS Mama Rose!

[BroadwayFan12]

Posted: 8/12/18 at 7:25pm

Katrina Lenk

[newintown]

Posted: 8/13/18 at 8:48am

I would like to see a Southeast Asian F to M Trans Handicapable actor as Mame, and zie would descend the Beekman Place stairs during "It's Today" on an Ameriglide Stair Chair.

I mean, as long as we're indulging in idle speculation...

[Charley Kringas Inc]

Posted: 8/13/18 at 4:49pm

ho ho! *slaps knee* what's next? a black sweeney todd! ho ho!! hee hee!!

 

jfc

[KnewItWhenIWasInFron]

Posted: 8/13/18 at 5:36pm

John Adams said: "I think that Lin-Manuel Miranda changed the game, and completely reset the bar for when and how substituting "traditional" or expected casting of roles should be undertaken.

The choices he made regarding the roles and musical styles inHamiltoncreated something so, so incredibly interesting and intelligent; choices that maintained all of the original characters' intents, motivations, goals, relationships, etc., yet produced a recreation of the story that expandedwhat could be found and explored withinthe narrative.

Although it's the exact, same narrative, with the exact, same characters and plot, the finished product is something completely new that stands as its own creation, with expanded ideas and perspectives that allow the audience to see, learn and experience something so much MORE.

Held up against that kind of yardstick, the notion of gender-swapping roles in shows likeGlenngarry/Glen Rossor an all-femaleSweeney Todddon't interest me so much. I just don't think that they could bring that LMM kindof brilliance. [EDIT: I think that's because thepurposebehind each of his choices was so incredibly profound.]

For my tastes, I'd be OK with seeing Audra McDonald as Sweeney because I love her work and her talent, but it wouldn't be anything more than a novelty that satisfied my own, personal whim. It wouldn't pass my (personal) "LMM Test"."

...and yet there has not, to my knowledge, been a woman cast in any of the traditionally male roles in "Hamilton," which surprises me. I thought we'd have seen that by now.