Audra McDonald in My Fair Lady ?

[alxscrz2]

Posted: 3/27/09 at 5:17pm

If they ever do a revival of My Fair Lady, I think she would make a perfect Eliza Doolittle. She has the voice for the role and she can definetly act. What do you think of her being cast in this role ?

[Marquise]

Posted: 3/27/09 at 5:20pm

She's way too umm, how do I say this, MATURE for this role.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 3/27/09 at 5:23pm

Not "common" enough for the early scenes. She always comes across as refined.

[esparza 333]

Posted: 3/27/09 at 5:24pm

Exactly she is way to elegant to pull of the first few scenes. It also requires a younger actress. Kelli O'Hara would be excellent considering she was so good in the Philharmonic production.

[TimesSquareRegular]

Posted: 3/27/09 at 5:31pm

....not quite the image of the flower girl. There are lots of roles more suited to her talent and physical presence.

[tazber]

Posted: 3/27/09 at 5:32pm

She's an actress, of course she could "pull it off".

[jewishboy]

Posted: 3/27/09 at 5:48pm

Wasn't Julie Andrews the epitome of "refined." I would love to see her tackle the role and I think she could be quite excellent in the early scenes. However, I do think she is getting a little too old.

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 3/27/09 at 7:17pm

I agree with all that's already been said... but what about a concert production? I'd LOVE to see (hear) that.

[alxscrz2]

Posted: 3/27/09 at 7:30pm

Here's a Video of Audra singing 'I could've danced all night'
LINK !!!!! :)

[g4rat]

Posted: 3/27/09 at 11:22pm

Audra can look younger with the right makeup. She can act and sing it; it would have to be soon because, yes, she isn't getting younger. Side note: I love her in Private Practice, she really is holding her own on that uneven show.

[madbrian]

Posted: 3/27/09 at 11:30pm

She's 38. That's way too old for Eliza.

[Pianolin717]

Posted: 3/27/09 at 11:34pm

I love Audra :) Thanks for posting that! And can I add that she is GORGEOUS there?

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 3/28/09 at 1:30pm

I'm not sure that Julie Andrews had developed that persona at the time MY FAIR LADY opened. Audra McDonald is great but I don't think she's someone I'm jonesing to see in a revival of the show, perhaps a concert presentation? Having said that, I much rather see her than dull Kelli O'Hara. However, if there's gonna be an Eliza in her late 30s I much rather see Kristin Chenoweth (who would be a hoot in the first act and who'd sing it beautifully).
Really my picks for Eliza would be Laura Benanti, Kate Jennings Grant (who is the only principal in GUYS & DOLLS who knows what she's doing), or Anne Hathaway. The two other girls whom I think would be brilliant in the acting department are Anika Noni Rose and Karen Olivo, but neither one could sing it at all

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 3/28/09 at 1:47pm

I don't need a full scale revival, I just want to hear/have a recording of Audra singing the scores of My Fair Lady and West Side Story.

I don't ask for much.

[boombaboy]

Posted: 3/28/09 at 3:18pm

Thanks for posting the link, Audra sings like a dream, but if she is too old at 38, isn't Kristin also too old at 40?

After seeing her, really seeing her for the first time in "Finian's Rainbow," I nominate Kate Baldwin for Eliza and Cheyenne Jackson for Freddy. Would love to hear them both sing those loverly songs.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 3/28/09 at 5:00pm

Boom, I said that IF they cast an older Eliza, I'd rather see Chenoweth over Audra.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 3/28/09 at 7:20pm

MFL has always been difficult because the story relies on the audience seeing a woman change from common to refined. Julie Andrews pulled it off because she had "star quality" and in the 1950s musicals, truthful acting wasn't a top priority.

Today's audience expects more reality in their musicals and needs an actress that can really make the transition. Georgia Brown was a master at moving between common and refined. Ellen Greene is another one that has done that well. It needs an actress that can make that transition.

[Patash]

Posted: 3/29/09 at 10:45am

"Not "common" enough for the early scenes. She always comes across as refined."

As opposed to -- say -- Audrey Hepburn?

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/29/09 at 11:00am

I think Audra played common and uneducated very well in Ragtime. I think she could handle the transition just fine. I'm also in the camp of only need a concert/studio recording out of this though.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 3/29/09 at 11:16am

"She's 38. That's way too old for Eliza."

I do not understand why age on its own should be a determining factor on whether someone can pull off the role.

Yes, it is one thing if someone actually LOOKS older. And I do agree that Audra may look a bit old for the part (although I am sure she can sing it beautifully); however, some older actors can pull off a younger part (Kristin Chenoweth, for example).

[musicaltheatreman]

Posted: 3/29/09 at 3:31pm

i would LOVE to see audra in this role!!! she is perfect for the part!! i think she looks great and can pull it off!

I think it would be really cool if there was an all black production of my fair lady with audra and brian stokes mitchel!!! now that would be amazing!! what do you guys think?

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 3/29/09 at 3:52pm

I of course would love to see Audra do it. I COULD see the argument that she's a little too old for it. A lot would depend on her supporting cast.


Those people who say she can't pull off "common" must not have seen her in "A Raisin in the Sun" or her work in "Wit" for HBO and "The Best Thief in the World" for Showtime. If you think she was too refined in any of those roles, than God bless the poor fool who y'all consider common. I'm sure they need some major help!

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 3/29/09 at 4:25pm

"She's 38. That's way too old for Eliza."

If Lea Salonga, who is 37, can play Cinderella now (Cinderella is younger than Eliza) then Audra should have no problems.

Personally I think they are both too old for the roles - but Audra is not doing My Fair Lady while Lea is doing Cinderella.
Updated On: 3/29/09 at 04:25 PM

[merriwether]

Posted: 3/29/09 at 8:03pm

Audra's understudy for "Marie Christine", Sherry Boone, played Eliza in a really brilliant local production of "My Fair Lady" a couple of seasons ago at the Dallas Theater Center.

Instead of a full orchestra i t was only 2 pianos, and instead of a full cast it was only 10 actors.

BRILLIANT!

[Gothampc]

Posted: 3/29/09 at 9:31pm

"Those people who say she can't pull off "common" must not have seen her in "A Raisin in the Sun" or her work in "Wit" for HBO and "The Best Thief in the World" for Showtime."

I've seen most of Audra's work. While I think she is a good actress, she has that Juillard thing going on. Like most Juillard students, she has never been able to shed it. Audra would be much better doing "Camelot".