DARK SHADOWS FORUMS
Members' Mausoleum => Games => Topic started by: Lydia on June 27, 2010, 12:38:25 PM
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I could have made this a Current Talk topic, but I thought it might be more fun to make it a game.
Take an actor on Dark Shadows, and imagine him or her in a different, already existing Dark Shadows role. The next game player takes the actor who actually did play that already existing role, and imagines him or her in another already existing Dark Shadows role. And so on.
There are no age, gender, or availability requirements. Denise Nickerson is allowed to play Amadeus Collins, and Kate Jackson is allowed to play Leviathan Alexander. Also, if a given role has been suggested for one actor, it can be suggested later on for another actor.
Example: Robert Gerringer played the beloved Dr. Woodard for most of that character's run, but I would have liked to see him playing the not-so-beloved Jason McGuire. Jason McGuire was played by Dennis Patrick. In what other role would it have been fun to see Dennis Patrick?
The next step is: I would have liked to see Dennis Patrick playing Grandmama Edith in 1897. Grandmama Edith was played by Isabella Hoopes. In what other role would it have been fun to see Isabella Hoopes?
Who wants to re-cast Isabella?
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I would have liked to see Dennis Patrick playing Grandmama Edith in 1897.
That would have been wild!! [stfl]
Who wants to re-cast Isabella?
How about taking her to the other extreme by having her play Sarah Collins. [ghost_wink] Sarah was played by Sharon Smyth (who I actually miss at the Fests - but I digress...).
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Let's give Sharon Smyth a change of tune and have her play Pansy Faye.
Pansy Faye was played by Kay Frye. What other character would have suited Kay Frye?
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How about having Kay Frye play Elizabeth Collins Stoddard? Carolyn would sure have turned out different, and I can imagine how Roger would have felt about that!
So that leaves Joan Bennett. What other character could she play?
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After thinking deeply about what character Joan Bennett might enjoy playing, I came up with old Ezra Braithwaite.
Old Ezra was played by not-so-old Abe Vigoda. What other role could Vigoda have played?
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Abe Vigoda could have played... Judah Zachary! [stfl]
Judah Zachary was played by... Michael McGuire. What other role could Michael McGuire have played?
----- Sally -----
[snow_bigglass] [hippy2]
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Michael Maguire could have played a rough and tumble Roger Collins.
(okay, not sure If I am supposed to scramble Louis Edmonds?)
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(I'm happily imagining Louis Edmonds putting on his best parallel time Roger smirk at the thought of being scrambled. But I'll leave the pleasure of scrambling him to somebody else.)
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I'd like to see Louis Edmonds play RT Willie Loomis. Different, but fun to watch!
So that leaves Johnny Karlen....
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I think John Karlen would have loved playing Jeb Hawkes! That also would have been fun to watch! [ghost_cheesy]
Of course, Chris Pennock played Jeb, so he's next. What role could he play?
----- Sally -----
[snow_bigglass] [hippy2]
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I want to see Chris Pennock playing Countess Natalie Dupres. I want to see him insulting Joshua right and left, and I want to see him wearing those weird get-ups that Natalie wore. And I want to see him crying at Josette's grave.
Calling all Grayson Hall worshippers! What other role would you like to have seen her playing?
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I want to see Grayson playing Hallie Stokes!
[a2a3]
But think about it: given Grayson's flair for the dramatic, she could have been brilliant in the role. [wink2]
Kathy Cody played Hallie/Carrie/PTCarrie Stokes. What other character might she have played?
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I'd like to see Kathy Cody playing Victoria Winters – but which Victoria Winters? Alexandra Moltke, Betsy Durkin, or Carolyn Groves?
OK, I'll make it easy on you people: Alexandra Moltke. Now, whom else could Moltke have played?
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Alexandra Moltke could be Charity/Pansy (with the emphasis on Pansy) : can you picture her singing about not understanding?
how about Clarice Blackburn.....
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Sorry, the rules of the game say that the next actor to be cast must be the one who played the last role mentioned. In other words, we can't recast Clarice Blackburn next; we must recast Nancy Barrett because she played Charity/Pansy.
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okay, wasn't sure...
Nancy Barrett it is.
and.....go!
