Thew version done as the first act of "SONG AND DANCE", starring Bernadette Peters, was about an English girl who comes to New York City. Since one of the songs is titled "English Girls", they kinda had to make her English!
Act I of "Song and Dance" (which is a slightly reduced version of "Tell Me On A Sunday") tells the story of a British girl in New York and LA, adjusting to life in America, writing letters back to the UK, falling in and out of love etc ..... The role of Emma is written to be played as a Brit, and when I saw Bernadette Peters play it back in the mid-80s, she spoke and sang with a British accent. Without massive revisions to the text (which Webber and Don Black thus far have shown no interest in doing), it wouldn't make any sense for Emma to be played as anything other than British.
"What a story........ everything but the bloodhounds snappin' at her rear end." -- Birdie
[http://margochanning.broadwayworld.com/]
"The Devil Be Hittin' Me" -- Whitney
They did revise the show somewhat in 2003 though, right? I've heard some of it...what is so special about Denise VanOuten for them to do that? I can't see it.
I actually like Martti Webb and Denise Van Outen's versions. I heard a little of Bernadette's version and the recording itself was horrible (not Bernadette but the quality of the recording). It is one of my favorite Webber shows.
"They're eating her and then they're going to eat me. OH MY GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!!!" -Troll 2
I recieved Denise Van Outen's recording for Christmas. It's fabulous and I love it. Rather different from Bernadette's interpretations. (well, some of the songs themselves are a bit different.)