Laura Benanti to replace Lauren Ambrose in MY FAIR LADY- Page 21

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow2]

Posted: 2/19/19 at 12:02pm

poisonivy2, I have to agree with so much of your review, except for Jordan Donica. I seem to be in the minority who really liked what Donica did with the role.

[Melissa25]

Posted: 2/19/19 at 1:21pm

I liked Ambrose's nuance in her portrayal of Eliza but Benanti's singing was the cat's meow for me. I also have to agree that Ambrose's "Move your bloomin arse" line worked better for me.

BTW just purchased tickets to see Laura at Caramoor on 7/6.  

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 2/19/19 at 1:36pm

RippedMan said: "Has she ever done a full 8?"

From the moment Benanti was announced, it was clearly stated she would not be doing Tuesday performances.  She negotiated a 7 performance schedule for reasons heavily covered on this thread.  

 

[LxGstv]

Posted: 3/17/19 at 12:37pm

I would have to agree with henrikegerman‘s post (#459) about the differences between Ambrose and Benanti. I would just like to add that there were small subtle differences between them that I really enjoy seeing.

Ambrose’s ascot scene for me was brilliant, she struggled more with her gown and moving across the stage than Benanti, which makes sense because her dress was supposed to be clipped in the back. Benanti was faster, only really “struggling” with her English, Ambrose was much more physical. Ambrose struggled to sit down comfortably and was visibly uncomfortable when someone offered her a drink after she had finally settled in her seat, it was funnier. I did enjoy Benanti shoving her parasol in between her legs, but overall Ambrose was superior in the whole scene for me.

Also, before the rain in Spain starts up, Ambrose actually struggles with the lines a couple of times before getting it right, she had this pained look on her face that made you feel sorry for her, and when she was actually able to pronounce it properly you were able to feel her joy, making “I could have danced all night” even more special. Benanti just goes straight to proper pronunciation, saying it slowly, but still properly.

On a side note, Christian Dante White was a much superior Freddy for me, I never really cared much about Freddy until seeing his take on it. He brings a sort of innocence to the role that I appreciated, there’s a bit of giddiness to him as well that makes the whole street song a bit less stalky. When Eliza sings Show Me, he’s almost like a dog that’s been chasing a car, but when he finally reaches it, he’s unsure of what to do next. I really enjoyed him on the role.

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 3/17/19 at 1:41pm

I'm still shocked by the love for Ambrose's performance which I found to be completely amateurish. How anyone could find her performance to be anything more than bizarre and flat is beyond me.

[NYadgal]

Posted: 3/17/19 at 4:52pm

And how anyone didn’t love it is beyond me.

It’s called opinions.

[tomwsjr]

Posted: 3/17/19 at 10:24pm

To each his/her own. I found Ms. Ambrose’s performance stunning!

[poisonivy2]

Posted: 3/17/19 at 10:43pm

Hmm I explained my reasons for preferring Ambrose to Benanti here:

https://humbledandoverwhelmed.blogspot.com/2019/02/my-fair-ladys-new-cast-my-new-assignment.html

However, in brief:

1) Lauren Ambrose and Harry Hadden-Patton actually seemed like they liked each other. Laura Benanti's chemistry with Hadden-Patton was so cold that when she walked out of Higgins's study I didn't sense any emotion from either of them.

2) Laura Benanti had no character growth. She started off strong, mature, and confident, and ended strong, mature and confident. There was no youthfulness or winsomeness to her Eliza. 

3) Neither have ideal Eliza voices but Benanti the day I heard her had such a shrill, disconnected upper register.

4) Benanti's accent was a mess. I think I even heard Melania Trump in there. No attempt to do either the Cockney or the British upper crust accent with any consistency.

5) For a known comedienne I didn't find her Eliza very funny. 

[OlBlueEyes]

Posted: 3/18/19 at 2:02am

I was expecting this for weeks.

In this New York Times interview that was published after she had left, she reveals hard times she went through. 
I bring this up because Lauren must have had some shaky performances while all this was going on and some may have caught one of these performances and thought it was representative of all of her performances.


Early in previews, and I had a sinus infection, and I took an antibiotic that I had a really bad reaction to. I felt like I was going to throw up, and I was on a turntable that was literally spinning. I thought, If I can get through this, I can get through anything.