(thanks! [snow_silly])
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I'd like to see Nancy Barrett playing Bob the Bartender, because I'd like to see her wandering around the Blue Whale with a cigar hanging out of her mouth.
Bob the Bartender was played by Bob O'Connell. Whom else could Bob O'Connell have played?
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I would like to have seen Frid's interpretation of Professor Stokes or even Joshua Collins.
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Me too...but right now we need a role for Bob O'Connell, since I've cast Nancy Barrett as Bob the Bartender.
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Okay. How about Amy?
Which leads us to Denise Nickerson
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Bob O'Connell as Amy!
[jawdrp]
And I just pictured him in those little dresses - and it's not a pretty sight!! [yikes] [lghy]
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It reminds me of Baby Herman in Who Framed Roger Rabbit.
I'd like to see Denise Nicholson playing Jenny Collins. I want to see her hair in a tangled mess.
Jenny was played by Marie Wallace. Whom else could Marie Wallace have played?
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Marie's one of my favorites and she could probably pull this off: Sam Evans.
Next up is David Ford.
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I'd like to see David Ford playing Suki Forbes. I think his Suki and Joel Crothers's Nathan would make an adorable couple.
Suki was played by Jane Draper, for all too short a time. Whom else could Jane Draper have played?
PS: Why did I say Denise Nicholson instead of Denise Nickerson the other day? Shame on me!
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How about Jane as PT 1841 Stella Young? Another short lived character, in more ways than one.
Next up is Gaye Edmond.
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Gaye Edmond didn’t make much of an impression on me. I remember her, and I remember thinking Stella Young was a ninny, but I didn’t have any particular desire to see more of Ms. Edmond. So I’m going to shrink her down to a one-episode role: the policeman in episode 1034. Here are the Robservations for that episode:
Robservations 1034/1035
He was played by Phillip R. Allen, who died recently:
Phillip R. Allen 1939 – 2012
He looks very nice, so could somebody find a larger role for Phillip R. Allen, please? Even a two-episode role would be an upgrade for him!
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I wonder what Phillip R. Allen would have done with the role of Dr. Julia Hoffman...
That leaves Grayson Hall in need of a new role.
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Well, you could put Grayson virtually anywhere and get something interesting, so I'm going to cast her as Aristede. I would to see her threaten people with "the dancing lady." And I'd really love to see wear that hat.
So, what do we do with Michael Stroka?
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Here's a list of our recasting so far. Remember, however, that if a role has been reassigned once, it still can be reassigned again.
THE PRESENT:
Elizabeth Collins Stoddard: Kay Frye
Victoria Winters: Kathy Cody
Roger Collins: Michael McGuire
Dr. Julia Hoffman: Phillip R. Allen
Willie Loomis: Louis Edmonds
Sam Evans: Marie Wallace
Amy Jennings: Bob O'Connell
Jason McGuire: Robert Gerringer
Jeb Hawkes: John Karlen
Hallie Stokes: Grayson Hall
Old Ezra Braithwaite: Joan Bennett
Bob the Bartender: Nancy Barrett
1795:
Countess Natalie Dupres: Christopher Pennock
Sarah Collins: Isabella Hoopes
Suki Forbes: David Ford
1897:
Charity Trask: Alexandra Moltke
Jenny Collins: Denise Nickerson
Aristede: Grayson Hall
Old Edith Collins: Dennis Patrick
Pansy Faye: Sharon Smyth
1970 PARALLEL TIME:
Policeman in episode 1034: Gaye Edmond
1692:
Judah Zachary: Abe Vigoda
1841 PARALLEL TIME:
Stella Young: Jane Draper
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Back to the question of a new role for Michael Stroka...I'm not sure why, but I keep coming up with Samantha Collins.
Which means we need another role for Virginia Vestoff.
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How about Virginia Vestoff as Ben Stokes? Let's make it the 1795 Ben so she can keep her head! Next up is Thayer David.
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I was going to say Ben Stokes... but I had it in my Head that we were supposed to keep within the same year/storyline, so I thought, 1940 old Ben. Actually, what I first thought was VV playing the Headless Body, but that may not be permissible.
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Magnus, you can choose anybody from any storyline. So...Ben or old Ben? I can't remember a headless body, but maybe you meant bodiless head. Which of the three? If we don't hear back from you in a day or two, I'll throw a dart and choose.
