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

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.

Does Cynthia have a legit soprano voice?

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

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

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

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.

"

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?

"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

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.

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.

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.

"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.

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.