anyone see Simon Callow as Count Fosco yet?

How is he? Id imagine quite different from crawford and/or ball.

He looks the part, and acts the part, but sounds awfull. Yes i am accustomed to Crawford's voice in the role, but Callow is just very gruff and rough sounding, where as Fosco needs to have a softer side to be a true villian so he can attempt to seduce the audience aswell as Mariam. They also seem to be toning down the fat suit, he looked rather thin, pluss his fale nose looked really fake.

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I have to agree Pattifan that the part really needs a showman in the role. I got to see Michael Crawford and really liked him in the role. Anthony Andrews was okay, but not the strength of a singer as MC and also not quite as showy. Would have loved to have seen Michael Ball in the role for comparison. I have never had the previlege of seeing MB perform, but I gather from reading about him in other roles as well as Fosco that he is quite good. Would have been very interesting I think. May yet see him on Broadway if the opportunity arises.

I'm kind of surprised that Callow was cast if, as one review states, he can't sing. Is his singing really that bad? It would be one thing if the role had more spoken aspect to it, but you really need a showman and a good singer as well to pull it off.

Well, good singer or not, I always do love reading this man's writing about his own work. So honest. Makes me want to attend despite the singing. Thanks for the link.

ps--anyone ever read "Being an Actor?" by Callow? Fantastic book