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Uncy Rog said young (middle-aged?) Ben, before I turned up. In 1840 we saw Judah Zachery's reanimated headless body stumbling around for a couple episodes, thanks to Julia.
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Oops, I didn't notice there was more than one post. Anyway, recasting Thayer David will be fun.
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I had some trouble with Thayer David. I thought of him as Professor Stokes, and I thought, for a nice contrast, we could have him play Count Petofi. Oh wait... Well, how about Quentin? No, he's done that, too, and quite honestly, I thought it was his least fine hour on Dark Shadows. So maybe Thayer David isn't so good at stepping into other people's roles. Dear me. But, thinking further along the villain lines, how about Jeb Hawkes? Hmm...Jeb's been done, and while I know that I specified in my very own rules for this game that roles could be recast an infinite number of times, I'd still like to see if we can't find something fresh and new. Nicholas Blair? No, a little too much like Count Petofi. And I remember Chris Pennock talking in the interview on one of the DVDs about how good an actor Thayer David was, so I think I'd like to give Thayer David one of Pennock's roles. It would be fun to see Thayer David handling a wheelchair, so I'm going for...(drum-roll, please)...Gabriel Collins, from our-time 1840.
And now, can we have another role for Chris Pennock?
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Inspired casting, Lydia! Chris Pennock presented a challenge as well. His Andrea True impression ("More More More") led me to a character where Chris' acting quirks would be a good fit: Abigail Collins. Which brings us to Clarice Blackburn.
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David Ford as Suki Forbes! :o
Grayson Hall as Aristede! [thumbleft]
Michael Stroka as Samantha Collins! [lghy] (All I can picture is him with that hairdo!!)
Chris Pennock as Abigail Collins! [thumb]
But getting back to the game, and given Mrs. Johnson's connection to the character, I'd love to see Clarice Blackburn play Mitch Ryan's Burke Devlin. [ghost_wink]
So that means Mitch Ryan needs a role...
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Mitch Ryan as Dr. Julia Hoffman, the best man for the job.
Drag Shadows?
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[laughing4] I can just picture his take on the scenes of yearning over Barnabas!
And that means that already Grayson Hall needs another new role...
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[ghost_grin]
Mitch in 1795, all dolled up as Countess Natalie......
Grayson as Burke Devlin!
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Clarice Blackburn as Buzz?
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We've gotten a little tangled here. The thread as I see it is:
MB cast Clarice Blackburn as Mitchell Ryan's Burke Devlin.
David-Elijah cast Mitchell Ryan as Dr. Julia Hoffman.
I'm going to disqualify David-Elijah's casting of Grayson Hall as Burke Devlin because, according to a new rule I just made up and am applying retroactively, you can't cast two people in a row. And since Mitchell Ryan and Clarice Blackburn had already been re-cast, David-Elijah's second re-castings for them are discarded.
That leaves us, as MB previously noted, with Grayson Hall needing another new role. She's a busy lady!
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I'll take a shot at it and recast Grayson as Gerard Stiles. I can just picture her doing that sneer. And glaring menacingly, of course.
That leaves James Storm needing a new character.
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I wanted to pick Magda for James Storm, but that would lead back to The Divine One yet again. Then I thought of Sandor, but that would lead back to Thayer David yet again.
So, how about James Storm as Nathan Forbes?
This leaves us the task of finding a new role for Joel Crothers.
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Isn't there a story that Joel Crothers wanted to play Quentin? Let's have him do that.
...which leaves David Selby up for grabs.
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David Selby up for grabs. Now there's an image that would make more than a few cousins think some impure thoughts.
But I digress. Selby is such a personable actor that he can bring humane qualities to despicable characters. I would love to see what he could do as Morgan Collins. Next recast is Keith Prentice.
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Keith Prentice is sort of short, so let's slap Maggie's blond wig on him and have him play Alexander in the Leviathan storyline.
Now, whom else could we have David Jay play?
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With his diction, David Jay could do wonders with Adam's monosyllabic early dialogue, and I think that green would be a good color for him. (And then there's the arresting combination of facial scars and a snaggletooth...).
Batting next: Robert Rodan.
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I know this is going back a bit but I've been busy and I'm just catching up:
Are we sure that James Storm has the right "attributes" for Forbes? ;) And -
Keith Prentice is sort of short, so let's slap Maggie's blond wig on him and have him play Alexander in the Leviathan storyline.
