16 posts
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Post by simon on Nov 15, 2017 13:33:44 GMT
I recently saw the current UK tour of Blood Brothers - long been one of my favourite musicals. However was really quite shocked when 'Eddie' came on stage. He was being played by someone who looked to be in their 50's! Now I appreciate we shouldn't discriminate, etc, etc but this guy was clearly way too old to play a young adult let alone a teenager or seven year old! I have to say it really ruined this performance for me. Discuss  |
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2,859 posts
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Post by couldileaveyou on Nov 15, 2017 14:43:01 GMT
My favourite theatrical experience was the Old Vic production of King Lear: when Glenda Jackson cast the curse of infertility upon Celia Imrie, the woman behind me whispered "It's too late for that, luv"
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Post by Deleted on Nov 15, 2017 15:17:19 GMT
I know that there's a difference between an actual age and a playing age, and I know that I'd rather see a brilliant performer who's not quite age appropriate than someone who is age appropriate but has all the stagecraft and charisma of a wet paper bag, and I know theatre is all about the suspension of disbelief, but theatre does have to be willing to meet the audience halfway. If you have a 50 year old who clearly has a portrait in the attic because literally no one ever believes they can possibly be 50, then by all means cast them as a 30 year old. But if you've reached the point where the distance between the actor and the character is so great that people are going to be more focused on that than the show, then surely it's time to call it a day.
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923 posts
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Post by Snciole on Nov 15, 2017 16:27:49 GMT
Possibly as part of my long running quarter life crisis but I am convinced my playing age is a LOT younger than my actual age (If I were an actor)
It is distracting but it also sounds hilarious and waiting for the tour to come near me.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 15, 2017 16:32:38 GMT
A couple of years ago I saw Glenn Carter as Jesus in Superstar. He was clearly twice the age of all his disciples. And a good 15-20 years older than JC when he died... Ridiculous casting IMO.
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4,361 posts
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Post by shady23 on Nov 15, 2017 16:51:35 GMT
The roles in Blood Brothers are a difficult one as they play the children but also them as grown ups.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 15, 2017 17:13:21 GMT
They're not that old as adults though, I'd estimate late 20s by the end of the show, maybe early 30s at an absolute push.
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7,189 posts
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Post by Jon on Nov 15, 2017 18:22:44 GMT
I do think some actors need to know when they've aged out of a role, Lea Salonga for example stopped playing Kim when she hit her thirties and some actors can't play teenagers if they look old enough to be a parent of a teenager.
Blood Brothers is guilty for keeping actors who are way too roles for the roles, if the children look older than Mrs Johnston then it just look ridiculous
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7,189 posts
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Post by Jon on Nov 15, 2017 18:29:28 GMT
Welcome to the board simon . Good topic. Weren't a load of "students" from the Broadway Miz sacked, I think, for looking too old after being there from the start of the run? There's credible and not credible indeed. Yeah, Cameron popped in and saw the show was in bad shape with actors basically on autopilot. Broadway doesn't have cast change unlike London so actors can stay on for years. To me, that is what causes a show to become stale and a museum piece if it's not refreshed |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 15, 2017 18:32:19 GMT
I do think some actors need to know when they've aged out of a role, Lea Salonga for example stopped playing Kim when she hit her thirties and some actors can't play teenagers if they look old enough to be a parent of a teenager. Blood Brothers is guilty for keeping actors who are way too roles for the roles, if the children look older than Mrs Johnston then it just look ridiculous Isn’t Lyn Paul the current Mrs Johnstone on the tour of Blood Brothers? She’s 68!!!! If she’s got children looking older than her we’re in trouble!  Tell me it’s not true... |
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19,790 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Nov 15, 2017 18:44:34 GMT
I think it’s high time that they cast females as the twins 🙂
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Post by profquatermass on Nov 15, 2017 18:54:55 GMT
A couple of years ago I saw Glenn Carter as Jesus in Superstar. He was clearly twice the age of all his disciples. And a good 15-20 years older than JC when he died... Ridiculous casting IMO. Well there was that guy who played Jesus at Oberammegau for three consecutive productions. |
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243 posts
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Post by musicallady on Nov 15, 2017 19:41:08 GMT
A couple of years ago I saw Glenn Carter as Jesus in Superstar. He was clearly twice the age of all his disciples. And a good 15-20 years older than JC when he died... Ridiculous casting IMO. Ted Neeley - Jesus in the film version of Superstar- is still touring playing Jesus. |
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2,302 posts
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Post by Tibidabo on Nov 15, 2017 19:54:41 GMT
Gary Waldhorn (David Horton) was actually only 9 years older than James Fleet who played his son, Hugo, in The Vicar of Dibley and they seemed to get away with that.
