Nothing else I’ve proposed has cost me my posting privileges. Let’s see if this idea will. Here is my proposal for this particular exchange:
1. Propose a casting choice. You may choose anyone you like to play any role you like. TV, film, and stage are all acceptable. Players may include folks in this group, famous folk of any sort, or perhaps someone none of us knows (this last may make part two of the assignment more involved).
2. Explain yourself. You may make the choice you do for any reason you like. Perhaps your casting will result in the best portrayal the character has ever realized. Perhaps you would like to see the interpretation they bring. Perhaps the choice would radically redefine not only the role but the play/movie/tv show entirely. Perhaps you the only purpose would be for you to savor the irony of the choice. Regardless of your reasoning, provide some insight to the rest of us regarding your motivation. As I mentioned above, if the rest of us don’t know the individual, you may have to work a bit harder at this part.
Role: The Dad in Proof
Media: Stage Play
Actor: Dale Lyles
Reason: The father role in this play is a fellow that is brilliant, but has unfortunately fallen over the other side of genius into insanity. The way I’ve seen it played, I might use the word “glib” to describe the dad during his lucid moments. Dale is the right age for the piece and is as capable as any of playing glib. As an aside, I think Marc could also play this one quite nicely. It would be fun to watch either of them explore the role.
Role: Rowdy Burns in Days of Thunder
Media: Hollywood Blockbuster
Actor: Dale Lyles
Reason: If he thinks he’s such a good actor, let’s see him pull of the role of a redneck NASCAR driver. You’ve got to admit, it would be fun to watch. Talk about casting counter to type…
Role: The Girl in Levitation of the Gathering
Media: stage play
Actor: Nan Newman
Reason: This monologue, written by Marc, has never had an adequate performance, and what we’ve seen of Nan’s quiet intensity suggests to me that she would be fascinating in it. I may dig this out for us to look at.
In fact, he said quite excitedly, this would be a killer addition to our Telling the Truth evening.
Since no one else is going to put anything on here, I will. Dale and I were discussing at Grayson’s graduation party book characters that Dakota Fanning would be perfect for. I thought of another one.
Role: Ruby Lavender in “Love, Ruby Lavender” by Deborah Wiles
Media: Probably would be best done as a movie
Actor: Dakota Fanning
Reason: For those of you who haven’t read the book, it is about a young girl going into 4th grade who has a VERY close relationship with her grandmother and has just recently lost her grandfather. Her grandmother goes off to Hawaii and leaves Ruby alone for the whole summer. Ruby sees it more as abandonment. Anyways, Ruby is a very high energy emotional child. The kind of part that Dakota is great in. I think that Dakota could bring Ruby to life and make the world fall in love with the nine-yera-old from Halleluia, Mississippi (Population: 400 Good Friendly Folks And A Few Old Soreheads).
If you want to know more about this fabulous story, check this out: http://www.deborahwiles.com/ruby.htm
Role: Cohen in The Underpants
Media: Play
Actor: Jeff Allen
Reason: Jeff would enjoy a bit of scenery mastication in this role with it’s share of slapstick and word play. Did I say Cohen? I meant Kohn with an “K”.
Role: Garcin
Media: Stage play
Actor: Me
Reason: I was observing a Comm Arts class here at GHP reading the play in an existentialism class, and I rediscovered the cruel beauty of the play. I’ve never played such a strong and loathsome character and would like the challenge.