MY FAIR LADY Revival Back On For Next Spring? — Page 10

Maybe Shanice Williams as Eliza? I'd pay for that! 

For me, Paulo Szot for Higgins and Benanti for Eliza. Szot has full command of English now, and the clips of him in Brazil last summer were splendid. Would love to see Colin Firth but fear that he plays a little too old for Higgins. It is very important to me to see someone play Eliza who has the comic chops to make her Cockney side feel real and slightly desperate. I love Kelli O'Hara but I thought he Nellie Forbush felt very Southern genteel and I would be afraid that the early scenes in MY FAIR LADY would come across as nice young lady waiting for clean clothes and some lessons. Eliza is the daughter of a drunk, on her own, lonely and a scrapper. Benanti can do that.

 

I wish Auli'l Cravalho was older to be Eliza.

sondmon said: "I've heard Laura say she wants to play Eliza so maybe.

"

Yup, she just tweeted

Robbie2 said: "My choice as well coupled with Colin Firth is perfection."

Right? That combination would just be legendary!

wonkit said: " love Kelli O'Hara but I thought he Nellie Forbush felt very Southern genteel and I would be afraid that the early scenes in MY FAIR LADY would come across as nice young lady waiting for clean clothes and some lessons."

Having seen her do the NY Phil concert version, I can assure that wasn't the case.  I know people are getting sick of her doing these revivals, but let's be honest... Eliza is actually a better match for her voice than Nellie, Anna, and Babe.  If this revival had been 8 years ago, it wouldn't have even been a question of whether she'd be good for the part.  I don't THINK it will be Kelli, but I'm obviously not going to be mad if it is.  For those saying Benanti, I actually prefer funny, belty Laura to soprano Laura.  I think she'd be great for the first half, but I don't know how I'd feel about her for the second half.

BroadwayConcierge said: "I  cannot overstate how much I would love to see Phillipa Soo in this role. I would forfeit my right to dreamcast ever again if she played this. 

God I can't disagree with this more.  Phillipa has a lovely (if slightly underwhelming) voice, but she lacks any and all personality required to make cockney Eliza even remotely funny.

wonderfulwizard11 said: "Exciting if they've cast an unknown as Eliza, but I still maintain the ideal choice is Lauren Worsham. Could handle the score and the comedy in equal measure. 

I don't know about her accent (I didn't see Gentleman's Guide) but otherwise, I'm SO down for this. I know I said I wanted them to cast younger but... she can pass for being in her 20's, right?

 

Lauren Worsham is the best idea I've read yet.  She's legitimately perfect for the role in every possible way.  Scarlett Strallen isn't a bad choice either.  But the idea of Worsham is really exciting to me.

How long is Junk running?

 

I think Danny can sit this one out. Lets see some fresh faces.

My dream casting:  Hugh Jackman as Higgins, Lauren Worsham as Eliza.   May it be so!

Disagree bjh, there's some stuff floating around the internet of Phillipa doing Oklahoma and Parade and she does the comic stuff well. Eliza, Natasha and Amelie aren't really the best roles to express that.

 

wonkit said: "And I am glad Kelli was good in a concert version but I think it is much easier to pull out all the stops when it is a single performance, especially when you have no scenery or costumes to help along. "

Just for your reference, the production was fully costumed and had a small set.  It wasn't a "stand and sing" concert.  It was fully staged.

Whoever mentioned Lauren Worsham, I thank you and hate you. I can't get it out of my head. She'd be perfect.