MY FAIR LADY Revival Back On For Next Spring?- Page 5

[Theater_Nerd]

Posted: 7/23/16 at 11:19am

Julie Andrews would have made a luminous Amalia if they had made a movie version. Shirley Jones and Florence Henderson would have also done the role justice as well.

As far as this new revival of MFL is concerned I truly would love Laura Benanti to get this role. She would be phenomenal.

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 7/23/16 at 11:25am

Cynthia Erivo would be an inspired and incredible choice for Eliza.

[broadwayguy91]

Posted: 7/23/16 at 12:00pm

Does Cynthia have a legit soprano voice?

[JIMG3]

Posted: 7/23/16 at 12:06pm

The Beaumont stage is probably the most versatile stage in NYC, in addition to having some of the largest depth and wing space. I've seen and worked productions in the past, that have transitioned to a proscenium, and it's worked beautifully. I think the Beaumont would be a brilliant choice, but it's not on the table  

 

 

[Harrisonmlewis]

Posted: 7/23/16 at 12:25pm

Is Singin in the Rain out of the question for the Beaumont?

[JIMG3]

Posted: 7/23/16 at 12:53pm

As far as I know, yes it is. 

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 7/23/16 at 1:42pm

broadwayguy91, anyone who belts as high as Erivo does has a legit soprano voice.

[VintageSnarker]

Posted: 7/23/16 at 3:50pm

This is the closest I can think of for Anne Hathaway getting to the cockney side of Eliza. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rV7ZD9Gvf_Q

It's difficult to think of someone who would be a box office draw and who would also have the range for both sides of Eliza. 

[JIMG3]

Posted: 7/23/16 at 4:23pm

I can't think of anyone other than Kelli O'Hara, but that's already been discussed here. After listening and watching her in The King and I for almost one year, I truly believe she would be a revelation. 

Updated On: 7/23/16 at 04:23 PM

[SBE3]

Posted: 7/23/16 at 7:51pm

I still think that Laura Michelle Kelly would be the best choice for Eliza. She received rave reviews in London when she did it years back. She also did a staged concert at the Kennedy Center a few years ago and the reviews called her performance flawless. It would also be nice to have a British actress play the role. 

[Broadwayhunk]

Posted: 7/23/16 at 8:33pm

VintageSnarker said: "This is the closest I can think of for Anne Hathaway getting to the cockney side of Eliza. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rV7ZD9Gvf_Q

It's difficult to think of someone who would be a box office draw and who would also have the range for both sides of Eliza. 

Seems like she was attached to a MFL future production at one time.  Her voice here has a nice sweet and pure quality with some range.  Seems like a perfect fit for the role.  Plus, she has name value.

"

 

[icecreambenjamin]

Posted: 7/23/16 at 8:46pm

somethingwicked said: "broadwayguy91, anyone who belts as high as Erivo does has a legit soprano voice.

 

" Her voice is out of this world, but she is not right vocally for this role.  Plus I would cringe to see a white man "civilize" a black girl.

Anne Hathaway is lovely and has a pleasant voice, but I really don't think that she could sing it 8 times a week.

Kelli O'Hara is one of my favorite actresses and I could totally see her as transformed Eliza, but she will never be believable as the cockney flower girl.

 

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 7/23/16 at 8:58pm

For the record, Julie Andrews originated the role at 19.

From my standpoint, the "ick" factor of a very young woman being involved with the 50-year-old Henry Higgins' manipulative and misogynistic bet to turn her into a "lady" is precisely what any production of MFL should be about. They aren't equals at the beginning, and the idea of proposing the same bet to a 35-year-old woman is clearly not what either Lerner or Shaw had in mind (despite Mrs. Campbell's triumph in the role back in 1912.) If Eliza was 35 years old, then why on earth would her father Alfred Doolittle show up in such a huff at the outrage being perpetrated on his innocent daughter?

[icecreambenjamin]

Posted: 7/23/16 at 9:04pm

I really think that Laura Benanti looks about 24.  She could really play anyone between the ages of 24 and 45.

[Gorlois]

Posted: 7/23/16 at 10:02pm

"For the record, Julie Andrews originated the role at 19."

Not to split hairs, but MFL opened March of 1956 and Julie was born October 1st 1935, so she would have been 20 when the show opened. Perhaps you're thinking of "The Boy Friend," in which she made her Broadway debut the day before her 19th birthday?

As for the "ick factor" of the age difference, upon closer research it turns out the age difference between Laura Benanti and Colin Firth is the same as the one between Wendy Hiller and Leslie Howard in the 1938 movie-- 19 years. Similarly, Rex was 21 years older than Audrey, who turned 35 the year the movie came out (and looked it), only two years younger than Laura Benanti is now. So, in actuality, a Benanti/Firth pairing wouldn't be all that different from two of the most famous pairings of Eliza and Henry. I suppose it read less icky in my mind because Colin Firth is a lot more attractive fifty-something than was Rex Harrison.

