Eliza Soo — Page 2

Glad to see so many people agree with me that Soo would be great. I think Strallen would also be wonderful. Older Actresses like Benanti have played the role before but with all the talent out there I think they will go young. Benanti can play Henry's Mum.

Laura Benanti is the only actress who would guarantee my grabbing a ticket for this revival.

icecreambenjamin said: "but frankly, there isn't a single line in the show where anyone acknowledges her age."

That's not exactly true. When Col. Pickering is giving her description to the police after she has left Higgins' home, he says something to the effect that he doesn't know how old she is, but that she's probably around 21. Now, that is not definitive, and it could be played as a comment on an older man not having paid any attention to the particulars of this young woman whom he's been living with for months, but that is at least a reference.

That being said, I do agree with you, the age of a performer doesn't have to be exact, or even in a certain proximity, to a character's age for him or her to be an incredible choice for a role, especially when the age of the character is not all that important to the role itself.

Updated On: 5/17/17 at 08:32 PM

I can't believe you passed up the opportunity to title this thread Eliza Soolittle.

I'm not surprised that after seeing Hamilton people often don't pick Eliza out as one of their favorites, regardless of who played her that night. I think it's the role more than the actress because Eliza has to be ranked among the other characters, from Angelica, the King, to Lafayette/Jefferson, that are a more unique character to Hamilton. You can find other Eliza-type characters on Broadway.

However, compare one Eliza to another. This is where I think Philippa Soo shines. When you see others in the role now, you realize how much Soo did to make Eliza. Eliza fades into the background when Lexi Lawson plays her. She doesn't have as complete an arc when Ari Afsar is in the role (and I adored Ari's performance and choice's but didn't find it as complete as Soo's).

Another vote for Eliza Soolittle here.

Agreed MyLife. Although I love Eliza as a character, she's a quiet hero, she doesn't get a showstopper etc. I would probably enjoy the character much less if I hadn't seen the way Soo portrayed her. I think it's very telling that whilst people rave about Josh Henry, Karen Olivo, Michael Luwoye, Chris Lee, Jordan Fisher etc., there has yet to be an Eliza that most people think matches up to the original. I think it's a difficult character to get right and Soo nailed it.

Nothing can top Satisfied but, to say Eliza doesn't have a showstopper (or at least a chance to shine) is absolutely untrue. At the very minimum, she has four; Helpless, That would be enough, Burn, and WLWDWTYS. Burn is one of the most beautiful and gut wrenching songs in the show. And when she sang that song, I wanted to feel like my heart had been ripped from my chest, not just a mild prick. I wanted her to really go for it but it was just so self contained. I understand Eliza is a more composed character, but when you're in the type of pain the song is describing, the character/actress shouldn't hold back.

FlySkyHigh said: "Nothing can top Satisfied but, to say Eliza doesn't have a showstopper (or at least a chance to shine) is absolutely untrue. At the very minimum, she has four; Helpless, That would be enough, Burn, and WLWDWTYS. Burn is one of the most beautiful and gut wrenching songs in the show. And when she sang that song, I wanted to feel like my heart had been ripped from my chest, not just a mild prick. I wanted her to really go for it but it was just so self contained. I understand Eliza is a more composed character, but when you're in the type of pain the song is describing, the character/actress shouldn't hold back.



"

I totally disagree. I seriously doubt anyone who doesn't hold back in that kind of situation would put herself "out of the narrative."

FlySkyHigh said: "Nothing can top Satisfied but, to say Eliza doesn't have a showstopper (or at least a chance to shine) is absolutely untrue. At the very minimum, she has four; Helpless, That would be enough, Burn, and WLWDWTYS. Burn is one of the most beautiful and gut wrenching songs in the show. And when she sang that song, I wanted to feel like my heart had been ripped from my chest, not just a mild prick. I wanted her to really go for it but it was just so self contained. I understand Eliza is a more composed character, but when you're in the type of pain the song is describing, the character/actress shouldn't hold back."



I completely disagree. My heart was ripped from my chest entirely during Soo's performance. I was crying with her, for her. I saw the Original Chicago cast a few months ago, and Ari really "went" for it, the way you're describing it. It was totally lost on me. The melodrama felt completely wrong. "I'm erasing myself from the narrative" line should come from a character who really wants to bury themselves in a wall after the humiliation she went through, not be a showboat. Soo's "I hope that you burn" felt... genuine. It wasn't a rhetoric when she said it (which goes to show how she herself "went" there, in a different sense of the word). In her nuanced performance, she made it very clear that while Alexander had wronged her, she still couldn't bring herself to stop loving him. She couldn't stop being his wife. She manifested that character, heart, soul, and body. (Yes, I know I'm being dramatic, but this is how I feel about Soo as Eliza Hamilton).

As for this thread - Benanti should play the part. Especially if there's a 50+ year old they are planning for Prof Higgins. She would be sensational opposite Colin Firth.

froote said: "Soo gave my favorite performance in Hamilton (closely followed by Odom Jr) and considering her role was relatively underwritten in comparison to others, that's something. Obviously it's pointless debating as different performances speak to different people and unless you're a Cynthia Erivo in TCP or Ben Platt in DEH, a performance is unlikely to be universally adored.


I didn't love Erivo. I don't think there's such a thing as a universally adored performance.

When I say go for it, I didn't mean full out belting and falling over the floor. Go for it doesn't equal melodramatic. And I understand the subtleties of the song. In my mind she is not supposed to be composed as much she is trying to remain composed, if that makes sense. So in the moments when her pain is so overwhelming, that she can't keep her cool, I feel like she didn't capitalize on it. Even in the softer moments, it was just underwhelming for me. But hey, just my opinion.

Sorry to derail the thread with my earlier posts, but getting back on topic... it's a little unconventional but I think Adrienne Warren would be an interesting choice. She really showed her versatility and range in Shuffle Along. I still think an unknown would be the best option though.

Updated On: 5/18/17 at 11:41 AM