Mary Poppins - No Laura Michelle Kelly

[ThePinballWizard]

Posted: 4/18/06 at 12:46pm

According to Theatermania.com and Matthew Bourne he confirms that none of the leads of the London production will be recreating their roles on this side of the pond.

Let the speculation that began before begin again...

Theatermania.com - Matthew Bourne Interview

Updated On: 4/18/06 at 12:46 PM

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 4/18/06 at 12:49pm

::WickedGeek stops typing so he can go speculate . . . ::

I really want Ruthie Henshall, but she won't do it because of her kids.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 4/18/06 at 12:53pm

awwwwwwwwwwww...I really wanted Linzi Hateley to come to NY and do her second Broadway show!

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/18/06 at 1:00pm

No surprise. The only people Actor's Equity would have even considered for an exchange were Kelly (who contrary to that article is NOT American) and Gavin Lee, and even then - it would have been hard to make a case for either being an international star or uniquely qualified for the roles.

I'm sure they will be able to come up with some fine leads for Broadway. How about Carolee Carmello as Mrs. Banks? Rescue her from LESTAT, please...

P.S. He basically confirms that the roles will be played not by film stars but "Broadway favorites" which leads creadence to the arguement that Poppins will be played by someone like Kelli O'Hara, Laura Benanti, Erin Dilly etc. I wouldn't consider Anne Hathaway, another rumored casting to fit in that label.



Updated On: 4/18/06 at 01:00 PM

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 4/18/06 at 1:00pm

I agree, Trace...she was the best part of the show for me, and NYC might've heard her and Buckley do some "Carrie" duets!

I was not so impressed with LMK that I dont think anyone else could do it...I do think it is a bit boring and may not play well here.....specially without Temper Temper.

Posted: 4/18/06 at 1:03pm

marin mazzie or emily skinner would be a nice mrs banks too.

[Mother's Younger Brother]

Posted: 4/18/06 at 1:19pm

Ruthie! Ruthie! Ruthie!

[Practically Perfect]

Posted: 4/18/06 at 1:22pm

Kelli O'Hara could sing and act this role beautifully, and the dancing isn't incredibly challenging, though i'm not saying she is a bad dancer. She seemed to move gracefully in The Pajama Game. I think she'd be amazing as Mary Poppins.

Ruthie - love her, but no.

Mary P x

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/18/06 at 1:23pm

I'd love to see Henshall do it, but apparently according to the casting breakdown they wanted an actress in her early 20s, so I bet they sadly deamed Ruthie too old for it.

[ThePinballWizard]

Posted: 4/18/06 at 1:29pm

Does anyone think that Jennifer Laura Thompson could pull it off? Or is she too old?

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 4/18/06 at 1:30pm

"awwwwwwwwwwww...I really wanted Linzi Hateley to come to NY and do her second Broadway show! "


Hahaha! The Carrie girl!

Even if they offered Ruthie the role, I think she'd decline.

Well, in her husband's interview on bway.com, he said that he'd love to do Poppins WITH her.

[CDuffy5062]

Posted: 4/18/06 at 1:30pm

Sadly is right; Ruthie would be fabulous. And she's *here* for heaven's sake. Somebody get that woman on a stage while she's in NYC! (well, in addition to the "Nothing Like a Dame" show)

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/18/06 at 1:30pm

I think she'd be good, but I would imagine she's also "too old" if the creative team is true to their casting breakdown.

[ThePinballWizard]

Posted: 4/18/06 at 1:36pm

I feel sorry for Linzi Hateley. Can you imagine always being known as that Carrie girl? That probably will follow her around for years to come, as it has already. That production was in the 80s/90s!

[little_sally]

Posted: 4/18/06 at 1:36pm

I really do wish Erin Dilly would get this role. Or JLT.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 4/18/06 at 1:36pm

I also think that despite being a bit too old, Alice Ripley would've been great.

Skinner would do a great Mrs. Banks, tho isnt her relationship with Disney pretty damaged?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 4/18/06 at 1:37pm

Only here, PINBALL; she's had a pretty solid career in England; I don't think the stigma of CARRIE has stayed with her there. Apparently her Broadway experience, however, was horrible and she said a few years back she has no desire to come back to NYC to be in a show.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 4/18/06 at 1:41pm

I hope it's Erin Dilly! She'll be wonderful!

[mrkringas]

Posted: 4/18/06 at 1:44pm

Yeah I dont come across many people in the UK musical theatre scene who instantly say Carrie.

She was the first replacement Eponine and then Narrator in Joseph which was HUGE. Very big mainstream hit with tons of media that even I recall (was rather young at the time

[ThePinballWizard]

Posted: 4/18/06 at 1:45pm

Yeah I agree with you Michael. I feel bad that she had a horrible Broadway experience. I mean what was she 16? She had that whole entire "bloody" mess on her shoulders, she was the Title name! I would be a mess too if that happened to me and my show closed in 5 days.

I guess us Americans here are just overly obsessed with cultish awful things. The phrase "it's so good it's bad" comes to mind. I have been guilty of that too.

[inlovewithjerryherman]

Posted: 4/18/06 at 1:56pm

Erin Dilly would certainly be very good. My first choice would be Ruthie Henshall, but it's true that she is a little too old.
I just really wanted Ms. Kelly...oh well.

I also wouldn't be upset at all if we got a complete unknown.

[Anastasia_Beaverhausen]

Posted: 4/18/06 at 2:01pm

R

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[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 4/18/06 at 2:12pm

This is so sad. We don't have Laura or Gavin or even Linzi. All of which I adored! This is really disappointing.


"We'll also be restaging some of the numbers quite considerably". WTF Mate. We need to discuss this. What could they possibly restage except for Temper Temper? This show was trully practically perfect. I really really hope they don't ruin it.

Updated On: 4/18/06 at 02:12 PM

[best12bars]

Posted: 4/18/06 at 2:15pm

Early 20s? If they cast too young, she may need the nanny herself.

I don't get the "early 20s" thing for Mary. That was the biggest detraction and concern when they cast Julie Andrews for the movie (who was in her late 20s when she played it).

In the books, Poppins is much older than that. It took a lot of convincing to let someone of Julie's age play the part.

So, now they're going in the opposite direction and making her even younger?

Updated On: 4/18/06 at 02:15 PM

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 4/18/06 at 2:19pm

perfect casting: