Sunday, April 22, 2012

Smash has it

smash-musical

The search for a star to play Marilyn Monroe in ‘Marilyn, The Musical’ in Spielberg's 'Smash' continues next Saturday at 10 on Sky Atlantic. Last night's opener was fun. I thought the exposition was a tad too slow for me, but it worked.

debra-messingGreat fun to see Angelica Huston (Eileen Rand) again trying to stay relevant in the show. I always find Debra Messing mesmerising. She plays Julia Houston, the consummate theatre writer trying to balance writing the musical with the pressures of trying to adopt a baby. She is so very beautiful and easy on the eyes. Always.

For the two ladies who are vying to play Marilyn, I have no idea at all why Katharine McPhee was cast as Karen Cartwright in the first place. She looks nothing remotely like Marilyn and does not sound at all like her. I hope she does not get the role. She will dilute the sex of Marilyn Monroe. I much prefer Ivy Lynn (Megan Hilty) because though her facial features are much too hard for Marilyn, she has the curves and her voice is closer to Marilyn’s.

Kudos to writers Theresa Rebeck, Scott Burkhardt and Garson Kanin. Michael Mayer directs.

Let’s watch and see.

- Nnorom Azuonye

1 comment:

  1. Anonymous8:34 PM

    I disagree with your opinion in regards to Katharine McPhee for Karen Cartwright (that's why it's called an opinion, I suppose). Although you are dead-on about Katharine's physical appearance being nothing like Marilyn's (she's too thin, no curves), her voice is much closer to Marilyn's than Megan Hilty's. You are right in the sense that Megan Hilty does have more of a resemblance to Marilyn's curve-appeal, however her facial features are just not soft enough to truly portray Marilyn appropriate. But, there is only one Marilyn, no one can compare.

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