Updated On: 7/23/16 at 10:02 PM

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 7/23/16 at 10:50pm

Someone in a Tree2 said: "If Eliza was 35 years old, then why on earth would her father Alfred Doolittle show up in such a huff at the outrage being perpetrated on his innocent daughter?"

 

Eliza's innocence is not at all what Doolittle is concerned about. While he does assume that it's a Pretty Woman style arrangement when he first receives the news, he is delighted that Eliza is being so resourceful and only visits Wimpole Street to make sure he gets his fair cut of what he assumes Eliza is making.

[gregnyc2]

Posted: 7/23/16 at 10:50pm

Julie was 20 premiering MFL (astonishing....can you imagine being in those audiences!).

I'm pretty sure there were some preliminary movie talks for Julie in She Loves Me.   On one rare 45, julie sings He Loves Me.

I'm not so concerned about the age of Eliza.....as long as the actress can hit those high notes, purely nonthickly.  Firth would indeed be a dream.  If the Australian production transferred with new leadsv(would that happen?), julie might finally have another chance for her EGOT.

[CindersGolightly]

Posted: 7/23/16 at 11:00pm

You know, I don't think any actress would be as exciting as Benanti, at least to me. It almost feels like her whole career she has been working her way up to this role. She's proven she has the forceful drive Eliza needs, the comedy, the singing, the poise for when she's being presented as a "lady", she has even shown us how nuanced she can be as she's in love, or hurt, while still playing someone who had to learn how to be tough while playing Louise. It's all there, and she can do it. I think Laura Benanti was born for this. Again, Benanti or bust. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 7/24/16 at 1:03am

Actual age has 0 effect on stay age. I do think O'hara has a certain grace to her, same with Benanti, but I could see either slaying. Audiences will believe what the story tells them.

 

[Jarethan]

Posted: 7/24/16 at 1:16am

Jordan Catalano said: "She might be too old, but just close your eyes and imagine seeing Benanti on stage the first time she steps out when Eliza is "transformed". Then tell me she's not perfect for it. 

 

"

I question whether she can act them role.  I thought her singing in SLM was wonderful, but that her acting was wooden and rushed.  I was in the first row center one of the two times I saw it and just didn't buy her acting.  

If it is a semi-known, I like the idea of Laura Osnes.  Not much of a Sierra Boggess fan either (but admit that it is only based on School of Rock), but she can clearly sing the role.

i know this is sacrilege, but I would love to see Higgins played by someone no older than 40 and Eliza played by someone 20.  I saw a production like that done by a small company and found it very credible And somewhat sexy.

[pattifan2]

Posted: 7/24/16 at 3:56pm

One of the most successful and impressive Eliza/Higgins pairings I have ever seen was in a local production 4 years ago at the Crucible theatre, Sheffield.  Relatively unknown Carly Bawden played opposite the wonderful Dominic West. He was then 40, I think, and for the first time I was absolutely convinced by the pairing. Certainly the best Higgins I've seen on stage. 

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 7/24/16 at 4:13pm

The lyric opera in Chicago is mounting a production in the spring (I thought they were supposed to put on South Pacific). I wonder if it's going to be the Julie andrew version or another one.

[HenryTDobson]

Posted: 7/24/16 at 6:26pm

"I question whether she can act them role.  I thought her singing in SLM was wonderful, but that her acting was wooden and rushed.  I was in the first row center one of the two times I saw it and just didn't buy her acting.  "

I couldn't disagree more! I found Benanti's acting in SLM interesting, fun, and unique to what is typically done with the role. I think she would be perfect for MFL.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 7/24/16 at 6:38pm

Jarethan said: "I question whether she can act them role.  I thought her singing in SLM was wonderful, but that her acting was wooden and rushed.  I was in the first row center one of the two times I saw it and just didn't buy her acting.  "

And I question whether you know anything about acting if you thought Benanti's electrifying turn as Amalia was wooden and rushed.

 

[OlBlueEyes]

Posted: 7/25/16 at 1:00am

I wonder what the Broadway intelligentsia make of Laura Osnes. She certainly doesn't have the vocal pedigree of Audra or Kristin or Kelli. I think she spent one year in college studying musical theater. Her sweet soprano seems pleasing to most.

With her ebullient personality, I would question her ability to play a role like Julie Jordan, whose personality is not very effervescent. But she seemed to be well received in the short run production in Chicago. It was a lot of responsibility for a 23 year old to take over as Nellie in the lush and expensive South Pacific. She must have passed her trial filling in while Kelli was on maternity leave, since she went back into the role after Kelli left for good.

She seems to be everywhere doing everything. Laura will be a guest of the New York Pops when they begin their Carnegie Hall series with a tribute to Lerner and Loewe.