Posted: 11/23/15 at 10:29am
Julie Andrews was 21. Christine Andreas was 25. Audrey Hepburn was 34. Kelli O'Hara is 39. These days 30 us the new 20. She looks great for her age and she can most definitely sing the score. If I had my pick I would choose Laura Osnes.
Posted: 11/23/15 at 10:59am
If they must revive this "dusty old musical," an accepted classic with one of the great scores based on a wonderful play by George Bernard Shaw, ( those opera companies should stop dusting off Carmen every other year), Kelli would be wonderful in it if she can get through the age barrier.
The roles of Eliza and Anna are not dissimilar. Anna is a woman thrust into an alien culture where she is forced to deal with a powerful and intimidating king. In the case of Eliza, she is transported into a different class and must also deal with an egotistical and intimidating teacher.
Kelli in TK&I is superb in her comedic clashes with the king and the clashes with Higgins would open up many laughter opportunities.
On the other hand, while Kelli is still in her prime years, I almost wish that she would anchor a new musical more suitable to her age. But then I guess she tried that in Madison County and it didn't work out too well.
Updated On: 11/23/15 at 10:59 AM
Posted: 11/23/15 at 11:05am
People are talking about Kelli like she's in an elderly home breaking her hip day in and day out. Relax. She's well out of youth, to be sure, but she isn't exactly enfeebled.
Posted: 11/23/15 at 11:19am
I'm sorry but she's just too old for this. I'm sure she would sing it well, but why not let a relative unknown who's more age appropriate and better suited for the role have a go at it?
Posted: 11/23/15 at 11:22am
Do you think they'll let her use her walker on stage, since she's so old and fragile?
Posted: 11/23/15 at 11:25am
Jordan Catalano said: "Do you think they'll let her use her walker on stage, since she's so old and fragile?"
Exactly. Kelli and this production will be revolutionary in breaking ableist boundaries on Broadway.
Posted: 11/23/15 at 11:34am
If you want an age-inappropriate diva in the role, why not just go all out and call in Bernadette Peters, Victoria Clark, Betty Buckley, Glenn Close, Josie de Guzman, or Rosalind Elias to audition?
Posted: 11/23/15 at 11:47am
newintown said: "If you want an age-inappropriate diva in the role, why not just go all out and call in Bernadette Peters, Victoria Clark, Betty Buckley, Glenn Close, Josie de Guzman, or Rosalind Elias to audition?
"Barbara Cook is still alive.
Posted: 11/23/15 at 11:57am
NOW you're thinking! She could alternate with Shirley Jones! And Marni!
Posted: 11/23/15 at 3:08pm
This is one of the very few musicals where I would like them to actually cast British actors. My issue with Kelli is not her age but her ability to convincingly sustain an accent and bring the grit that Eliza has. To me, Kelli, Laura Benanti, and Laura Osnes don't feel like that "Just You Wait" part of Eliza and again, this is one of the very few times where I don't just want to hear a pretty soprano. I liked the Colin Firth as the name talent and a relative unknown as Eliza rumor that was floating around.
Posted: 11/23/15 at 3:15pm
I feel like Kelli as Eliza would be the dullest thing ever. We've seen her play that type of character for years now. Yes I know she's our go to gal for classical broadway musicals but I think someone with more of an edge would be better suited. Eliza is perfect for Benati, I really don't think anyone would do it better than her.
Posted: 11/23/15 at 3:15pm
I can't think of two people I would want to see do this less.
Lauren Worsham is my dream Eliza, and she's the right age.
Posted: 11/23/15 at 3:16pm
VintageSnarker said: "This is one of the very few musicals where I would like them to actually cast British actors. "
Who is them?
Posted: 11/23/15 at 4:18pm
HogansHero said: "Who is them? "
Probably the people in charge of casting this rumored production.
Posted: 11/23/15 at 5:29pm
perfectlymarvelous said: "I can't think of two people I would want to see do this less.
Lauren Worsham is my dream Eliza, and she's the right age."
