So firstly I'm the one who posted that message on FB that you are referring to
Secondly, I agree with whoever said that Pia Douwes should have opened this in NYC. First of all, I think there is absolutely no cohesion when it comes to the way they have casted this group in terms of age.
Sean is probably the youngest in the bunch and looks it, while Maxim is really supposed to be a gent in his late 30s. His best friend Frank (Howard McGillin) is at least in his late 40s/early 50s. Karen Danvers, though I think will be quite good in this, is quite old for this role. Danvers in this version is supposed to be rather glam, and in a way a mirror of Rebecca. Karen Mason is slightly older than her counterparts in the German/Vienna production who are within the late 30s/early 40s.
Pia would have been fantastic for Broadway, but I can understand if they wanted a Broadway veteran like Mason. If the show takes off and opens in the West End, I cannot see any convincing reason why Pia Douwes shouldn't open it in London. Unlike her counterparts in the German-speaking productions, she virtually has no foreign accent when speaking English. The role originally was created for her in mind.
Regarding St. Gallen Danvers, Maya Hakvoort is actually pretty powerful from the clips I've seen. I've heard her sing all the songs and although she uses more head than chest, she is quite intense when it comes to her acting.
Although I wouldn't nominate her for the English-language production, the original understudy (and Beatrice in Vienna, Stuttgart and St. Gallen), Kerstin Ibald plays an amazing Danvers. Hers is quite fragile, hurt and still very much in mourning over the death of her Lady. It completely made sense how she completely lost it at the end when she discovers that despite her best efforts, Maxim and I have conquered all odds and will live a happy existence in Manderlay.
