Comments | barrowmanfans: hypothetical ADWD discussion

burntcopper in barrowmanfans

hypothetical ADWD discussion

May 23, 2007 14:24

This is one for the people who're a bit addicted to ADWD (thus knowing how it works and what tends to win good comments/votes) and also for the people who'd seen John on stage back when he was in his twenties ( Read more... )

discussion: joseph, discussion: john's career

Comments 18

kingbantam May 23 2007, 14:27:40 UTC

Quite frankly I doubt if he would have got the part with Elaine Paige in Anything Goes in 1989 if he didn't have what it took to "kick the butts" of the lot of them in ADWD, including looks wise (bear in mind it was the 80s/early 90s) - and I do include Lee in that even though he's great.

From what I saw of him in the West End in the 9Os that's my opinion for what its worth.

phoebesmum May 23 2007, 14:46:21 UTC

Depends whether ALW liked him.

... I'm sorry, was that overly-cynical?

(In the light of last week's developments ... no, no, it wasn't.)

joesther May 23 2007, 15:02:01 UTC

The fangirl in me says he would have obviously won, and how dare you ask that question, and don't you have any faith in our Johnny boy ( ... )

kingbantam May 23 2007, 16:21:15 UTC

He came to the UK to learn - albeit Shakespere and ended up being cast in Anything Goes. I think he would have had little trouble with the learning part, or the work ethic, drive and any other factors. Believe me, Elaine Paige would not have had him as a leading man at 22/23 if he hadn't been able to adapt and learn. He would have done well.

joesther May 23 2007, 16:28:54 UTC

Yeah, that makes perfect sense. I don't know a lot about John's professional history prior to DW, so when I found out that he was not only a singer, but a West End/Broadway caliber performer, I literally squeed (not kidding). I am a Broadway fanatic, and for him to be in those kinds of roles makes my heart go pitter-pat. I'd love to see him on stage, in Leading Man mode.

But back to your points, you're probably right. People mature at different rates, and obviously he had enough of the work ethic, the humility, etc back then, even at the younger age, to make it work. To tell the truth, I don't think he's too old to play Joseph today. I would definitely "buy" him in that role, particularly for the second half of the show.

kingbantam May 23 2007, 16:32:23 UTC

Believe me, he is well worth seeing in a *proper* musical theatre role and I for one really really hope it won't be too long before we see him back on tha stage in something other than cabaret or panto.

Thread 12

eandh99 May 23 2007, 17:20:11 UTC

He won the role of Billy in the 89 Anything Goes from a open cattle-call audition -- one chance, really, to impress the producers and stand out from hundreds of others. In a way that's more impressive than ADWD. He's had a 16-year West End career, from Anthing Goes to A Few Good Men, and he still wants to work there again, he said so on Jonathan Ross. So hopefully TV will give him some time off. So far he's not scheduled for another panto that I know of (the Cardiff one is already being publicized and Kai Owen who plays Rhys on Torchwood is in it), cross our fingers.

raisededge May 24 2007, 02:05:15 UTC

It's hard to really say as we don't have much access to his work then. As others have said, the fact Elaine Paige picked him from open auditions says something about his talent/it factor. Maybe ALW wouldn't like his American accent for Joseph. lol ( ... )

kingbantam May 26 2007, 06:55:56 UTC

ALW didn't seem to mind Danny's American accent or Jason's Australian one so I doubt that would be an issue.

By the way, you say we don't have much access to his older stuff those "OAPs" (*LOL*) amongst us did see him in the early days and he would have would have been strong competition - but since he had already done Anything Goes at 22/23 I doubt he would have entered quite frankly. He didn't need to he was already a leading man. Maybe 5 years previously he would have entered and that's anyone's guess what he was like then.