Sutton Foster replaces Megan Mullally for London revival of ANYTHING GOES- Page 5

[joevitus]

Posted: 7/15/21 at 6:16pm

Thanks!

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 7/16/21 at 3:06pm

Sutton is looking gorgeous as ever in her new blonde wig! On her instagram story today :)

[NameGreg]

Posted: 7/16/21 at 7:22pm

Like that she’s going blonde for it again. Something about that wig just works.

Also liked the cast pictures they put on Instagram. Looks like a great ensemble. And after a mostly monochrome one in the Broadway version of this production, it’s nice to see some diversity with both the principles and minor players.

[fbueller]

Posted: 7/22/21 at 10:56pm

Bettyboy72 said: "I thought it was going to be a new production with Megan but when she got fired they just decided to remount the Roundabout production as that would be easier. "

Was Megan fired?  I heard mention of this in another news article.  

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 7/23/21 at 5:03pm

fbueller said: "Bettyboy72 said: "I thought it was going to be a new production with Megan but when she got fired they just decided to remount the Roundabout production as that would be easier. "

Was Megan fired? I heard mention of this in another news article. “

Most likely.  After WILL & GRACE ended it’s original run in 2008, she’s become quite difficult to work with and many projects either replaced her or were just cancelled as she was the star casting name.  This even carried over to the 2017 reboot of WILL & GRACE where a handful of episodes had to have her character Karen Walker written off as she refused to partake in them.  

[Dolly80]

Posted: 7/23/21 at 7:05pm

It was always going to the same production with Megan in it.
The set was already built when Megan was still attached.

[joevitus]

Posted: 7/23/21 at 7:49pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "fbueller said: "Bettyboy72 said: "I thought it was going to be a new production with Megan but when she got fired they just decided to remount the Roundabout production as that would be easier. "

Was Megan fired? I heard mention of this in another news article. “

Most likely. After WILL & GRACE ended it’s original run in 2008, she’s become quite difficult to work with and many projects either replaced her or were just cancelled as she was the star casting name. This even carried over to the 2017 reboot of WILL & GRACE where a handful of episodes had to have her character Karen Walker written off as she refused to partake in them."

She argues she was being bullied. I have zero idea what was the case. Oddly, I just got the China Beach DVD set, and she shows up at the end of Season Two, using what would become her Karen Walker voice and belting out "Take Another Piece of My Heart" quite well. 

[Highland Guy]

Posted: 7/23/21 at 7:51pm

BrodyFosse123 said: "fbueller said: "Bettyboy72 said: "I thought it was going to be a new production with Megan but when she got fired they just decided to remount the Roundabout production as that would be easier. "

Was Megan fired? I heard mention of this in another news article. “

Most likely. After WILL & GRACE ended it’s original run in 2008, she’s become quite difficult to work with and many projects either replaced her or were just cancelled as she was the star casting name. This even carried over to the 2017 reboot of WILL & GRACE where a handful of episodes had to have her character Karen Walker written off as she refused to partake in them."

 

Please name some of those "many projects" that were replaced or cancelled.

Two.  She took a leave of absence and did not appear in two episodes,  Not "a handful".  Two.

[NameGreg]

Posted: 7/23/21 at 9:49pm

Heard very strong things about the first preview. Apparently there were two mid show standing ovations and another at the end, though most shows seem to get that last one nowadays.

Foster again getting a lot of love, no surprise there. Also seeing strong remarks for Robert Lindsay, who also isn’t unexpected. Didn’t see other individual mentions, but the ensemble as a whole has been getting praise. Hopefully they’re up to the standard of the previous cast doing this staging, that was a stellar assembly of performers.

Obviously there will only be so much info on a first preview, but I’m very excited to be hearing more on this production. The last Foster Marshall production was fantastic, I really hope I get to see a recording of this.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 7/24/21 at 8:45am

NameGreg said: "Heard very strong things about the first preview. Apparently there were two mid show standing ovations and another at the end, though most shows seem to get that last one nowadays.

Foster again getting a lot of love, no surprise there. Also seeing strong remarks for Robert Lindsay, who also isn’t unexpected. Didn’t see other individual mentions, but the ensemble as a whole has been getting praise. Hopefully they’re up to the standard of the previous cast doing this staging, that was a stellar assembly of performers.

Obviously there will only be so much info on a first preview, but I’m very excited to be hearing more on this production. The last Foster Marshall production was fantastic, I really hope I get to see a recording of this."

I am so thrilled to see the early first preview raves on another uk board I read! I saw the Roundabout revival with Sutton Foster in 2011 (hard to believe that was TEN years ago!!!), and I thought it was such a glorious, joyous, and flawless production.

[binau]

Posted: 7/25/21 at 2:04pm

So I caught the show, Sutton Foster is in great voice and sounds just as good to me, if not better than she was 10 years ago. I actually am less concerned about her voice for "The Music Man" than I was previously. She also still appears to have just as much energy and steps in her, although I can't help but wonder if she must find be finding it a little bit more tiring now than before. "Anything Goes" and "Blow, Gabriel, Blow" in particular were showstoppers and the two main highlights of the show! (as they were last time). The show feels familiar to what I remember from 2011, although I do miss John McMartin. Robert Lindsay gives a memorable take as Moonface but can only just hold a tune, Samuel Edwards and Carly Mercedes Dyer also stand out a little.

Sutton Foster's husband and child appeared to be in the audience and must have been quite special for her - I don't believe either would have been around last time. And the pandemic made it all feel that little bit extra special. Overall though, I must admit when Sutton Foster was not on stage the show and its 1D characters dragged for me - which I probably felt the same about in 2011. "Hairspray" for me will keep the title of the ultimate comeback show we 'need' right now but "Anything Goes" will still make audiences recognise what they have been missing out on the during pandemic...

