Mame

[macksennett]

Barry Mishon has tweeted that he is to produce a charity gala of Jerry Herman's Mame in October. Hope this comes off as I'd love to see Mame on stage. Anyone know anything else?

[BurlyBeaR]

She makes the cotton easy to pick, apparently.

Not to mention her mint juleps.

[alece10]

Mar 19, 2017 21:38:26 GMT BurlyBeaR said:

She makes the cotton easy to pick, apparently.

Not to mention her mint juleps.

And does a nifty trick with corn husks too.

[Deleted]

I hope they get some great names for the leads. Mame is a hard role to cast, for the personality, comedy and singing chops.
As it a concert version, i'd love to see Kathryn Evans do it, despite being a little older than the character should be.

[showtoones]

I hear that she put Dixie back in Dixieland...

[ali973]

Funny you should say this, I was just thinking of whipping out the cast recording now that Hello, Dolly is all the rage. And was thinking that it could be a great vehicle for Catherine Zeta Jones as a comeback.

[Deleted]

CZJ is soooo wrong and frankly not up to it. She should be madcap and vivacious. Mame needs a star who can deliver.

[Deleted]

Ruthie. Henshall.

'nuff said.

[ali973]

Mar 20, 2017 9:40:38 GMT @sistermaryann said:

CZJ is soooo wrong and frankly not up to it. She should be madcap and vivacious. Mame needs a star who can deliver.

You might be right, but it could be an interesting project if she wants to challenge herself. I saw her in A Little Night Music and thought she did well. She certainly has the glam to pull off Mame. 

I think just like Dolly, this will require an international star/superstar. Ruthie is fab, but she's only known to theatre goers mostly. Plus, unless this is done at someplace like the Curve, I doubt it'll ever grace the West End stage before Broadway. 

[Deleted]

Mar 20, 2017 9:43:06 GMT @ryan said:

Ruthie. Henshall.

'nuff said.

Nooooo! Please don't let that nasal voice anywhere near this.

[Deleted]

Millie Martin!

[Deleted]

Mar 20, 2017 10:23:20 GMT @reeceyroo said:

Millie Martin!

She would have been fab about 30 years ago! I wonder if she ever played the role?

She's not a name but Samantha Spiro would be good. Because it's a gala they've got to get big names for it.

Michael Xavier would be a good Patrick.

[Deleted]

You've sold it to me, I demand Sam Spiro right now!!!!

[Deleted]

Will probably end up being another Sheridan Smith vehicle

[barrowside]

Tracey Ullman would be great - with maybe Samantha Spiro as Vera.

[Someone in a tree]

Mar 20, 2017 12:32:09 GMT barrowside said:

Tracey Ullman would be great - with maybe Samantha Spiro as Vera.

Love

[carmella1]

You need glamorous and charasmatic for Mame. Patrick is a very minor role unless its the Young Patrick. I do not see all the fuss about Sheridan she was fine in Funny Girl but to me not memorable. However I could see Natasha Barnes as Agnes Gooch. Orfeh could be either Mame or Vera. Peter Davison as Beau.

[orchestrator]

Mar 20, 2017 12:32:09 GMT barrowside said:

Tracey Ullman would be great - with maybe Samantha Spiro as Vera.

Is Samantha a bass? I thought she was only a baritone.

[Deleted]

If it's a one off gala performance, Patti luPone would be good?

Sally Ann Triplett? So good in Anything Goes. She definitely has the personality for it.

[SageStageMgr]

Listened to this show, as my ex was a huge Lansbury mark.

I've got to say, to me - and I'm sure to people who LOATHE musicals - it's the definition of the dated "Broadway" musical, with campy chorus boys, bizarre accents and an afterthought of a book. I remember a hilarious bit where the young lad is singing a high tenor as a child, then the voice suddenly switches to a comically deep adult bass-baritone to signify years passing.

Also, there's a bit where someone falls off a cliff and dies.

Actually, the more I think about it the more I like it.

[couldileaveyou]

I randomly remembered of this today, shame it didn't happen, it's such a lovely score

[tonyloco]

I saw the original West End production back in 1969 starring Ginger Rogers. Of course it was great to see the legendary Ms Rogers live on stage but, as far as I recall, it was a somewhat muted performance and for my money she was very much eclipsed when the wonderful Juliet Prowse took over. Prowse had already wowed London in Sweet Charity and brought rather more energy to the part of Mame than Rogers had done. Curiously, Ginger smothered her cheeks in Vaseline so that they glowed, and this can be seen online in a newsreel clip from the opening night at Drury Lane. I suppose Sheridan Smith is the most obvious person at the moment to play Mame with Samantha Spiro as Vera or possibly as Miss Gooch, but I don't have any strong views on the casting.

[ali973]

Funny you mentioned Juliet Prowse, I was just listening to an audio of her as Mame in a regional production in the US at the Pasadena Playhouse.
Julia McKenzie did a BBC concert, and she sounds fabulous.

I'd rather see a real star tackle this. Might be a good vehicle for Catherine Zeta Jones.

It will require some serious revisions if they'd do it again. The confederate references are jarring.

[julian]

This has been revived and is on in Northampton at the moment

[Dr Tom]

Jan 7, 2020 21:29:25 GMT julian said:

This has been revived and is on in Northampton at the moment

The discussion about the current touring production is here:
theatreboard.co.uk/thread/5771/mame-manchester