Shot In The Dark: Loudmouth On The Roof

August 08, 2005

Loudmouth On The Roof

When I think of Golde from Fiddler On The Roof, I think of someone who embodies the endless, stoic forbearance of the Jews of Eastern Europe.

Who better to cast for the role on Broadway than the symbol of meso-American self-indulgence?

next month Ms. O'Donnell will step into a role that not only will give her supporters and detractors plenty to talk about, but also surely ranks as one of the boldest bits of replacement casting in Broadway history. Beginning on Sept. 20 at the Minskoff Theater, Ms. O'Donnell, a brassy Irish-American comedian from Long Island, will play Golde, the long-suffering wife and devoted mother in "Fiddler on the Roof," the 1964 classic of life in the shtetl.

That Ms. O'Donnell will play opposite Harvey Fierstein - whose casting as the daughter-laden dairyman Tevye last winter also raised a few eyebrows among musical-theater traditionalists - makes it truly an Only on Broadway moment, where two openly gay and outspoken actors will play husband and wife in a musical all about the breaking of traditions.

Aside: I'm sure that's the first time that's happened on Broadway.

Sheila's reviewing it in advance:

Please, God.
No.

I beg of you.

No.

On the one hand, if I were an actor I'd be bunged at the thought.

But I'm not. And since I'm a connoisseur of forced, almost sarcastic irony, I think the casting is a fine move.

Up next: Justin Timberlake in Schindler's List: The Musical!

Posted by Mitch at August 8, 2005 12:09 PM | TrackBack

Comments

I love Fiddler, but just picturing her in that role almost ruins it for me for good. Luckily, I have no chance (and wouldn't choose to) go...Imagine Tevye singing "....do you love me..." to that face? Aaargh.

Posted by: Colleen at August 8, 2005 12:29 PM

The Odd Couple.

Posted by: Fred at August 8, 2005 12:34 PM

Oy!

Posted by: Chief at August 8, 2005 01:09 PM

"Imagine Tevye singing '....do you love me...' to that face?"

No, imagine _Harvey Fierstein_ singing that to her. Generally, I'm of the opinion that the whole concept of "good bad movies" (and, by extension, plays) makes no sense; there's a reason they're called "bad". This could almost change my mind.

Please tell me there are roles for Paul Reubens and Emo Phillips too.

Posted by: Doug Sundseth at August 8, 2005 02:50 PM

Enh. When I first read the headlines about the show, I assumed that she was going to assume the role of Tevye. Talk about could be worse. As for finger-in-the-eye casting, it *will* be worse, and sooner rather than later. Take the recent innovation of casting a white "Jim" and a black "Huck" in "Big River." For those who find this to be something besides Deeply Wrong-Headed, theatre has become merely a meaningless carrier for preening their own PC superiority, and devil take you if you don't like it. For some oddball reason, the rights-holders for the show were among those who didn't like it, and shut the show down. Good on 'em. At least Rosie's merely another spectacularly untalented actress miscast in a role. Hell, I've done that very same thing (miscast a spectacularly untalented artist in a role.) It's all marketing after that point. More power, and maybe she'll *really* break a leg.

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