Brian Stokes Mitchell as Fagin in Oliver! - WTF????

[Musicaldudepeter]

This is beyond the worst casting decision ever made. Who the hell said 'This would be a great idea'... This is worse than casting Ellen DeGeneres as Fantine.

[Jay Lerner-Z]

What's so objectionable? The man can sing, and act - he can fit the role, the role doesn't have to fit him.

[Musicaldudepeter]

He doesn't fit the role, I'm sorry - no one can deny this

[Justin D]

I know right, that's why it's called acting

[LALALand]

Isn't this a concert? Why all the vitriol? He can certainly sing it.

[Musicaldudepeter]

SING WHAT? Fagin has Pick a Pocket, a bit of I'd do Anything and Reviewing the Situation which is a comedic number not a ****ing aria!!! It's like saying Brian Stokes Mitchell is going to play Henry Higgins [albeit in the ORIGINAL Rex Harrison-style]

[egghumor]

Good lord! Brian Stokes Mitchell is one, great talented man! As other have already pointed out, it's a concert version for G's sake, and even if it weren't, Fagin must possess a high level of charm which Mr. Mitchell has in abundance.

I'm truly surprised by the OP's reaction. Would LOVE to hear Melissa Errico sing those songs as well!

[Patash]

Since when can't BSM do comedy? I think he does it very well. When does a concert version require physical attributes to be particularly appropriate for a role -- I guess that's what you're talking about, because he certainly has enough acting and singing talents to do the role. Why not spend your time complaining about Meryl Streep and Kevin Kline doing a reading of Romeo and Juliet if you want to talk about miscasting? (Another thing I'd love to see).

[tazber]

I think it's genius. It's not even as big a stretch as Nathan Lane doing Iceman.

I'm sure he's going to be incredible.

[Gaveston2]

I'm very confused here. Unless the OP is talking about Mitchell's race, I don't understand the outrage.

And if the OP IS talking about Mitchell's race, who's to say it's wrong? In addition to being a nasty Jewish stereotype (which we politely overlook nowadays), why can't Fagin be the same racial mix as Mitchell? There were people of African descent in London long before Dickens' time.

[Jon]

Half the folks who saw BSM in Kiss Me Kate and Man of La Mancha had no idea he was African-American.

[Oldschool]

Stokes has pipes to spare, but act? No, I'm afraid he needs directions out of that paper bag.

[Gaveston2]

Stokes has pipes to spare, but act? No, I'm afraid he needs directions out of that paper bag.

He was no slouch in RAGTIME.

[dramamama611]

Might not be the name that would spring to my mind, but I like the idea.

[CATSNYrevival]

He is an actor. He's played several movie and television roles that required no singing at all and no one complained then. This role doesn't necessarily require a singer as strong as Mitchell, but it certainly isn't going to hurt anyone to hear the role actually sung for a change. What's the big deal?

[PalJoey]

Great casting. Looking forward to seeing it.

OP--STFU. OKTHXBYE.

[Leadingplayer]

Where?

[jimmycurry01]

Is the OP just trolling here, or what?

[Oldschool]

"He was no slouch in RAGTIME."

And yet he was well out gunned by Mary Elizabeth Mastriantonio in Man of La Mancha.

[Reginald Tresilian]

^ Not when I saw it. She was too busy trying to get through a score she couldn't really sing to do much in the way of acting (and I'm an admirer of hers, generally).

I think he's a fine choice, though as others have said, he wouldn't be my first.

[wonkit]

Wow - this board has been taken over lately by people who post unsupported emotional reactions to every production and casting choice. I don't see anything wrong with BSM as Fagin. Now if it was Ellen DeGeneres as Fagin, I can see the outrage.

[madbrian]

I have no problem with BSM as Fagin, but I would have cast him as Bill Sykes.

[wonkit]

Does Sykes have any singing? I can't recall.

[madbrian]

Sykes only has one number, My Name, which was not used in the movie. He's also in the reprise of A Fine Life. So, it's clearly a much smaller singing role, but I think it's well suited to him. That said, I'll reiterate what I said earlier that he'll be fine as Fagin.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Barbour in a show with minors?
I'm outraged!

[Jon]

Too bad Cristin Miliotti isn't available to play Bet.