[Canadian Drama Geek]

So I just got cast as Anthony Hope in Sweeney Todd. The range of the songs is not a problem- I've got a really deep voice that's served me well in similar situations.

I just want to know if anybody has any tips for me, especially on acting like a man. I don't yet know the things that girls always screw up when playing guys, so if I were to have advice on that front, it would really be helpful.

It would especially be useful if I could get some advice from former Anthonies on the character. What have you done with Anthony so he wouldn't seem like such a pansy (he's a sailor for God's sake! Why so girly?)? What was your relationship with Johanna? What did you try that hasn't worked and that I should probably avoid?

Throw anything at me. I'm listening.

[Jester-Jester Johnson]

It's not your fault, but a girl playing Anthony is a terrible idea.

[Canadian Drama Geek]

I'm probably pretty aware of that already. Which is why the pressure is on me not to cock it up. Help, pretty please?

[Yakko]

Don't watch Jamie from the movie version....and Cris as well.....

[dolbinau]

[Canadian Drama Geek]

[sylvesterm11]

...Seriously?

How's 'Kiss Me' going to work?

[Mistress]

Be nice...she's looking for advice, not complaints. And Kiss Me will work just like it always does. She's still playing a guy, it's not going to be the end of the world if two girls (and one in drag) have to kiss

DramaGeek, I'm going against what someone else said and tell you watch Cris from the Lansbury/Hearn movie. And also check out Davis Gaines from the Hearn/LuPone concert-he's pretty manly, but not dumb or overly niave ...

[WickedToo]

Good luck with playing Anthony! I do agree that it was a horrible choice on the director's part to cast a girl as Anthony but we all just have to get over that fact.
I would recommend that you be very masculine. Check out the Anthony from the Original Broadway Cast on YouTube. Good luck and let us know how everything goes.

[Mistress]

You mean Victor Garber Yes he is very manly too.

[Canadian Drama Geek]

Thanks everyone, for your two cents. I'll be sure to check out Victor Garber (I heard he played the role, but I actually haven't seen him yet on the Tube), and I may as well check Cris out anyhow, even if people seem to be of two minds about him.

And believe me, nobody was more confused than me when I got the part. The situation is my drama club is doing it, and (as most drama clubs tend to be) we're mostly girls. We've only got two boys whose voices have actually broken, so they were pretty much written up for Sweeney and the Judge already. I was open to breeching again, but I was thinking more along the lines of Toby or even Pirelli. I suppose Anthony's role is actually too difficult for a guy with a prepubescent voice.

EDIT- On a completely unrelated note, Sylvesterm, I see from your signature that you're doing Kate Murphy in Titanic! One of my personal favourite musicals. How's it working for you?

[looney-lovegood]

Good luck, DramaGeek! I would give you some advice, but I don't know anything about acting, so I doubt I would be able to come up with any good advice. You'll be great, though!

I would kill to be able to act/be in this show.

[ActingDude17]

I just want to commend you for making the genuine effort to convincingly portray a guy. So many cross-gender cast actors don't. I usually have serious problems with cross-gender casting (and if I was a director I would never do it myself), but when someone like you actually tries to be a guy, it lets me have more faith.

[Canadian Drama Geek]

Thanks Acting Dude, WickedToo. I figured that if I'm going to do this, I might as well try to do it right.

Not to mention that there are people directing who I want to impress... Does anyone ever get that feeling?

[Orestes Fasting]

Random advice on how to pass better as a guy onstage:

Go look up Takarazuka on YouTube--it's an all-female Japanese theatre troupe that has women in male parts. Take note of what works and especially of what doesn't work.

Put some effort into learning how to walk like a guy, and how to project that. Slightly wider stance, different center of gravity, don't walk from the hips. It sounds stupid, but shoving a rolled-up sock in your briefs and walking around will make you instinctively understand some of the differences.

Tucking your hair up under a cap will make you look like a girl with her hair tucked up under a cap. If a wig is seriously not a possibility, at least talk to the costume department about some sideburns or something.

[Canadian Drama Geek]

Thanks for the advice, Orestes Fasting. I might sound like a stalker when I say this, but I do so love your Les Mis fanfiction...

I've never even considered the reality about males having different centres of gravity from females! I'll be sure to incorporate that into my other effort.

As it turns out, my hair is not a problem. I've been wearing it short for six years now, ever since I did Peter Pan in elementary school.

[idTAPthat89]

Ugh I really HATE the idea of a female Anthony, but I wish you the best of luck!

[sopranodespair]

I will just say:
Why would a drama club do Sweeney Todd if they knew they didn't have enough guys in the first place?
Gah.
Anyway, I do wish you luck. On the bright side, you can look at this as a challenge, and it could help you grow as a performer.

[Canadian Drama Geek]

I'm guessing that the decision to do Sweeney Todd was largely due to the movie from last year... But yeah, it was a realy silly idea to do it.

Not that I'm complaining. The fact remains that this is easily the biggest role I've managed to snag since I really got into theatre. Life's nuts, isn't it?

[Jekkienumber24601]

I agree with earlier posts. If you wanna appear to be a man don't watch the Anthony from the movie...he needs the same lessons

[Canadian Drama Geek]

Movie Anthony makes me laugh so hard.

Me and my friends always thought the movie Anthony looked like the daughter of Keira Knightley and Hillary Swank, so we called him Killary Swankley.

So yeah... I'm avoiding his example.

[lovesinging]

[Monsieur D'Arque]

I can see this working in a way- it's a "breeches role," like so many Victorian era penny-dreadful theaters used. Just think of Edwin Drood.

[ActingDude17]