Kerry Ellis confirms she'll star in West End's Oliver

[beautywickedlover]

Posted: 11/27/09 at 11:52am

Former Elphaba Kerry Ellis has been confirmed to take over the role of Nancy in the West End revival of "Oliver" from Jodie Prenger March 29, 2010. I'm sure she'll do great in this role. The news is found in the middle to the beginning of the bottom of the article.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1231278/BAZ-BAMIGBOYE-Gurkha-goddess-Joanna-red-hot-momma.html


Updated On: 11/27/09 at 11:52 AM

[devilish23]

Posted: 11/27/09 at 4:53pm

Isnt she too young????

[teh_pretty]

Posted: 11/27/09 at 5:45pm

According to the text, Nancy is about 20 years old.

[Pgenre]

Posted: 11/27/09 at 6:14pm

Why do great singers always take this crappy part? I REALLY don't get it... is it just because the role has impact? "As Long As He Needs Me" is an ok song, nothing more (unless Cleo Laine is singing it, THEN I understand the allure)... but from Patti LuPone to Kerry Ellis, OLIVER keep's 'em comin' back. What's up with that?

P

[peerrjb]

Posted: 11/27/09 at 10:46pm

Well, Pgenre, from an acting point of view, Nancy is the emotional center of the show and grounds the title character, and has a lot of dimension to play, if the actress digs into it. And then she's got "I'd Do Anything", "It's a Fine Life" (the final section of which brings some interesting pathos to the tune), and "Oom-Pah-Pah" which is a lotta lotta fun to perform -- aside from the big ballad. She's the only one in a real threat -- oh, yeah, she gets murdered... -- so I think that a lot of great singers realize it's not a crappy part at all. Hell, pound for pound and song for song, the part's got quite a bit more than other second-fiddle female characters. Maybe I'm spoiled from working on a couple of productions of it, and also being introduced to the show through the original, Georgia Brown. Anyhoo.... just my opinion.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 11/27/09 at 11:00pm

...or she just needs the money.

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 11/27/09 at 11:03pm

It's not like she is a big high demand actress. She takes what she can get.

This is coming from a fan.

[PiraguaGuy2]

Posted: 11/27/09 at 11:08pm

I'm so sick of people saying "SO and SO is too good for THAT role, or why did SUCH and SUCH take this role, they can do so much better?"

Unfortunately, very often, no, they can't. As I'm sure most here are aware, theatre is a tough business, and jobs are few and far between. If Ellis was becoming a vacation swing in the third non-Equity tour of Hairspray, I might understand a little confusion, but she's the first-ever replacement for the female lead in a high-profile revival of a high-profile show. So let's get a little perspective here.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 11/28/09 at 1:14am

And this is her second time as a first-ever replacement in a big show. And, as others have said, she's the only character most of us give a damn about.

That said, I personally find her boring, and can only imagine what kind of a snooze fest Oliver will become.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 11/28/09 at 1:22am

How exactly would this be beneath her? She originated one role, stood by for two others, and eventually replaced in one of them. This is hardly a step down for her.

[ruthiefan_felix]

Posted: 11/28/09 at 1:48am

She's good, but Nancy's a good role too! I can imagine she'll sing the SH*T out of that role!
She's been in WWRY originating Meat, My Fair Lady, Miss Saigon UK Tour and Wicked, so I guess I wudnt say its a stand up or down really! As you said... from our pond, some of our best ppl have played this role! Ruthie Henshall, Linzi Hately, Sally Ann Triplett...etc and on Broadway, Patti LuPone... it's not exaclty a BAD role!

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 11/28/09 at 2:29am

Linzi Hateley played Nancy? I'd love to hear that.

[Scripps2]

Posted: 11/28/09 at 5:01am

"from our pond, some of our best ppl have played this role! Ruthie Henshall, Linzi Hately, Sally Ann Triplett"

Not to mention Sally Dexter's perfect performance in the 1994 revival.

There's a reason why this musical is rarely off the stage in the UK: it's about British spirit. And that is why to anyone who understands British culture, Nancy is a great role.

[RainbowJude]

Posted: 11/28/09 at 5:09am

What I want to know is the extent to which she'll Elphabatise the role. Will "As Long as You Need Me" sound like "As Long as You're Mine"? :P

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 11/28/09 at 11:48pm

Oh, how I would love to see her in the role!