If Julie Andrews hadn’t lost her voice

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 10/11/19 at 2:44pm

In the past 20 plus years. What roles do you think Ms. Andrews would have taken on had she not lost her singing voice?

Updated On: 10/11/19 at 02:44 PM

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 10/11/19 at 2:51pm

The way she's always talked I don't think she'd have done much more on stage after Victor/Victoria. The toll it took on her physically was apparently a lot not to mention the pressure of an entire show resting on you. I think she'd have done more concert work, but I don't think she'd have come back as, say, Mame in 2003 or anything. 

[magictodo123]

Posted: 10/11/19 at 2:57pm

Okay stay with me here...Dolly Levi.

Maybe?

[Jay Lerner-Z]

Posted: 10/11/19 at 3:07pm

She could almost do that now...maybe?

[broadway86]

Posted: 10/11/19 at 3:10pm

magictodo123 said: "Okay stay with me here...Dolly Levi.

Maybe?"

I mean, I'd pay big money to see it, but I don't think she's right for that role. She's too... English? 

[jagman1062]

Posted: 10/11/19 at 3:29pm

nasty_khakis said: "The way she's always talked I don't think she'd have done much more on stage after Victor/Victoria. The toll it took on her physically was apparently a lot not to mention the pressure of an entire show resting on you. I think she'd have done more concert work, but I don't think she'd have come back as, say, Mame in 2003 or anything."

I agree.  Her return to Broadway in 1996 with Victor/Victoria was after a very long hiatus; granted, she had a very active film career during that time.  Her role in Victor/Victoria was based on a film role she created 15 years earlier, so that film role served as the impetus for her to come back to the stage.  As you said, the role took a toll on her.  In addition, she was bitter because come Tony time, she was the only nominee from her show, which she publicly denounced as an "egregious" oversight.  In a show of solidarity with her fellow artists and creators, she declined the nomination.  Even though her name officially remained on the ballot, the Tony for Best Performance by a Lead Actress in a Musical went to Donna Murphy for the The King and I.  If Andrews hadn't declined the nomination, I think she would have pulled off a win if only for sentimental reasons.  I remember seeing the show and thinking it was pleasant, but not great.  I enjoyed the opening number, "Paris by Night," but the rest of the show as just okay.  Given the dynamics surrounding the Tony nomination and the stress of carrying a Broadway show, I don't think she was really interested in taking on additional roles that required 8 shows a week, even if she only performed 7 shows like Midler did in  Dolly!  

[musikman]

Posted: 10/11/19 at 3:39pm

Not for nothing, but I'd kill to see her take on Madame Armfeldt, even if only for a one night concert.  She could easily pull that off

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 10/11/19 at 3:45pm

musikman said: "Not for nothing, but I'd kill to see her take on Madame Armfeldt, even if only for a one night concert. She could easily pull that off"

She would be very good, if that was allowed. I know as part of her settlement she has to be really careful and it's almost down to an exact "no more than three notes sustained" as far as what she can do without breaking the agreement. She's done live concert type things and did a tiny bit of a song in Princess Diaries 2 but it was a legal thing where for the live things she has to over-advertise she won't be singing, just speaking on pitch.

[ggersten]

Posted: 10/11/19 at 3:51pm

I have a vague recollection that she did the stage show out of love for her husband - nearly all of her films in the 70s and 80s were directed by Blake Edwards.  I recall reading her saying that the musical was a financial mistake because you couldn't sell the film rights, since there already was a film. 

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 10/11/19 at 4:11pm

Madame Armfeldt was also the first thing that came to mind. 

Is there really an agreement in the settlement that she can't sing in public again even if she does regain some of what she lost? I never heard that.

[nasty_khakis]

Posted: 10/11/19 at 4:20pm

Yes. Part of the settlement was because in losing her singing voice she stood to lose a lot of income on stage, film, recordings, etc. It would break the settlement agreement if she performed and made money singing. She talked about it at some point, but forgive me I don't remember the exact interview or when.

[JBradshaw]

Posted: 10/11/19 at 4:26pm

and you are correct  


ggersten said: "I have a vague recollection that she did the stage show out of love for her husband - nearly all of her films in the 70s and 80s were directed by Blake Edwards. I recall reading her saying that the musical was a financial mistake because you couldn't sell the film rights, since there already was a film."

 

[Gorlois]

Posted: 10/11/19 at 4:55pm

There would have been more concerts and probably a lot more recordings. Julie has a fairly sparse discography but in the early 90’s began recording albums of show tunes. I like to think she would have recorded an album of Sondheim, maybe some Sherman Brothers. Maybe Johnny Mercer or Mancini. But all that was cut short with the loss of her voice.

She probably would have returned to the stage. In the years post surgery, it’s been clear how much she’s missed it— her books have been adapted to musicals, she’s directed three shows, she’s written books about the theatre, not to mention hosting the PBS Broadway series which netted her an Emmy. She would have hopefully chosen smarter vehicles for her voice and her age than Victor Victoria, but yes, I think she would have liked to return to the stage. Had her singing and speaking voice not been so damaged, I do think she would have. In what, I don’t know.

[JBroadway]

Posted: 10/11/19 at 5:10pm

I’m surprised and disappointed that she hasn’t even returned to the stage to do a non-musical in all this time. I’m sure there are some great roles out there for her in plays, and even if not, surely a new one could be written as a vehicle for her.