It had been a very intense time, an awful, weird time. I had this vocal problem for a little while, my voice was cutting out while I was singing. There were a few performances where I was having a crazy muscle tension thing. It was when I was going back and forth from New Haven, from the hospital. That was really stressful; my body wasn’t responding and performing the way I wanted to.

I dropped out of a few performances when my dad passed away about a month ago. The show was something that my dad was so very proud of. He was at opening night, even though he was very ill. To get to come back to the show and be surrounded by this amazing group of beautiful, feeling artists as I started the process of grieving and dealing with this new phase of life was really a gift, even though obviously incredibly challenging.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/22/theater/lauren-ambrose-my-fair-lady.html

Updated On: 3/19/19 at 02:02 AM

[Owen22]

Posted: 3/18/19 at 4:54pm

Finally saw the show again yesterday and somehow the show got even better! Every single replacement gives a better performance in the role--and the original cast was pretty spectacular to begin with! I actually don't think Laura Benanti sings it that much better then Lauren, but somehow, probably because of the sexier chemistry, she makes Harry even better! And her comic chops are just expert! How can anyone ever give a better performance in a role than Norbert Leo Butz? But Danny Burstein! Danny Burstein!!! And Rosemary Harris! What a gift this show is!

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 3/18/19 at 5:16pm

When does the show close?

[Danielle49]

Posted: 3/18/19 at 7:50pm

I got to see it last week with the new cast. I loved it even more this time!

I saw it last spring with the original cast, and everyone was in the Night I saw it last week. This time, I just felt transported to a world of classic, Golden Age musicals that I didn’t feel before.

I didn’t enjoy Norbert Leo Butz, but I adored Danny Burstein in the role. Harry Hadden-Paton still lives in that role, infusing it with a dashing charm and nuance that I couldn’t take my eyes off of.

Regarding the Eliza discussion: I LOVED both of their interpretations of the role. Benanti’s voice wasn’t all there when i saw her, but she sounded lovely nonetheless. Very different Elizas, and each bring something personal and fresh to the production. I think both interpretations make sense, but I just happen to prefer Benanti’s choice. Her decision to keep Eliza a strong and feisty all the way through points out the class divide and messages of the play on a broader scale — Eliza thinks that just changing her manner and accent will earn her respect and success. She finds out that the accent made little difference, and she must rely on her own strength — no man, no money — to get the respect and success she wants. Less transformation, more realization.

Updated On: 3/18/19 at 07:50 PM

[magictodo123]

Posted: 3/19/19 at 7:47am

Does anyone support the idea of Kerstin Anderson ever taking over full time? She's not a name YET, but she does have the star is born quality, and is more than capable of holding her own. When I saw her I was blown away by her performance. Just me?

[spicemonkey]

Posted: 3/19/19 at 8:10am

magictodo123 said: "Does anyone support the idea of Kerstin Anderson ever taking over full time? She's not a name YET, but she does have the star is born quality, and is more than capable of holding her own. When I saw her I was blown away by her performance. Just me?"

 

I totally support this idea. She is my fav among the three talented leading ladies. (Haven't seen Heather Botts yet)

[magictodo123]

Posted: 3/19/19 at 8:18am

spicemonkey said: "magictodo123 said: "Does anyone support the idea of Kerstin Anderson ever taking over full time? She's not a name YET, but she does have the star is born quality, and is more than capable of holding her own. When I saw her I was blown away by her performance. Just me?"



I totally support this idea. She is my fav among the three talented leading ladies. (Haven't seen Heather Botts yet)"

I just think she's incredible! Honestly, between Ambrose, Benanti and Anderson, I think she may be my favorite.

[laurensambrose]

Posted: 3/21/19 at 8:07pm

For anyone who's curious, Heather Botts recently departed the cast. And it looks like Shereen Ahmed is going to be a/the new Eliza Doolittle understudy starting April 27th: https://www.instagram.com/shereen_ahmed/p/BvKApLpAffQ/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=17inam07a8xei&fbclid=IwAR00ete-C2rDfPFrEQ6Chhc6oz84h992lum1KxAyqLdkKNcOQFIv2I31UQc. Not sure if Kerstin is leaving but if you want to see her, might want to make that sooner rather than later! 

