MY FAIR LADY Revival Back On For Next Spring?- Page 19

[Valentina3]

Posted: 6/16/17 at 5:15pm

This is what she looks like. This picture is from last year, but even in her latest Colbert appearance she looked like she could be in her late 20s. Actors frequently plays characters 20 years older/younger on stage, it is hardly unheard of.



And GeorgeandDot - Pippa does have a highly trained classical voice, I recommend you listen to her "No One Else" from The Great Comet if you haven't already. I'd be happy with either of these ladies, but obviously am very biased towards Benanti.

[froote]

Posted: 6/16/17 at 5:18pm

Well we're all different but if I didn't know of Benanti and someone showed me that photo I'd say she was late 30s. A very beautiful late 30s but still.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 6/16/17 at 5:20pm

Benanti is stunningly beautiful, but she simply can no longer pass for early 20s.

[Valentina3]

Posted: 6/16/17 at 5:21pm

I give up. She's not going to be cast anyway so not sure why I'm fighting on an online board :p

[pupscotch]

Posted: 6/16/17 at 5:26pm

I don't know if this has been thrown around on here, but Annaleigh Ashford could act Eliza excellently and is about the right age, although she's not the soprano Laura and Phillipa are. Ashley Park is still my dream choice, though. Young and a skillful comedian, plus she has the experience with Sher.

But if there's one thing I do know, it's that I don't want a very old Higgins with a very young Eliza.

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 6/16/17 at 5:29pm

Laura Benanti would still be the best Eliza even if she isn't the most youthful.

And yes I am very familiar with Phillipa Soo in TGC.  I actually saw her in it.  She is a soprano, but her voice can get a bit nasally and I would prefer to have an Eliza with less of a pop twist.  She's still great though.  I'm just not sure that she would be my favorite.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 6/16/17 at 5:30pm

Nasally? Are you sure you saw Phillipa Soo?

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 6/16/17 at 5:33pm

Yes she can get nasally.  It's not a bad thing.  It's just in her placement of her higher belt.  She sounds fantastic in everything, I just would prefer to hear a lighter and more classical voice for Eliza.

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 6/16/17 at 8:43pm

I have zero interest in this.  They will cast some star, inappropriately, and try to change it to make it "more appealing" to modern audiences or some such garbage.  Now, if they were to bring the Julie Andrews' helmed production taking Australia by storm, then we could dispense with stars (because Julie as director would be star power enough), and we'd get the definitive original staging, costumes, orchestrations and choreography.  THAT would get my ass in a theater seat.

[Sally Durant Plummer]

Posted: 6/16/17 at 9:01pm

Have you ever seen a Lincoln Center/Bart Sher revival?

Updated On: 6/16/17 at 09:01 PM

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 6/16/17 at 9:10pm

Naturally.  I've been going to the theater since the 1950s.  I saw the original London production of MY FAIR LADY, in fact.

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 6/16/17 at 9:20pm

JohnBoy2 said: "I have zero interest in this.  They will cast some star, inappropriately, and try to change it to make it "more appealing" to modern audiences or some such garbage.  Now, if they were to bring the Julie Andrews' helmed production taking Australia by storm, then we could dispense with stars (because Julie as director would be star power enough), and we'd get the definitive original staging, costumes, orchestrations and choreography.  THAT would get my ass in a theater seat.

You clearly have decided to give your opinion on this revival after doing 0 research on it.  If you were to read a single post in this entire thread you would know that Sher's revivals at Lincoln Center are usually large, lush productions with the original orchestrations and he has yet to poorly cast a show with celebrities.  His revivals are often the closest that many of us will ever get to the original productions.  Check out his production of South Pacific, The King and I, and Fiddler on the Roof.

 

[Skimbleshanks2]

Posted: 6/17/17 at 1:00pm

I agree that PHILLIPA's voice is nasally... you can hear it in "No One Else" when she sings "never Be AS HAPPY AGAIIIN" and the elongated "You and Iiiiii" and also "ELIIIIIIZA!" in "The Schuyler Sisters"... Her voice can be harsh ... LAURA BENANTI has a similar problem even though I love her... acting wise BENANTI would knock this out of the park...

Hope they cast an unknown...

[RippedMan]

Posted: 6/17/17 at 7:02pm

Currently in a production of this, and I'm so curious to see how Lincoln Center does this and makes it lavish, and lush. I mean, a lot of it is set in a study. But I'm sure the opening sequence and the ballroom scene will be gorgeous. 

[mehtotheworld]

Posted: 6/17/17 at 10:12pm

People are actually talking about Laura Benanti's age as a negative when there's a possibility of her playing Eliza Doolittle? Good grief! She's got the comedy chops and the singing voice. It should be a no brainer! What "other direction" might people have been talking about when moving away from casting her?

[DramaTeach]

Posted: 6/17/17 at 11:10pm

Isn't she basically out of the running since she's attached to Meteor Showers?

[RippedMan]

Posted: 6/18/17 at 12:33am

I don't think age is a huge issue, especially if she's playing opposite Firth. 

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 6/29/17 at 4:16pm

Colin Firth is apparently still in the running to play Henry Higgins...
http://nypost.com/2017/06/29/broadway-still-pleading-for-colin-firth-to-star-in-my-fair-lady/

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 6/29/17 at 4:16pm

https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Colin-Firth-Still-In-the-Running-for-MY-FAIR-LADY-Revival-20170629

Interesting.  No comment on Eliza yet, but this show has quite an incredible creative team.

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Posted: 6/29/17 at 4:18pm

Bart has said in an interview with BroadwayBox that he'd like to find a Henry Higgins first before turning his attention to Eliza Doolittle.

[Valentina3]

Posted: 6/29/17 at 5:22pm

GeorgeandDot said: "https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Colin-Firth-Still-In-the-Running-for-MY-FAIR-LADY-Revival-20170629

Interesting.  No comment on Eliza yet, but this show has quite an incredible creative team."

I'd say. I'm team Catherine Zuber all the way! No surprises, however, since this is Sher's typical team.

[A Canadian in NYC]

Posted: 6/29/17 at 9:13pm

The article mentions Kevin Kline is possibly in the running.  While I think he would be great, isn't he considerably older than Colin Firth or some of the other names being batted around?  I hope, if that's the case, they go with a slightly older actress for Liza to avoid the ick factor.  I'm still Team Firth all the way.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 6/29/17 at 9:30pm

Has Catherine Zuber ever done a bad job on anything? Seriously, I find her work to be consistently brilliant.

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 6/29/17 at 9:43pm

I wonder how much Colin will be able to get. He does seem perfect for Higgins, though whoever mentioned Kenneth Branagh might be my new favorite person. 

[GeorgeandDot]

Posted: 6/29/17 at 9:49pm

I like Branagh, but he's very busy and I'm not sure that he would be the best choice for such a role.  Higgins requires a certain quality that Firth and Kline have, but I'm not sure that Branagh has.  He's a great actor though, and sure he would be wonderful.

If they were to cast Kline, I think Benanti would truly be the best choice for Eliza.  They would read very well together.

Also, Zuber's work is always exceptional.  Her work in War Paint is simply divine.