- that's terrible and hysterically funny at the same time. [rofl10]
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Well, that would be a "watching project" all its own. [ghost_smiley] [ghost_rolleyes] [ghost_smiley]
Back to the business at hand, I want to cast Robert Rodan as the 1795 Reverend Trask. There would be plenty of opportunities for some serious scenery chewing.
Next up: Jerry Lacy.
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One of the things I love about Jerry Lacy is his capacity for amazing stillness, which we see when a certain dark-haired witch has a Lacy character under her spell. So I looked around for a character who could use that stillness, and thought about Carolyn at certain times, but somehow that didn't interest me much. Then I thought about 1970 parallel time Roxanne, and about how even after she started to move around, she seemed very passive, and the thought of Jerry Lacy showing that passivity did interest me.
And, of course, who could resist the thought of Barnabas locked in an embrace with Mr. Lacy?
So I choose 1970 PT Roxanne, leaving Donna Wandrey free to try another character.
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After seeing Donna as the nasty housekeeper in Return to Collinwood, I think she would a great job as a villain. So let's put a dark wig on her and have her play Cassandra Collins.
Next up is Lara Parker.
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I'd like to see Lara Parker playing Beth, because I never quite believed that Beth felt any physical desire for Quentin, and I'm sure that Lara Parker would have no trouble with that angle.
Whom could Terry Crawford play?
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Terry Crawford has a sort of a patrician, aristocratic quality. So I'm going to take it in a completely different direction and cast her as Carl Collins.
Okay, Karlen fans, you're up.
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I'd love to see how John Karlen would have played Barnabas.
And now we can give Jonathan Frid an alternative role.
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There's no one on DS more identified with a character than Jonathan Frid. He seemed to really enjoy playing the evil Barnabas during the Leviathan storyline, so I'd like to take it a step further and cast him as Nicholas Blair.
Next recast is Humbert Allen Astredo.
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In my heart of hearts, I feel sure that HAA would make a perfect Millicent Collins. I want to hear him try to giggle modestly.
If I understand the rules correctly, I believe that leaves N Barrett free for recasting.
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Nancy was one of the most versatile performers on Dark Shadows. I can't think of a single character, male or female, that she wouldn't have been able to play. I would like to recast her as Abigail Collins. Her interpretation would probably be somewhat different than Clarice Blackburn but no doubt just as memorable.
Now it's time to recast Clarice.
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I think NB as Abigail would probably the same as Charity Trask, though. Do we need to keep track of all the actor musical-chairs movements that came before for this, or just recast from the real, original castings, like NB as Carolyn?
If I'm doing it right, Clarice as Julia might be interesting.
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Do we need to keep track of all the actor musical-chairs movements that came before for this, or just recast from the real, original castings, like NB as Carolyn?
No, we don't need to keep track.
So, we need to recast Grayson Hall now.
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Since Grayson seemed to thrive on parts that challenged her, I want to see her as a character that might really test her: Sarah Collins. Yep, Grayson wearing a mobcap, bouncing a ball and singing London Bridge ad infinitum.
Next to be recast is Sharon Smyth.
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Next to be recast is Sharon Smyth.
Ezra Braithwaite of course, in 1969. She'd be a natural.
Now for Abe Vigoda.
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I want to cast Abe Vigoda in a part he probably never would have been considered for: Nathan Forbes.
Next to be cast is Joel Crothers.
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Buzz Hackett for Joel Crothers.
Maybe a bigger part for Michael Hadge?
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How about Michael Hadge as Adam?
Now we need another part for Robert Rodan.
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Let's have Robert Rodan play Adam's creator and Barnabas's buddy, Dr. Lang.
Whom else could Addison Powell play?
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Gee, I don't know, AP is just so multiversatile and everything... I thought of casting him as that guy Tate created who never spoke, just as punishment for our having had to listen to that booming voice of his, but I can never find out who the actor was.
I know... to quote Lang, "Dave Woodard!"
Now recast.... uh.... I'll specify Robert Gerringer if I have the name right, though technically I suppose I've just freed up three actors.
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I think that Robert Gerringer could have done some interesting work as Roger.
Next cast is Louis Edmonds.