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 7/25/21 at 3:25pm

Did they rewrite the ending?

[CarlosAlberto]

Posted: 7/25/21 at 3:36pm

binau said: "So I caught the show, Sutton Foster is in great voiceand sounds just as good to me, if not better than she was 10 years ago. I actually am less concerned about her voice for "The Music Man" than I was previously.She also still appears to have just as much energy and steps in her, although I can't help but wonder if she must find be finding it a little bit more tiring now than before. "Anything Goes" and "Blow, Gabriel, Blow" in particular were showstoppers and the two main highlights of the show! (as they were last time).The show feels familiar to what I remember from 2011, although I do miss John McMartin. Robert Lindsay gives a memorable take as Moonface but can only just hold a tune, Samuel Edwards andCarly Mercedes Dyer also stand outa little.

Sutton Foster's husband and child appeared to be in the audience and must have been quite special for her - I don't believe either would have been around last time. And thepandemic made it all feel that little bit extra special. Overall though, I must admit when Sutton Foster wasnot on stage theshow and its 1D characters dragged for me- which I probably felt the same about in 2011."Hairspray" for me willkeep the title of the ultimate comeback show we 'need' right now but "Anything Goes" will still make audiences recognise what they have been missing out on the during pandemic..."

Glad to hear Sutton is killing it! She’s so talented! I believe when she was doing Anything Goes in 2011 she was in a relationship with Bobby Cannavale. 

[NameGreg]

Posted: 7/25/21 at 4:05pm

CATSNYrevival said: "Did they rewrite the ending?"

What I read said that the ending has been somewhat altered. The two Chinese characters have been rewritten so they’re not so stereotypical anymore, speaking perfect English. Rather than having their clothing stolen, they willingly trade and then they pose as Plum Blossom’s family’s lawyers. Reno, Billy, and Moonface still try to pass themselves off as Chinese, but they’ve altered the dialogue to get rid of the offensive lines.

From the sounds of it, this seems like a good solution, getting rid of the racist elements but still maintaining the plot and not eliminating an acting opportunity for people of color who get to be in on the joke rather than the subject of it now.

I have no idea what dialogue has been changed though. One source said the line “romp in the rice” was now “womp in the willow” while another implied the original line was still used. If they did change that, given it’s one of the more innocent lines about the Chinese in the show, my guess is the dialogue alterations regarding them and the ending could be extensive.

[South Florida]

Posted: 7/25/21 at 4:33pm

Sutton was so good in this I didn't want to see my Steph in it.

 

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 7/25/21 at 9:12pm

Is "The Gypsy in Me" still in the show?

[NameGreg]

Posted: 7/25/21 at 9:43pm

CATSNYrevival said: "Is "The Gypsy in Me" still in the show?"

Yes. Don’t believe any music has been cut or added.

[Dolly80]

Posted: 7/26/21 at 3:34pm

I saw it this week and can testify that it is truly glorious.
I didn’t like Sutton in the role in NYC at all , but somehow 19 years on- it works. She’s truly dazzling.
It’s a fabulous cast all round and the new costumes are so beautiful. I suspect this will be the toast of the town. Just a shame it’s having such a short run.

An Olivier for Miss Foster is almost 100% guaranteed.

[NameGreg]

Posted: 7/26/21 at 4:55pm

I wouldn’t be surprised if they expand the run given all the love it’s getting. Similar thing happened with the Broadway production. Of course there’s the problem of Foster leaving in two months, but I imagine they could find a strong replacement.

I really do wonder what would’ve happened if Mullally headlined this. I really just struggle to see her in that role, I don’t think it would be getting the same raves.

[fosterfan2]

Posted: 7/26/21 at 5:26pm

Dolly80 said: "I saw it this week and can testify that it is truly glorious.
I didn’t like Sutton in the role in NYC at all , but somehow 19 years on- it works. She’s truly dazzling.
It’s a fabulous cast all round and the new costumes are so beautiful. I suspect this will be the toast of the town. Just a shame it’s having such a short run.

An Olivier for Miss Foster is almost 100% guaranteed."

19? You mean 10 years on. Sutton played it in NYC in 2011. Wish I could see this...I have the cast recording with her on it and it's great.

 

[Dolly80]

Posted: 7/26/21 at 5:32pm

fosterfan2 said: "Dolly80 said: "I saw it this week and can testify that it is truly glorious.
I didn’t like Sutton in the role in NYC at all , but somehow 19 years on- it works. She’s truly dazzling.
It’s a fabulous cast all round and the new costumes are so beautiful. I suspect this will be the toast of the town. Just a shame it’s having such a short run.

An Olivier for Miss Foster is almost 100% guaranteed."

19? You mean 10 years on. Sutton played it in NYC in 2011. Wish I could see this...I have the cast recording with her on it and it's great.

"

Oops yes sorry.. typo.. I mean 10 years

[South Florida]

Posted: 7/27/21 at 6:31pm

But if a yorker woulda made the show.

 

[imeldasturn]

Posted: 7/28/21 at 12:03pm

WhatsOnStage posted a video of the London cast singing the title song and You're The Top

Updated On: 7/28/21 at 12:03 PM

[jlindsey865]

Posted: 7/28/21 at 12:50pm

This could be due to the fact that this is a video recording of a live show, but the production appears a tad sleepy.

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 7/28/21 at 1:09pm

Sutton is great. It was the chorus in the title song I needed more energy from in that clip.