Bean to play Fagin in London revival of OLIVER

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 3:35pm

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

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 4:09pm

The only Bean I could think of was Shoshana, so I had to read this.

[Noel&Cole]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 4:22pm

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.

[kec]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 4:24pm

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

As for Atkinson -- I'm having trouble picturing it, probably because Ron Moody is so firmly ingrained into my memory, but I guess it could work.

[puppetman2]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 4:29pm

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

[SpellingBeeFan4Ever]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 4:32pm

I could picture him as Fagin very well.

[H.Higgins]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 4:44pm

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.

[Eris0303]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 4:45pm

When I first read this I thought he'd be perfect in the role. I've never heard him sing but I do believe he could pull this off wonderfully.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 4:46pm

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

[MCfan2]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 5:40pm

I'd love to see him play the role. He was great as Bean, but I REALLY love him as Blackadder.

A while back I was on here asking for "Oliver" cast album recommendations. I may have to hold off until this one comes out!

[TheatreFreak05]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 5:54pm

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.

[Not Barker, Todd.]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 5:56pm

I thought it was about Douglas Carter, (BeanE, I should have known) and so that peaked my curiosity.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 6:23pm

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

[Eris0303]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 6:36pm

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

He'll have a cunning plan to get Oliver back.

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 6:45pm

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.

[Jon]

Posted: 3/26/08 at 7:26pm

I've always wanted to see Geoffrey Rush play Fagin.

[Popular]

Posted: 3/27/08 at 1:34am

The Other Bean. Gotta love her!

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 3/27/08 at 1:36am

This could be brilliant. Fagin is one of my favorite roles in all of musical theatre.

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 3/27/08 at 5:32am

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

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 3/27/08 at 6:05am

Never heard of him.

[shesamarshmallow]

Posted: 3/27/08 at 9:00am

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.

[broadwayfan7]

Posted: 3/27/08 at 10:45am

Good for him.

[Salene]

Posted: 3/27/08 at 12:39pm

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).