Eliza? - My Fair Lady Revival 2018 — Page 39

perfectlymarvelous said: "I saw Diana Rigg in a truly awful production of Pygmalion in London 6 years ago but she was wonderful so I'm happy to see her tackle the role again."

I saw that production too, and I agree that Diana Rigg was wonderful (when is she not?). I don't remember much else about it except that Rupert Everett was way too dark as Higgins (more Dracula than Henry Higgins), so I'm just curious, perfectlymarvelous: why did you think it was "truly awful"?

By a curious coincidence, the day after seeing Pygmalion on that 2011 trip, I saw a Terence Rattigan play called Flare Path, in which Harry Hadden-Paton gave a wonderful performance as a terrified RAF pilot in WWII who (being English) can't bring himself to tell his wife how scared he is. Very different from Henry Higgins, but proof that he has the theatrical chops that make me look forward to seeing him as Higgins.

ScottyDoesn'tKnow2 said: "MCfan2 said: "Well, it's not like she actually retweeted it. Honestly, I find the "checking up on which tweets celebrities have liked" thing a tad creepy. Liking is one thing, RTing is another."

Nice attempt at deflecting. Doesn't change the fact thatshe's openly and publicly liking sentiments that are bad-mouthing this production and essentially Lauren Ambrose."

I like tweets that make me laugh. That includes weeks from trump or Cynthia Erivo, but that doesn’t mean I LIKE or agree with those tweets. Maybe Laura is doing the same thing.

Call_me_jorge said: "ScottyDoesn'tKnow2 said: "MCfan2 said: "Well, it's not like she actually retweeted it. Honestly, I find the "checking up on which tweets celebrities have liked" thing a tad creepy. Liking is one thing, RTing is another."

Nice attempt at deflecting. Doesn't change the fact thatshe's openly and publicly liking sentiments that are bad-mouthing this production and essentially Lauren Ambrose."

I like tweets that make me laugh. That includes weeks from trump or Cynthia Erivo, but that doesn’t mean I LIKE or agree with those tweets. Maybe Laura is doing the same thing."

I'm sure Benanti doesn't actually like the Tweets saying how she's their dream Eliza and that she should have been cast. Also, the people who posted the tweets will take your likes as you actually liking/supporting their tweets.

Updated On: 10/5/17 at 09:01 PM

Harriet Craig said: "perfectlymarvelous said: "I saw Diana Rigg in a truly awful production of Pygmalion in London 6 years ago but she was wonderful so I'm happy to see her tackle the role again."

I saw that production too, and I agree that Diana Rigg was wonderful (when is she not?). I don't remember much else about itexcept that Rupert Everett was way too dark as Higgins (more Dracula than Henry Higgins), so I'm just curious, perfectlymarvelous: why did you think it was "truly awful"?

By a curious coincidence, the day after seeing Pygmalion on that 2011 trip, I saw a Terence Rattigan play called Flare Path, in which Harry Hadden-Paton gave a wonderful performance as a terrified RAF pilot in WWII who (being English) can't bring himself to tell his wife how scared he is. Very different from Henry Higgins, but proof that he has the theatrical chops that make me look forward to seeing him as Higgins."

It was, if I remember correctly, very heavily edited and just didn't work at all. I also thought the direction was a complete misinterpretation of the play; they attempted to direct the whole thing like a drawing room comedy and the only scene that worked was, in fact, the famous drawing room scene. I also thought the Eliza (a television actor whose name I'm forgetting) was incredibly weak with no presence at all, and Everett was horribly miscast and misdirected. It was all around misguided, with the exception of Dame Diana Rigg who can probably do no wrong.

perfectlymarvelous said: "Harriet Craig said: "perfectlymarvelous said: "I saw Diana Rigg in a truly awful production of Pygmalion in London 6 years ago but she was wonderful so I'm happy to see her tackle the role again."

I saw that production too, and I agree that Diana Rigg was wonderful (when is she not?). I don't remember much else about itexcept that Rupert Everett was way too dark as Higgins (more Dracula than Henry Higgins), so I'm just curious, perfectlymarvelous: why did you think it was "truly awful"?

By a curious coincidence, the day after seeing Pygmalion on that 2011 trip, I saw a Terence Rattigan play called Flare Path, in which Harry Hadden-Paton gave a wonderful performance as a terrified RAF pilot in WWII who (being English) can't bring himself to tell his wife how scared he is. Very different from Henry Higgins, but proof that he has the theatrical chops that make me look forward to seeing him as Higgins."

It was, if I remember correctly, very heavily edited and just didn't work at all. I also thought the direction was a complete misinterpretation of the play; they attempted to direct the whole thinglike a drawing room comedy and the only scene that worked was, in fact, the famous drawing room scene. I also thought the Eliza (a television actor whose name I'm forgetting) was incredibly weak with no presence at all, and Everett was horribly miscast and misdirected. It was all around misguided, with the exception of Dame Diana Rigg who can probably do no wrong."

Oh yeah, it's all coming back to me now -- no wonder I blocked out everything except Dame Diana!

Jay, He played the rich aristocrat that Lady Edith married in the finale. Watching those episodes, 1-2 years ago, I would have never thought he was in his early 30's. He came across much older in those episodes. In my opinion, mid 40's at the least. It's funny Lauren will play younger than her age and he will come across older. I'm skipping my annual trip next year to NY for shows and going on a 11 day cruise in its place. This revival would have been high on my list if the casting was different. As it stands the only part cast that made me excited was Miss Emma Peel herself, Diana Rigg.

I don't understand...isn't Eliza a soprano role...?

IdinaBellFoster said: "Ambrose is obviously qualified, and Benanti is allowed to be as salty as she’d like."



Why? Because she didn't get a part she wanted? It happens all the time. She'll get other chances for roles.

IdinaBellFoster said: "Ambrose is obviously qualified, andBenanti is allowed to be as salty as she’d like."

Benanti’s behavior is pretty much par for the course, and isn’t super surprising. I was much more bothered by The Interval, which calls itself the Smart Girl’s Guide to Theater, being needlessly shady about the casting. I guess they won’t be interviewing Ambrose any time soon.

Updated On: 10/5/17 at 10:50 PM

Of course she's allowed to be upset. I just think this attitude of "Well it's a CRIME that they didn't cast Laura Benanti!" that's in the Tweets she's liking is excessive, and that one referring to Ambrose as a "this" was just plain rude, especially since no one even knows how she'll be in the role yet. It feels to me like there's this sort of idea that Benanti should've gotten the role just because she really really wanted it, and that's just not how these things work.

Updated On: 10/5/17 at 10:57 PM

Is it too much to hope for a Frozen situation with exciting casting for the understudies/standbys?

Also, while I don't hate the art, I agree the style doesn't work as well for this show. It's far too soft and dreamy and... not cold exactly, but impersonal and nondescript. It doesn't capture the bustle of the city and it doesn't get the princess-y fantasy of the high society half of the story. They feel like mannequins in Grand Central or something. A frozen tableau.

cknick said: "Wick3 said: "Did they announce who will perform as Freddy? One of my favorite songs in musical theater is "On the street where you live"

would be interesting if Freddy is performed by a POC."

Christian Dante White or Conrad Ricamora could be exciting!"

I agree with you! I saw Hello Dolly! when Gavin Creel was out and Christian Dante White performed as Cornelius and he was spectacular (I saw the production again with Gavin and thought Christian performed better but Gavin may have had an off day that day.) id love to hear Christian sing "on the street where you live"!!!