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2,339 posts
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Post by theglenbucklaird on Nov 15, 2017 20:05:05 GMT
Gary Waldhorn (David Horton) was actually only 9 years older than James Fleet who played his son, Hugo, in The Vicar of Dibley and they seemed to get away with that. Wow I'd have said close on 30 years was the gap. Was that made worse by Hugo being a big kid and David Horton being old before his time? |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 15, 2017 20:07:43 GMT
A couple of years ago I saw Glenn Carter as Jesus in Superstar. He was clearly twice the age of all his disciples. And a good 15-20 years older than JC when he died... Ridiculous casting IMO. Ted Neeley - Jesus in the film version of Superstar- is still touring playing Jesus. Yes, I’d heard about that one too... more of a resurrection really. (  Resurrection?! Not in Superstar surely!) He’s 74... Now that’s what I call a miracle! |
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1,133 posts
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Post by Stephen on Nov 15, 2017 20:13:29 GMT
Glenn Carter was noticeably too old as Jesus in Kenwright's revival of JCS a few years ago.
This was a pity because I'm a big fan of his but I hated this tour. Think there were three musicians in the pit and a lot of click tracks going on!
I also saw the older Eddie a few months ago in Blood Brothers, he was good enough I thought, but looked too old!
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2,302 posts
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Post by Tibidabo on Nov 15, 2017 20:17:09 GMT
Wow I'd have said close on 30 years was the gap. Was that made worse by Hugo being a big kid and David Horton being old before his time? I remember seeing a documentary about the Vicar of Dibley and Richard Curtis said that the actors were very sceptical when they came for the readings. But he insisted that if they presented them as father and son the audience would accept it without question. I have no idea why he was so sure it would work....but there again, he is Richard Curtis!🙇🙇🙇 |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 15, 2017 20:22:06 GMT
Julie Walters. Petula Gordino. Mother (of sorts) of Bren. Our lovely Victoria Wood. dinnerladies
Dame Julie often played Victoria’s mum in her sketches.
And they were all sheer perfection!
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Post by Deleted on Nov 15, 2017 20:52:21 GMT
I don't care (or always notice) if they're good enough. No way did Anna Jane Casey look 17 or whatever Annie was meant to be, but she was fantastic in Annie Get Your Gun last year in Sheffield.
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4,029 posts
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Post by Dawnstar on Nov 15, 2017 21:15:07 GMT
I don't care (or always notice) if they're good enough. No way did Anna Jane Casey look 17 or whatever Annie was meant to be, but she was fantastic in Annie Get Your Gun last year in Sheffield. Admittedly I'm quite short sighted but I thought she managed to look in her 20s onstage, which given she's in her 40s I thought was pretty good going! I suppose I'm used to performers being a lot older than characters because of operagoing. You're never going to get a genuinely 15 year old Madame Butterfly, 15 year old Sophie, 17 year old Octavian, etc. nowadays. |
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Post by bimse on Nov 15, 2017 21:25:09 GMT
Jimmy Krankie.
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2,411 posts
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Post by theatreian on Nov 15, 2017 22:12:40 GMT
Petula Gordino, what a character and what an actress. Dame Julie excels in all her roles. Am laughing just thinking of her as Petula and other Victoria Wood creations.One brilliant line from one of the many sketches: Don't have the gateau. I've just seen her scratching her armpits with the cakeslice
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Post by Deleted on Nov 15, 2017 22:18:53 GMT
And just to link the past couple of posts, I loved Petula wheeling Janette Krankie into the canteen on a supermarket trolley during one of the later episodes of dinnerladies... (Laughing as I type. ) Oh, dear Victoria, if anyone left too soon it was you...  I bet the angels are wetting themselves laughing as they play their harps along to Barry and Frida! |
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256 posts
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Post by grannyjx6 on Nov 15, 2017 22:28:44 GMT
A couple of years ago I saw Glenn Carter as Jesus in Superstar. He was clearly twice the age of all his disciples. And a good 15-20 years older than JC when he died... Ridiculous casting IMO.
Yes, I saw that as well and was really disappointed. Glenn Carter was brilliant playing the part when he was in his 30's (Jesus's age when he died), but at 50+ and looking it it was a big let down. |
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Resurrection?! Not in Superstar surely!)
I bet the angels are wetting themselves laughing as they play their harps along to Barry and Frida! 