[Auggie27]

Posted: 3/21/19 at 8:26pm

When I saw Benanti about a month ago, at a Saturday matinee, the voice was extraordinary. Not ordinary in any way. To my ears, she sang it second only to Andrews' recording. And I've seen a lot of Elizas. I'm startled by the commentary on her singing. If she was slightly too strong in her portrayal at the top, and traded vulnerability for a kind of earnest bravado, she lands the role with a mature dukes-up approach. She isn't an ingenue, and wisely builds a year-in-the-making wall around her Eliza that must be pierced. I thought she was hysterical in the Ascot, and it was the place her entire approach most paid off.

But the singing, damn, it was thrilling. 

[HennySlay]

Posted: 3/21/19 at 9:50pm

According to playbill Lauralyn Mcclelland is also covering Eliza.
http://www.playbill.com/person/lauralyn-mcclelland-vault-0000062224

[OlBlueEyes]

Posted: 3/22/19 at 2:10am

Benanti’s voice wasn’t all there when i saw her,

No surprise, I guess that both women had off-vocal days. But it's still eight shows a week, and stars like Audra and Kristin and Idina take a few years off between musicals.

Sounds like Ms. Kelli, who certainly has earned a break, will be the next to try the small screen.

Updated On: 3/22/19 at 02:10 AM

[SmoothLover]

Posted: 3/23/19 at 12:54am

Is the production still selling out?

[Musical Master]

Posted: 3/23/19 at 1:41am

This week was sold at 86% capacity, so I think the show will be just fine for a while.

[ScottyDoesn'tKnow2]

Posted: 3/27/19 at 11:21am

Regarding a recent negative post about Ambrose's performance from someone who's been doing that since the beginning. It's sort of nice that some things never change. That one person among a few seem really angry that people actually like or even love this performance. Obviously, having an opinion that Ambrose's performance wasn't good  is valid, but so are the opinions of others who really disagree with that take and liked/loved Ambrose's portrayal.

Based on posting history since the announcement, we all know how some people feel about Ambrose as they have made so many posts about it for over a year, some even trying to push a narrative that Sher was obsessed with Ambrose to the point of it being disconcerting and making fun of Ambrose's early absences that lasted like 3 days very early on in the run and then going down to 7 days after July. Saying she'd be "Madeline Kahned". (Which means what exactly? That she'll come back to Broadway and win a Tony award and be nominated for a few and be considered an excellent actress in her own right? )

I'm a bit confused as to the need to repost another negative opinion about Ambrose since it's not news that certain people loathed her and the idea of her being in this role. Is it being posted  now because Benanti, who they championed for the role, is doing it now and though also received good/great/excellent reviews also has some detractors who found Ambrose better?Tthe fact that Benanti has had even more absences and  started out doing 7 shows a week? It seems that everything Ambrose detractors railed against her for or made fun of her for, Benanti has done but more. 

My post was not meant to disparage Benanti whose absences we all know were not due to her lack of work ethic but because she had real valid reasons and we all know what a brilliant musical theatre performer she is. I just found some hypocrisy to be too apparent not to comment on. 

[OlBlueEyes]

Posted: 3/27/19 at 12:09pm

I hope that Lauren returns to Broadway. I'm afraid that as long as she has the house and kids in Connecticut it may be "great experience, but once was enough." What role would top Eliza?

I thought that there would be a much greater "debate" on whose Eliza was the best. I conclude that they were both wonderful and your preference depended on whether you liked your flower girl brassy or bedraggled.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 3/27/19 at 12:14pm

I think the show is doing fine now in terms of grosses. Be curious who replaces Benanti, but I can see the show running until the end of the year.

[SomethingPeculiar]

Posted: 3/27/19 at 12:15pm

OlBlueEyes said: "I hope that Lauren returns to Broadway. I'm afraid that as long as she has the house and kids in Connecticutit may be "great experience, but once was enough." What role would top Eliza?"

I think 15 weeks in a play would be a lot different than 7 months as Eliza Doolittle. I bet we'll see her onstage again within the next 5 years. She's of the theatre originally –– it's not like Forest Whitaker or Emilia Targaryen Clarke, who apparently swore off theatre after negative experiences.