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Who shouldn’t be Kenny Leon’s Maggie?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
“Please, dear God, do not let Diddy play Brick.”
That’s the first thing we thought when we heard Kenny Leon is planning a new production of “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” with an African-American cast.
After all, the Atlanta director is known for putting Sean “Diddy” Combs in the role of Walter Lee Younger in his Broadway revival of “Raisin in the Sun.”
So as speculation begins on who will play the famous Tennessee Williams characters of Brick and Maggie, immortalized on film by Paul Newman and Elizabeth Taylor, we felt it important to weigh in on who should not be in the cast. In the play, the sexually frustrated Maggie rages at her alcoholic husband, Brick, to screw up his manliness — lest he lose Big Daddy’s plantation.
So hear us out. Then you be the judge.
Maggie the Cat. Oprah Winfrey should definitely not play the impetuous hell-cat created by Barbara Bel Geddes on Broadway. But she could play Big Mama. Four-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald has a good chance in the role most recently handed to Ashley Judd on Broadway. Then there are “Dreamgirls” Beyoncé Knowles and Jennifer Hudson, Oscar winner Halle Berry and Sanaa Lathan, another Leon favorite from “Raisin.”
Brick. Ru Paul should not play the part originated by Ben Gazzara — though he could do Maggie. Combs is a no-no, but his white duds would work on Jeffrey Wright (“Angels in America”), Taye Diggs (“Rent”) or the sexy Derek Luke or Anthony Mackie. Could Jamie Foxx do it? Denzel?
Big Mama. Phylicia Rashad should not play Big Mama. Or should she? Her Mama Lena won her a Tony Award for “Raisin,” and after that, she played the 287-year-old Aunt Ester in Leon’s production of August Wilson’s “Gem of the Ocean.” Anyway, Ruby Dee is just too frail — though Atlanta’s Andrea Frye or Chandra Currelley would be terrific. Or Oprah.
Big Daddy. Gary Coleman should not play Big Daddy. But James Earl Jones might be just right. Or Danny Glover. Or possibly Leon cronies Bill Nunn or Samuel L. Jackson.
YOU DECIDE Who would you pick to play Maggie? A: Audra McDonald. B: Beyoncé Knowles. C: Halle Berry. D: Sanaa Lathan. Who would you pick to play Brick? A: Denzel Washington. B: Jeffrey Wright. C: Jamie Foxx. D: Taye Diggs. Who would you pick to play Big Mama? A: Phylicia Rashad. B: Ruby Dee. C: Oprah Winfrey. D: Lisa Gay Hamilton. Who would you pick to play Big Daddy? A: James Earl Jones. B: Danny Glover. C: Sidney Poitier. D: Samuel L. Jackson.
Comments
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By j b warthen
January 5, 2007 11:16 PM | Link to this
Halle Berry can do hunger. Would opt for Taye Diggs for the magnetism, J. Wright for the craft. Danny Glover hasn’t had a great role in years, and we need reminding how good he is (although any actor who muffs Act III is in the wrong line of work), but if he can’t do it, draft Delroy Lindo— a star actor usually playing character roles. Rashad is a selfless artist which Mama requires. That’s a hell of a cast.
By Mika
January 6, 2007 6:10 AM | Link to this
umm…who cares
By Lady Bootzee
January 6, 2007 6:35 PM | Link to this
Terrence Dashon Howard should play Brick, and Rosie Perez should play Maggie, and I should play Big Mama. Jeffrey Wright can play Goober, and Macy Gray would play his wife Mae.
By Scuzzy
January 8, 2007 9:07 AM | Link to this
Who cares! People who idolize slimey entertainment figures are shallow minded losers!
By Kay
January 8, 2007 10:20 AM | Link to this
Why does it have to be a film actor or musician?! There are hundreds of talented stage actors who could do an amazing job AND get the exposure that this production is bound to receive, regardless of the cast. Put a stop to stunt casting!!!
By BPJ
January 11, 2007 2:17 PM | Link to this
Maggie: Audra McDonald Brick: Jeffrey Wright, Jamie Foxx, or….Kenny Leon! Big Mama:Chandra Currelly, or Phylicia Rashad Big Daddy: A role James Earl Jones was born to play….otherwise Bill Nunn.
By EC
January 14, 2007 6:25 PM | Link to this
Brick: Denzel Washington Maggie: Halle Berry or Angela Bassett Big Mamma: Ruby Dee or Patty LaBelle Big Daddy: James Earl Jones or Sidney Poitier
By steve warren
January 15, 2007 1:46 AM | Link to this
You’re not likely to get Denzel or Oprah to take a vow of temporary poverty to do stage work. Halle might do it to prove Monster’s Ball was no fluke. Jeffrey Wright would be awesome as Brick, James Earl Jones is Big Daddy and Ruby Dee - or Lena Horne, if she’s up to it - would be ideal as Big Mama.