| re: Will 'Merrily' tour? | |
| Posted by: Chazwaza 12:50 am EDT 06/19/24 | |
| In reply to: re: Will 'Merrily' tour? - JereNYC 09:31 am EDT 06/18/24 | |
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| He's a beloved theater star now, a hard working member of the community, and his name has been able to do bring in sales and make things happen, no doubt. But I think you've got a misinterpretation of events and of his power. This revival was going to happen at an off-bway non-profit top tier theater with or without Radcliffe, there's no question. Just because he got attached as the primary get and was given the chance to approve the other stars doesn't mean it *happened* because of it or that it would not have happened without him. Surely they were looking for a name actor for his role, and I think they'd have found one even if it wasn't him. And especially with Groff, whoever it was, it was going to be a powerful combo to sell the show with. This production was a hit in London (despite how atrocious I felt it was on film), it had Sondheim's enthusiastic approval, directed by his long time london star and friend, *whose sister is one of the most powerful theater producers in London and Broadway*... I don't remember one way or the other if How to Succeed happened specifically because Radcliffe wanted to do it and pitched it to producers or Rob Ashford or what. But it's funny you say that because while his name and fanbase helped it run for that first 10 months of its 15 month run... I think if they'd been able to get a bigger name and/or someone who'd have gotten rave reviews and a Tony nom or win, it would have done even better. While Norbert is a favorite and Broadway wanted to give him his Tony, it was not a foregone conclusion he was going to get it for a mediocre show that critics were cool on and wasn't a hit. A more successfully matched actor in the Finch role might have secured a nom and taken it through to a win. Hard to say. But if I were a producer I'm not sure I'd look at his un-nominated 10 month run 11 years ago, when he was even more famous and in the spotlight and when 60s style was very hot from Mad Men, as him being a sure fire powerful mountain-moving box office theater star. Now, a year run for an old fashioned revival is really good! But, it's not quite Hugh Jackman territory in terms of ticket prices or profits. I also absolutely have zero doubt that Equus would have found another hot young famous actor to cut his teeth in that incredible role if not Radcliffe. And I also have zero doubt that the incredibly famous and popular McDonagh would have gotten his play Cripple of Inishmaan to broadway, if not him then Grandage, commercially or at one of the non-profits with a Broadway house I'm sure would have picked it up ... and I'm sure there are several notable young actors who'd have done it. It's possible another star might have gotten a nomination, probably not (it's a very good role -- it was hard to compete with some of the roles that year, but I could see someone else getting the slot that Tony Shalhoub got, or perhaps Chris O'Dowd). Clearly the production and his performance were well regarded, Grandage even got a Directing nom for it even if Radcliffe didn't get nominated, and I don't think you get a direction nom if the lead performance isn't good. Lifespan of a Fact had a bunch of known actors but was at Roundabout for a scheduled run, it was not a known title or beloved classic show, not by a hot popular playwright with a play that was known but never produced on Broadway before... and I don't know how it sold for them, but it ran for under 4 months including previews. It may sound like I'm just ragging on Radcliffe. I love him. He's a fine actor, and he has grown and grown as he's evolved out of Harry Potter, and his passion and commitment to doing theater, sometimes in better matched roles than others, has been fantastic to see. But I am not as wildly impressive as some with each of his broadway performances (especially in H2S, for which I mostly blame the director). |
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| Previous: | re: Will 'Merrily' tour? - JereNYC 09:31 am EDT 06/18/24 |
| Next: | re: Will 'Merrily' tour? - WaymanWong 11:09 am EDT 06/19/24 |
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