Bean to play Fagin in London revival of OLIVER

Mr. Bean, that is.

Rowan Atkinson will portray Fagin in Cameron MacIntosh's upcoming London revival of OLIVER. The search for a Nancy is ongoing on the BBC.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7315388.stm

Hey. I saw this press release today as well. I think this is pretty cool news. Does any one else think Rowan could be quite a marvelous Fagin? I think he will be an interesting take on the role. I hope I can have a chance to see it in London! Wonder what others on here thought.

On another slightly connected note.... although casting show through reality television is a practice I am not fond of....I think it wonderful that the british people have enough knowledge/fondess for there musicals that these reality shows keep working over there. Grease is one of few show that a TV show would get viewers for. Could you imagine an Oliver casting show for Nancy in the states? No one would care! I think it is great the British care enough to tune in. They are so supportive of their theatre over there. I wish it was that way on this side of the pond.

For me, the only Fagin is Clive Revelle from the first Broadway production with the fantastic Georgia Brown as Nancy

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I don't see him as a natural fit for the role, but who knows, maybe he'll be great.

What's really the problem here is that they're casting the other leads through reality TV (can we please stop this horrific trend?) and Mackintosh is basically REVIVING his 1994 REVIVAL. Seriously?

"The production will be directed by Rupert Goold...The new Oliver! is based on Sam Mendes' 1994 London Palladium production, with co-director and choreographer Matthew Bourne and designs by Anthony Ward." So basically, they're doing the same production, only with bigger sets for the bigger stage, starring reality tv cast members.

Neat.

I thought this was going to be about Shoshana Bean. That would have been...interesting.

Is this based off the Mackintosh production that toured in the US??

If it is, I saw that production and I thought it was really good.

If Fagin has a sidekick named Baldrick in this production, I'll be happy.

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I'm hoping he can give Fagin the sinister edge he needs. Too many people play Fagin as just a lovable old rogue, when in reality I think he needs to be not only that, but also absolutely terrifying.

The Other Bean. Gotta love her!

I think Rowan is brilliant casting! But I'm not so sure how the Rupert Goold directing's gona work... I mean, if it's Sam Mendes production then how can... whatever, I'm just in to watch Rowan! lol

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Awww. I saw the Lion King last night, and all I could think about was missing him as Zazu.

And YAY Blackadder references, y'all make me happy.

I'm obsessed with these shows. One of the little boys sang "Defying Gravity" for his Oliver audition... and got through.

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The same show is also doing a search for a kid to play Oliver as well.

Three, actually.

One of the Nancy finalists is Francesca Jackson, who played Bet in the last London revival (and most recently Joanne in Rent).