Monday, November 2, 2009

Leading Ladies

Just watched the latest American Theatre Wing's Working In The Theatre (which I get on my ipod- they alternate between the new episodes and ones from years past- they're often amazing). This one was Leading Ladies and featured Alice Ripley, Bebe Neuwirth, Beth Leavel and Laura Benanti. It's quite enjoyable.

One thing Bebe was saying was that, as a female performer who is both funny and sexy, she almost never plays a lead romantic interest. I've been trying to think of roles where that is not the case (Beth Level points out in the episode that she herself, just stepped into Mamma Mia!, has a rare one, with three men competing for her attentions).
I came up with:
* Sweeney Todd. Maybe not the best example, and maybe sexy is not the point- and it's really only because of the perspective flip of the story: the ingenues are the B-story there.
* Born Yesterday. Not a musical, of course, but that sort of screwball comedy does lend itself to wise-cracking dames in the lead.
* The Sisters Rosensweig. Also not a musical, but was Wendy Wasserstein's plan to consciously write an adult funny woman and a man who falls in love with her at first sight.
* Mame. Although her type would more likely be cast as Vera.

It's pretty clear Bebe has a point. Any other suggestions?

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