757 replies to this topic

[John_Rebus]

I wouldn't call Carley stunt casting, but the first two Fiona's were IMO (Amanda Holden and Kimberley Walsh).

My favourite Fiona was btw Alice Fearn (u/s), and I think she should have been promoted when Amanda left (or gotten the role in the first place)

[Warmington]

I thought that Dean Chisnall did a wonderful job as Shrek and to be cast from understudy was a great achievement.  It will be interesting to see what he goes on to do now.  I agree with FireFingers the last cast were all very good and definitely lifted the show to another level. IMO Carley Stenson made Fiona real, Kimberley Walsh and Amanda Holden just seemed like Kimberley Walsh and Amanda Holden trying to be Fiona.

[ptwest]

I agree that Carley Stenson is not stunt casting, but generally for a tour this is the route that is chosen. Hopefully, there are enough people out there who can fulfill both criteria -  a "name" to get people in, and then the talent to fulfill the role.

[dannyboyjohnson]

Its... (from best to worst in my opinion)

Carley Stenton
Alice Fearn
Amanda Holden
Kimberley Walsh

As much as I love Kimberley, she was shocking to even be considered a leading lady, she was shocking!!

[Steffi]

mrtheatre123, on 24 February 2013 - 07:00 PM, said:

Anyone at the final show today? Was there speeches or anything? Must say it was a brilliant show and had one of the most talented casts in the west end, a really fantastic ensemble! But think it was time for it to come to an end, over 700 performances is brilliant!

Dean did a lovely speech. He hadn't prepared anything and it was such a nice and warm speech straight from the heart.
The whole show was really emotional. Lots of tears at the end.

[djp]

John_Rebus, on 25 February 2013 - 07:29 AM, said:

I really hope they won't (again) stunt cast Fiona for the tour.

Its a term with no real definition.  Some of the "celebrity names" cast in recent years have been astoundingly good choices. Others have been as good as anyone else would have been .  Others have been OK . Some just fitted the  roles better because the roles were  to play characters just like them.  Some have been weak and unconvincing in multidimensions.  One of the weaknesses of the West End is that its not that  good at picking up and reusing  the  people who have done well,  and it still can cast the ones who shouldn't or can't play the roles. Carley is probably one of the strongest triple threats out there - I would be happy to see anyone anything like as good as her in the tour.

[Titan]

i would say carley was kinda stunt casting as if she hadnt been in hollyoaks im not sure shed have got the part. but certainly not as obvious as amanda holden or kimberley walsh (who was ok when i saw her)

[Matthew Winn]

djp, on 25 February 2013 - 11:12 PM, said:

Its a term with no real definition.

Stunt casting is usually taken to mean casting famous names who'd have had no chance of getting the job had they not been famous. It doesn't apply when someone is both famous and capable of handling the part. (Some people consider it stunt casting when a show casts a famous name they personally dislike, but that's not the same thing.)

[MrTRobz]

Sorry for bumping this as it's quite old but someone on Broadway world has found an amazon link for the DVD being released on October 15th 2013. The link has since been removed but the cache is still up.

http://webcache.goog...1&hl=en&ct=clnk

Anyone think this will be the US tour version instead of the Broadway one? Was the UK one filmed at all?

[wickedlover]

MrTRobz, on 27 April 2013 - 01:56 PM, said:

Sorry for bumping this as it's quite old but someone on Broadway world has found an amazon link for the DVD being released on October 15th 2013. The link has since been removed but the cache is still up.

http://webcache.goog...1&hl=en&ct=clnk

Anyone think this will be the US tour version instead of the Broadway one? Was the UK one filmed at all?

It was apparently supposed to be released on DVD before the Broadway producton closed, as it had already been filmed...clips of it were used for the special sneak peak on the Shrek Forever After DVD.

I really hope this gets a UK release if it is true.