Breaking News: Craig Bierko and Jill Paice to Join MATILDA on September 3

[Rob]

Posted: 8/1/13 at 11:28am

Click Here to Read Breaking News: Craig Bierko and Jill Paice to Join MATILDA on September 3

[quizking101]

Posted: 8/1/13 at 11:32am

Holy cow...I did NOT see that coming.
This seems like inspired casting...

[best12bars]

Posted: 8/1/13 at 11:33am

Phone rings, door chimes, in comes a couple from Company!

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 8/1/13 at 11:35am

Craig Bierko is a really interesting, off-beat idea. I'm excited to see what he does with Trunchbull.

I'm less excited about Jill Paice, who I continuously find to be the most boring, charmless, uninspired performer. She's well suited to Miss Honey in terms of type, but there are so many other people who could have made the role so much more interesting.

Updated On: 8/1/13 at 11:35 AM

[aasjb4ever]

Posted: 8/1/13 at 11:41am

Left field for sure...

I'm surprised what short contracts Bertie and Lauren had.

[N2N Nate.]

Posted: 8/1/13 at 11:44am

Why Do they have such short contracts? Is it because they already did it in London?

Updated On: 8/1/13 at 11:44 AM

[PlayItAgain]

Posted: 8/1/13 at 11:50am

has something to do with the equity exchange right?

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 8/1/13 at 11:51am

This is totally unexpected but awesome. I'm particularly curious about Bierko as Trunchbull, I'm excited to see what he does with it.

[zepka102]

Posted: 8/1/13 at 11:52am

Jill seems a no-brainer, but Craig... wow. I think I need to find a way to return just to see this.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 8/1/13 at 11:56am

Now this sounds promising!

[dramamama611]

Posted: 8/1/13 at 12:06pm

I doubt its public exactly why their contracts were so short, but widely known. Possible reasons:

They wanted short contracts since they'd already done the show for a year (maybe more) in London.

They wanted short contracts because they didn't want to be away from home for an extended time.

Equity would only give them permission for a short contract.



I don't think any choices would make me want to see the show again, but what an interesting choice in Bierko. Hm.

[RockStarNYC]

Posted: 8/1/13 at 12:11pm

Bierko and Paice really are intriguing choices. It should also be noted that Richard Blake (Wicked, Wedding Singer, Legally Blonde)has joined the show as the Escapologist, replacing an injured Ben Thompson.

[quizking101]

Posted: 8/1/13 at 12:16pm

I know Lauren Ward mentioned in an interview somewhere about the kids having to go back to school in the fall. (Rachel Griffiths had the same reason for departing OTHER DESERT CITIES a while back).

Richard H. Blake? YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS. This has now crept it's way up my list!

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 8/1/13 at 12:19pm

re: the Equity exchange, isn't Lauren Ward a member of American Equity anyway? That might hold true for Bertie but she has several Broadway credits from about 10-15 years ago.

[Phillytheatreguy10]

Posted: 8/1/13 at 12:29pm

I think Jill Paice is a great choice, Bierko is also inspired! I disagree with the poster that finds Paice boring- she really was fantastic in that Company concert as I was unfamilar with her work prior to that- she was a stand out for sure! Erin Mackey for me continues to be the most boring soprano on the boards these day! Kudos to the producers they seem not to have missed a beat with this!

Updated On: 8/1/13 at 12:29 PM

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 8/1/13 at 12:34pm

Somethingwicked, I'm usually on the same camp re Paice, but she was lovely in CURTAINS, maybe in part because it was almost impossible not to have chemistry with David Hyde Pierce. Was Erin Davie unavailable?
Bierko was one of the few things that made the most recent GUYS & DOLLS revival watchable (and he had to try hard since the production was so dreadful). I agree it's inspired casting, would love to see him in the role.

[GilmoreGirlO2]

Posted: 8/1/13 at 1:18pm

Have seen neither actor before, but the role of Trunchbull is one I wish I was able to see each actor who steps into the role play the part – I imagine it being a role that each actor is able to approach quite differently and would love to see the different interpretations.

Also to note, I saw Richard H. Blake this past weekend (on his second day, I believe) as The Escapologist and very much enjoyed his performance. A nice departure from the bad-boy boyfriend roles I have seen him in prior. His voice was lovely.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 8/1/13 at 1:30pm

I have a retro-reaction. Why can't a biological woman play Trunchbull?

I believe she is female.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 8/1/13 at 1:32pm

I wonder if Bertie would have stayed longer if he won the TONY?

[Musicaldudepeter]

Posted: 8/1/13 at 1:35pm

I'm sure both Carvel and Ward are bored to f*ck with their roles and the show at this stage having been involved from the get go... I'm sure they want to move on to other projects no matter how good the material is or how much they love the show (or being employed)

[broadway_show_fan]

Posted: 8/1/13 at 1:35pm

Lauren is indeed American (from the midwest) and part of American Equity. She is leaving because her children are going back to London to return for the school year.

She mentioned to me that she and Bertie are interested in moving on to new creative endeavors (besides just wanting to go home). They've been playing these parts since Stratford in 2010. I think you could understand the idea of moving on after so long.

[Sauja]

Posted: 8/1/13 at 1:53pm

Interesting point, WOSQ. While I do find Bierko to be inspired casting, I would LOVE to see what a biological woman would do with the role.

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 8/1/13 at 2:11pm

If I recall, when they were holding the required EPAs for the show, the breakdown did actually say they were seeing both men and women for Trunchbull. However, I also remember it saying they wanted someone at least 6 feet tall, and there just aren't many women who are that height. I would love to see a biological woman as Miss Trunchbull as well though.

[dreaming]

Posted: 8/1/13 at 2:11pm

You know who might be a good Trunchbull and is around that height? Janet McTeer.

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 8/1/13 at 2:13pm

I'm sure both Carvel and Ward are bored to f*ck with their roles and the show at this stage having been involved from the get go... I'm sure they want to move on to other projects no matter how good the material is or how much they love the show (or being employed)

My thoughts exactly. Depending on it, if I played a certain role on Broadway for year and did it again in London or the other way around, I'd stay for the same time as Bertie and Lauren. Besides, these 2, esepecially Bertie, have huge futures ahead of them. And it's wonderful that Lauren is putting family first. Actors should be more like her.