Understudy Joined: 5/19/08
I Sandy Australian in the musical of Grease as she is in the movie?
Eye wishh thad Eyedeenuh Metnzell wood playe Sandy!
no
Nope.
In the stage version she is Sandy Dumbrowski. Of Polish descent.
In the 1978 film-version, since Olivia Newton-John is Australian, they chose to make the character Australian as well. They changed her name to Sandy Olsen.
Changing character's nationalities isn't a rare thing when Broadway shows are made into films.
Sally Bowles was British in the stage version of CABARET. She was American in Bob Fosse's 1972 film-version with Liza Minnelli.
In the stage version of MAMMA MIA!, Bill is from Australia. He was Swedish in the 2008 film-version.
Updated On: 12/13/08 at 06:23 PM
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
And in the play, Rydell High School is in Chicago, not California.
The movie Cabaret made Sally an American because Liza couldn't do an English accent. When she subbed for Julie Andrews in Victor/Victoria, they had to make Victoria a Canadian for the same reason.
I think english accents are easy to do or learn. I guess it depends on the person tho.
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/4/04
Can you name even 5 American actors who are uncontroversially regarded as doing a near-perfect British accent of any kind? ("English" is a bit broad - do you mean RP? Generic London Mockney? Or something more "regional" like Georgie or Manc?)
Jeffrey Dean Morgan put on a almost perfect Irish accent. I had no idea he was american.
I'm originally British but lived in America most of my life and I think putting on a British accent is pretty easy. I mean, like, proper english or cockney. I can't perfect regional.
It's funny cause I can think of like 3 or 4 British actors who can put on perfect American accents: Hugh Laurie (House), Damian Lewis (Dreamcatcher), James Frain (Where the Heart Is).
Forest Whittaker's British accent in THE CRYING GAME was flawless.
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/14/07
where does it ever say in the script that the show takes place in Chicago? I thik it could take place anywhere in america.
Updated On: 12/14/08 at 10:49 AM
Broadway Star Joined: 7/17/08
I think it's just a generally understood consensus that since the show was written and premiered in Chicago, by natives of Chicago, that Rydell is located somewhere in that city, but yes, it could be anywhere if you so choose to make it, as I think you are right and it is not specifically stated in the script.
GREASE started its life in Chicago, as did its writers and most of its original cast (Marilu Henner was one -- she created the role of Marty).
Jim Jacobs set the setting of the play in Chicago and based the play loosely on his life growing up there in the late 50's.
The setting was changed to California for the 1978 film-version.
Meryl Streep in The French Lieutenant's Woman
In the stage version she is Sandy Dumbrowski. Of Polish descent.
Not to say one couldn't be Australian of Polish descent. (Anthony Warlow is.)
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