Yes! Or Lisa O'Hare.
Posted: 11/23/15 at 6:00pm
I wonder if Julia Udine could pull off the accents.
Posted: 11/23/15 at 6:13pm
Gypsy,
There are no people casting this. All there are are 2 actors who are said to want to do it, and a director who has the rights who wants to do it. If and when these 3 individuals get someone to produce the show (or do it themselves), there will be no casting director who is tasked with biting the hand that feeds him or her.
Posted: 11/23/15 at 8:36pm
Kelli is too porcelain to play Eliza Doolittle. She'll never be believed as a coarse flowergirl. The whole point of the character is they take a street urchin and pass her off as a lady. Not that they take a lady with black greasepaint on her cheeks and turn her into a lady without black greasepaint on her cheeks. Get someone who can pull off the coarseness of the character.
Posted: 11/23/15 at 8:58pm
Let's remember Roger Friedman also said Renee Zellweger would make her Broadway debut in something like THE HUSTLER or some other adaptation. I don't trust him at all. But really, I hope he is wrong. O'Hara is a lovely performer but I would rather see her take on something less expected, perhaps a straight play or something else.
And oh God, I'd hate to see Higgins go to Grammer. There are SO many brilliant actors from Broadway, TV and film who'd bring something special to the role. There's few people I'd be less interested in seeing in the role.
Posted: 11/23/15 at 9:09pm
I always think of Kelli O' Hara as "the new" Rebecca Luker in the since that when Rebecca Luker was younger and around Kelli's age she was the "go to girl" for classic musical revivals, which is not a bad thing.
Posted: 11/23/15 at 10:50pm
Gothampc said: "Kelli is too porcelain to play Eliza Doolittle. She'll never be believed as a coarse flowergirl. The whole point of the character is they take a street urchin and pass her off as a lady. Not that they take a lady with black greasepaint on her cheeks and turn her into a lady without black greasepaint on her cheeks. Get someone who can pull off the coarseness of the character.
"
Interesting take. How about Kelli in Pajama Game?
Rebecca Luker, with her lovely soprano, didn't have the acting ability of O'Hara. She had just two Tony nominations for leading actress. Based on her performance in Encores' Boys From Syracuse I think that there was another side of her that she never got the chance to show. After her very good Magnolia in the Show Boat revival, her future looked brighter than it turned out.
I remember reading the re-review of Sound of Music in the Times after Laura Benanti had taken over as Maria. I felt sorry for Rebecca for having to read the critic's opinion that the show was better with Benanti.
Posted: 11/23/15 at 10:57pm
Kelsey Grammer? Really? With all the talented good looking Brits around who could handle Higgins, Kelsey Grammar? I wouldn't pay to see it, no matter who they use for Eliza.
Posted: 11/23/15 at 11:04pm
Her age doesn't matter. Her voice is absolutely clear and gorgeous and she's going to sound fantastic. She's a great actress and I'm sure that she'll pull it off. I'm a little disappointed with Grammer. I'm sure he'll be great, but I was hoping to see Colin Firth finally get to do this role.
Posted: 11/23/15 at 11:37pm
"Interesting take. How about Kelli in Pajama Game?"
She sang the role fine. But it was played by Doris Day in the film. It's not exactly an acting challenge.
If they were doing the non-musical version Pygmalion, somebody like Sophie Okenedo would be perfect. She has the ability to transition from rough around the edges into a woman who is refined.
Posted: 11/24/15 at 12:18am
I think that comparing any actress to Doris Day is an insult! Miss White Bread.
But I meant that Kelli in Pajama Game was not porcelain. She was a little earthy, no? And in her opera debut at the Met in The Merry Widow she was even acknowledged by the opera critics to have done very well as the drunken flirt Valencienne who finds herself in the middle of a can can line and falls in with them.
Don't underestimate this woman's versatility.
But I agree that a younger woman should play Eliza in any revival. O'Hara will have a ton of offers after she leaves TK&I, which I believe will be in January or February, and she should find something to be enthusiastic about.