But I guess, as someone else pointed out, it wasn’t just the singing, but also the toll of 8 shows a week. And with every passing year, it becomes less and less likely that she’ll up for any sort of theatrical run.

It makes me sad, as she’s one of the few living legends whom I’ve never managed to see in person. I saw that she is doing some talkbalk for a film in NYC this month, but I can’t make it (and I don’t think I could afford the tickets anyway).

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 10/11/19 at 6:04pm

She is doing more than one talkback at Metrograph, and tickets aren’t extremely expensive. I can only make it to one, and I am certainly not missing out on the chance to see her in person, if only for a Q&A after the film.

[degrassifan]

Posted: 10/11/19 at 7:02pm

I really wanted Julie to play Mrs. Higgins in the recent My Fair Lady revival, but alas, that didn't happen. I often think how funny it is that she's never won a Tony but she's known for musicals. I selfishly want her to be an EGOT. Being an EGO ain't so bad though...

[magictodo123]

Posted: 10/11/19 at 7:13pm

degrassifan said: "I really wanted Julie to play Mrs. Higgins in the recent My Fair Lady revival, but alas, that didn't happen. I often think how funny it is that she's never won a Tony but she's known for musicals. I selfishly want her to be an EGOT. Being an EGO ain't so bad though..."

Oooo that would have been great!! 

[markypoo]

Posted: 10/11/19 at 7:50pm

She evidently had shown little interest in returning to the stage many years before V/V.
When the 20th anniversary revival of My Fair Lady was being put together, the producer contacted both Andrews and Rex Harrison to see if they'd be available.
Harrison said that he'd commit, but only if Julie came on board.
After being reached, her agent replied that she was interested; but only for something like 8 - 10 weeks.
Which, the producer deemed, wouldn't work.

[ChgoTheatreGuy]

Posted: 10/11/19 at 8:54pm

I have been a HUGE fan of Julie Andrews ever since I was a small child, listening to "The Sound of Music" soundtrack when I was at my aunt's house every weekend.  When I finally got to see the film in 70s when it was re-released, I became hooked by how amazing she was.  I loved the film version of "Victor, Victoria" and was thrilled beyond belief when they announced that they would do the pre-Broadway engagement of the musical in Chicago.  I had balcony seats very close to the stage and couldn't wait for the houselights to go down and the show to start.  My favorite number in the movie was "Le Jazz Hot" and couldn't wait for it to begin.  Imagine my surprise to hear how slowly the tempo was on the song and Ms. Andrews was carried around on stage as if she were an invalid.  At least the show was able to introduce me to Rachel York, who performance in Lesley Ann Warren's part was amazing...

[Gorlois]

Posted: 10/11/19 at 8:56pm

It should be noted that Julie has said she stayed away from Broadway for all those years because she was busy raising a family. She felt she couldn’t have the family life she wanted and work a traditional Broadway schedule at the same time. This is why she didn’t return to the Great White Way until her youngest children were college age.

[Plannietink08]

Posted: 10/11/19 at 9:03pm

She’d make an interesting Norman Desmond. People forget what a wonderful actor she really is and she made an effort to branch into grittier roles in her younger days so Norma would be an interesting choice. 

As cliche as it is I’d love to see her as Morrible in the WICKED movie. I can’t recall if she’s ever played a villain but I bet she has it in her. 

She could have been a great replacement for Chita had THE VISIT been more successful.  

[David10086]

Posted: 10/11/19 at 10:57pm

I always wondered what she’s be like as Norma Desmond, too. I think she would have been sensational! Imagine if ALW could have talked her out of VV and into this instead?

[bwayobsessed]

Posted: 10/11/19 at 11:05pm

I’ve always thought she’d be perfect for Morrible as well!

[Theatrefanboy1]

Posted: 10/12/19 at 7:21am

I have been wanting to see her as Madame Armfeldt for years and years. Which I don’t understand because really it is a role that she by all rights could still do.

I actually wonder if Scott Rudin would consider it after the music man. Like grand affair Julie Andrews and cate blanchett, Brian stokes Mitchell and timothee chalamet or something.

[ArtMan]

Posted: 10/12/19 at 8:51am

ggersten said: "I have a vague recollection that she did the stage show out of love for her husband - nearly all of her films in the 70s and 80s were directed by Blake Edwards. I recall reading her saying that the musical was a financial mistake because you couldn't sell the film rights, since there already was a film."

I saw the show and it was more exciting to me that President Gerald Ford and Henry Kissinger sat two rows behind me,  At intermission, you were allowed to interact with them and get pictures, etc.  Regardless of how you may have felt about them, it was cool to be that close to a former President and Secretary of State.  Back to the show.  Rachel York was the best thing and definitely deserved a Tony nomination.  If I remember the gossip at the time correctly,  Julie did NOT want to do the show,  It was Blake, who was having financial issues, that kept on her (nicer way of saying pressured) to do the show.  She caved in and finally agreed.  I stage doored that night.  She came out and walked directly to her car.  She didn't say a word, didn't sign and really didn't acknowledge the fans, even with a smile.  I enjoyed the show when I saw it, because I was a fan of Julie.  But the show was a weaker retread of the movie and it is possible that the Tony Committee at that time, got it right, when they didn't receive the nominations they thought they were going to get.