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Louie Edmonds as Bob Rooney, The Blue Whale bartender. (Dispersing disparaging remarks as each patron enters and again with each libation served.)
Bob O'Connell as...
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I'd like to see Bob O'Connell as Paul Stoddard. The Leviathans wouldn't know what hit them.
Next: Dennis Patrick
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I'd like to see what Dennis Patrick would do with the small but very enjoyable role of Garth Blackwood.
Next up: John Harkins
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I think that John Harkins would have made a great Matthew Morgan.
That means a new part for Thayer David.
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Thayer David played Mordecai Grimes; let's do some interesting camera work and have him play Mordecai's son Jeremy as well. We don't see much of Jeremy, but his character evolves over the course of just a few episodes. I'd like to see Thayer David handle that.
Now we need a new role for cute Tom Happer.
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I'll refrain from making any casting couch remarks about the fine Mr. Happer. I'm going to cast him as Gabriel Collins from RT 1840.
Next: Christopher Pennock
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Christopher Pennock could play King Johnny Romano, complete with gypsy accent.
Next: Paul Michael
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(a youthed Thayer romancing Carrie Stokes? Weird....)
Paul Michael.... don't know him apart from Johnny. Pass.
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I'll give it a try and cast Paul Michael as Evan Hanley.
Next up is Humbert Allen Astredo.
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I wanted Astredo to play someone who doesn't spend his life in a three-piece suit, so I chose...
Bill Malloy.
Next up: Frank Schofield
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I want to see Frank chew some scenery. Make him Carl Collins.
John Karlen is next.
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Couldn't have Karlen play Willie One and recast John Hall I suppose.
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Magnus, I was going to say, “Yes, but I don't like it,” but then I thought of all the other characters who were played by more than one person, and decided I don't want to open that door. So I'm vetoing your recasting of John Karlen as First Willie, and recasting him instead as the cute little black nurse in episode 563.
The cute little black nurse was played by Beverly Atkinson. Wikipedia, citing the New York Times, says she was “known for her character work playing women down-on-their-luck or caught up in drug addiction.” Interesting, giving that my own comment on her in 2008 was: It's a pity Julia never saw her efficient way with sedatives; Julia would have hired her as an assistant immediately.
Anyway, who would care to recast her?
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The first thing that popped into my mind was that she's got spunk. In abundance. And a character who could benefit from that would be Sabrina Stuart.
Next is Lisa Richards.
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I'll recast Lisa Richards as Chris Jennings.
Whom could Don Briscoe play?
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Grey up his temples a bit, get him an ascot and Don could have been a great PT Roger Collins.
Next to be recast is Louis Edmonds.
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Louie as Elizabeth Collins Stoddard. Joan Bennett as _____.
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Having seen Joan Bennett do a cockney accent in an old movie (Man Hunt, if I remember correctly), I think that she would be great as Leticia Faye.
Nancy Barrett is next.
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I'd like to see what Nancy Barrett would have done with sweet, stupid Rachel Drummond.
Next up: Kathryn Leigh Scott.
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Since most of Kathryn's parts on the show were so relentlessly nice, I want to see her sink her teeth (pun very much intended) as the vampire incarnation of Roxanne Drew.
Next: Donna Wandrey.
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I don't know if such obscure actors/parts can be involved, but here goes:
Donna Wandrey was, of course, born to play the role of Diabolos, manning the reception desk for Hell. A recasting for Duane Morris?
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Ooh, I'd like to see Donna Wandrey as Diabolos. And given the fact that I myself dredged up an even more obscure actor/part (see reply 25), I can hardly object.
But I have no particular thoughts for Duane Morris at the moment, so I'll leave the job of recasting him to somebody else.
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How about casting Duane Morris as Alexander?
Next to be recast is David Jay.
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Let's bump David Jay up from Alexander to Michael, and give Michael Maitland something else to do.
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I'd like to see Michael Maitland as Peter Bradford. Next: Roger Davis.
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I want to see Roger Davis dealing with a wig, so I'm casting him as Count Petofi.
That means that Thayer David is once again available for another role.
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Thayer was one of the most versatile actors that I've ever seen anywhere, so I want to give him a genuine challenge. Let's see if he can make Hallie a little less whiny.
Next: Kathleen Cody