Susan Egan in Thoroughly Modern Millie

[Practically Perfect]

Posted: 4/27/05 at 4:06am

I was just wondering what she was like in the show. I only got to see Amanda Holden in the London production (she was ok, but she certainly doesn't have Sutton's voice). I've always liked Susan Egan, but can't quite see her in that role. I know it was a year ago, but any reviews/opinions would be great.

Mary P x

[DickonDefysGravity]

Posted: 4/27/05 at 4:41am

I've been told many times that Egan was one of the main reasons this gem of a show closed...She simply does not have the voice for the role...She has a beautiful spin to her head voice but her belting is just plain...weak and very strained at times...

[Unknown User]

Posted: 4/27/05 at 5:22am

I feel like it would have been similar to watching Sutton's mother perform her role... not trying to be rude here, I love Susan Egan...best song in Hercules...but come on...she just couldn't be Sutton's replacement!

[Craig]

Posted: 4/27/05 at 7:54am

This has been discussed before. Millie's days were numbered before Susan took over the role. That being said - I saw Susan in the role and while she was different that Sutton, she did an absolutely fabulous job in the role.

[BroadwayBaby]

Posted: 4/27/05 at 8:12am

Susan was my favorite Millie and I've seen about five of them (including Sutton, Catherine, Darcy and a few others)

[Hanna from Hamburg]

Posted: 4/27/05 at 8:43am

I saw both Sutton and Susan. I can't quite put my finger on why I wasn't completely drawn to Susan's performance. All of the elements were there. I guess it's just that Sutton has a certain freeness to her style and Susan had everything so controlled. That freeness, I believe, helped embody the "go get 'em" spirit of Millie for Sutton.

Updated On: 4/27/05 at 08:43 AM

[Theatreboy49]

Posted: 4/27/05 at 1:55pm

I saw Sutton but only heard Egan and I didnt liker in the role at all but then again I actually saw Sutton so maybe thats y.

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 4/27/05 at 11:16pm

Lemme tell y'all a story--:)I was a HUGE Susan fan way before I heard of Sutton. I knew of Susan in Millie before I heard of Sutton (as the tony winner for it no less) *this is when I was out of the scene kids!* and then I heard Sutton in the role and am now obsessed with her.

Then not too long ago I heard the first clip (that I had ever heard of susan in millie) of Susan singing Gimme Gimme *on seth's big fat broadway-sirius sattelite*

AND IT WAS HORRIBLE. COMPLETELY HORRIBLE. I do a better job. I was completely dissapointed.

SO whoever said she's probably the reason the show closed..is probably completly right!

[Craig]

Posted: 4/27/05 at 11:25pm

Stephanie

I don't think you can judge an entire live theatrical performance of someone's career based on a clip you heard on a radio station.

And as I stated earlier in this thread, the days of Millie were numbered way before Susan took over the role.

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 4/27/05 at 11:26pm

Ok..it wasn't a clip..it was her in the studio..singing the entire song.

And I would think it would sound better just singing it then it would be after doing an entire show and being exhausted from that.

JMHO...no one has to agree!

[Craig]

Posted: 4/27/05 at 11:33pm

Yes. You are certainly entitled to your opinion. When I said "clip" I meant track. I don't think you can judge someone in a role from one number on the radio (or television appearance for that matter). If that were the case, based on last years TONY's and the year before, I don't think I would have seen any shows LOL

[JoshuaEads]

Posted: 4/27/05 at 11:55pm

I thought Susan was wonderful. I absolutely loved her take on the role.

~Joshua

[StephanietheStar]

Posted: 4/28/05 at 12:03am

Good Point all! I never saw Sutton either..but I have a feeling Sutton could stand on stage and sing scales and I'd yell "TONY!!!" so...:)

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 4/28/05 at 12:07am

Sutton was amazing. Sutton is amazing. She's one of the best stars on Broadway right now. It must have been hard for Susan Egan to follow in her footsteps. I never really saw her as Millie, and I still can't imagine it.

[Standing_O]

Posted: 4/28/05 at 12:36am

I saw Susan Egan on her first day as Millie. I thought she was very good (especially considering it was her FIRST show). Her Millie had a different energy than Sutton's for sure, but she sings and dances beautifully.

I'd say she's my third favorite Millie. :)

[noahrp3]

Posted: 4/28/05 at 1:07am

Updated On: 5/23/17 at 01:07 AM

[musicalfandukie]

Posted: 4/28/05 at 1:53am

"She has a beautiful spin to her head voice but her belting is just plain..."

I personaly think Susan is a great belter..the track of her singing meadowlark is one of my favorites.

[Ruth Sherwood]

Posted: 4/28/05 at 9:52am

Before I saw Susan in the show, I had seen her as Sally Bowles, and was quite disappointed that she had been cast as Millie. However, I was completely suprised at how wonderful she turned out to be! There is no question that Sutton's singing was better in "Millie", but Susan brought a softness to Millie, and she was just as loveable as Sutton's. Even though they were different, they were both fabulous in the role.

[Hanna from Hamburg]

Posted: 4/28/05 at 10:09am

Ruth -- you might have put your finger on what didn't work for me. Susan brought a softness to the role that wasn't appropriate for the character. Millie comes to NY and tears up her ticket home so she is forced to go for her dreams. The softness that Susan portrayed doesn't quite fit in with a person who would throw all caution to the wind. I think that Susan had all the elements to BE completely successful in the role, but somehow didn't completely embody Millie.

[Ruth Sherwood]

Posted: 4/28/05 at 10:13am

I completely understand where you are coming from. Personally, I thought it worked, but I did miss Sutton's "hickness", I guess you could call it.

[cathywellerstein]

Posted: 4/28/05 at 11:21am

first of all, i would never call susan's belting weak...don't know how someone could really say that.
that said, i never got the chance to see millie at all, so i don't know what susan was like. but i went to her joe's pub concert where she sang both "jimmy" and "gimme, gimme". they were very different from sutton's versions of the songs, but i still thought they were amazing. and even if susan didn't have the most appropriate singing voice for millie, she certainly made up for it with her acting. my friend saw her in the show and loved it.

[actorgaedu]

Posted: 4/28/05 at 11:31am

First off, Susan is brilliant and you just can't compare these two actresses because they are sooo different in style and experience. In my opinion, Sutton has not had the opportunity to show us stretch in her abilities. Come on, Millie to LW, not much of a stretch there. Now, Susan has gone from Belle to Leonine to Sally to Mille nice versatility there. They are both wonderful in my eyes, just different. Also, Susan was only contracted with Millie for a short time because she had other committments on the west coast. They made the decision to close the show when Susan left.

[My Fair Lady]

Posted: 4/28/05 at 11:35am

Actorgaedu-But that's not why the show closed. It was scheduled to close in September, bu they just didn't have enough money to support it until then,

[actorgaedu]

Posted: 4/28/05 at 11:44am

Exactly, Susan left in June and they could not bring in another actress for three months due to funding. The show was not selling well before Susan came in. I saw Sutton before she left and almost half the house was empty. The show had just had its run.