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Post by jcs316 on May 16, 2019 10:31:12 GMT
Dominic West was a Magnificent Higgins in Sheffield in 2012 - 13.
Laura Baldwin / Natasha Barnes / Daisy Maywood / Danielle Hope would all make terrific Elizas.
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Post by Mark on May 16, 2019 10:36:28 GMT
Do they need a big name for Eliza? If not, Anna O'Byrne (currently in Amour) could certainly sing it. She played the role in Australia in a production directed by Julie Andrews! Perfect. She has talent! Pretty sure I saw her in it when it did it’s return to Sydney. Excellent performance.. |
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Post by ahbutunderneath on May 16, 2019 10:36:50 GMT
I was lucky enough to see this on Broadway, and it absolutely blew me away. However, the way this production is directed and staged has a much more naturalistic feel to it, down to the character interpretations.
Both Ambrose and Benanti had very different takes on the character from each other, and certainly much different from the typical slightly aggressive ingenue Eliza. This production needs a grounded, emotional Eliza, or the entire thing will feel off.
A lot of the choices mentioned here I feel would not fit this production. Take Anna O’Byrne. She’s a lovely actress and singer, but her performance in the Andrews-directed My Fair Lady was by-the-numbers. A great performance? Sure. For this production? Not really. Someone like Rosalie Craig- an actor more rooted in making interpretations their own- would be great.
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Post by Deleted on May 16, 2019 11:03:41 GMT
Erm, isn't Kerry Ellis a wee bit old for Eliza? Laura Benanti looked too old for the part in the Broadway production when I saw it. But if they've any sense they'll cast a young new talent, or if it's a recognisable name from theatre they're after then someone like Danielle Hope. Although frankly I'll take anyone who can sing and just as importantly can do the accent properly, as the poor accents ruined the Broadway production for me. It's a decent production but nothing earth shattering. It will obviously make money, as MFL is such a recognisable show, so I can understand why producers would want to bring it in, but I can't get massively excited about it. |
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Post by BurlyBeaR on May 16, 2019 11:31:17 GMT
Please don’t put Samantha Barks in it either!
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Post by latefortheoverture on May 16, 2019 11:50:31 GMT
Echoing what was said above; it'd be great to see Laura Baldwin tackle a less comic book show and get a moment to shine! There are hundreds of great women in the West End easily.
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Post by sparky5000 on May 16, 2019 11:56:28 GMT
Please don’t put Samantha Barks in it either! Oooh I could see them going for Samantha! 😄 It Wouldn’t feel like particularly inspired casting to me. I feel like she would give a very Samantha Barks performance, if that makes any sense lol. |
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Post by Deleted on May 16, 2019 11:58:58 GMT
Please don’t put Samantha Barks in it either! Oooh I could see them going for Samantha! 😄 It Wouldn’t feel like particularly inspired casting to me. I feel like she would give a very Samantha Barks performance, if that makes any sense lol. It does! I like her, but I don't think she would be a good fit for Eliza. Keeping with the Lloyd Webber show alumni theme though, Jessie Buckley would be fabulous, depending on whether or not we've lost her to film and TV completely by the time this comes in! |
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Post by barrowside on May 16, 2019 12:15:52 GMT
Would love Jessie Buckley. Carly Bawden in Sheffield was thrilling also.
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Post by theatreian on May 16, 2019 12:53:48 GMT
Carly Bawden in Sheffield was thrilling also. Yes agree here Carly was amazing as Eliza. Having seen Martine also who was great , it is widely recognised as one of the most difficult female roles in musical theatre. It has to be a great actor and phenomenal singer to get the range of songs and notes. Good luck whoever is cast, but the show is superb. |
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Post by theatrefan77 on May 16, 2019 13:15:02 GMT
McCutcheon had several pre-recorded click tracks including the last note in I Could Have Dance All Night and even so she couldn't handled it. You really need an accomplished singer/actress to make it work.
I would love to see Ambrose playing Eliza in London.
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Post by crabtree on May 16, 2019 13:59:46 GMT
Is age ever mentioned or that she is slim, as is traditionally played.
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Post by theatrefan77 on May 16, 2019 14:08:09 GMT
I believe in Pygmalion she is 18 at the beginning and 19 by the end
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Post by Being Alive on May 16, 2019 14:29:51 GMT
Jessie Buckley is a proper shout!
I thought Lauren Ambrose was astonishing in this. Completely and utterly adored her. So I have no problem with her and Harry Hadden Paton coming over to do it. Chuck Diana Rigg back in too as she's a Brit and was fine.
Peter Polycarpou as Doolittle anyone?
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Post by Oleanna on May 16, 2019 14:31:25 GMT
I could be wrong here, but I thought Cameron Mackintosh owned the rights for My Fair Lady in the West End, and the reason it hasn’t been revived yet is that it will need to be his production that is revived?
I could be wrong, of course. Or this may have changed.
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Post by sparky5000 on May 16, 2019 14:48:10 GMT
You know this will probably go down like a lead balloon but I think Carrie Hope Fletcher could make a pretty decent Eliza 🤷🏻♀️
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Post by Deleted on May 16, 2019 14:52:29 GMT
I could be wrong here, but I thought Cameron Mackintosh owned the rights for My Fair Lady in the West End, and the reason it hasn’t been revived yet is that it will need to be his production that is revived? I could be wrong, of course. Or this may have changed. Sort of right, I think! According to this - www.mtishows.co.uk/news/mti-acquires-licensing-rights-to-lerner-and-loewe-classics - the licensing rights to Lerner & Loewe's My Fair Lady, Brigadoon, Camelot, Paint Your Wagon, and The Day Before Spring have been owned since 2017 by MTI which is co-owned by Cameron Mackintosh. So presumably, Cameron could insist that only his production is revived, but as he also co-owns the US licensing rights he is presumably happy with the Bartlett Sher production. |
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Post by Being Alive on May 16, 2019 15:12:45 GMT
You know this will probably go down like a lead balloon but I think Carrie Hope Fletcher could make a pretty decent Eliza 🤷🏻♀️ You'd be correct. that's a solid no from me. |
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Post by xanady on May 16, 2019 15:14:24 GMT
Whoever is cast it is truly exciting news.This is one of the greatest of the genre and will be wonderful to see it back in the dazzling WE.
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Post by latefortheoverture on May 16, 2019 15:24:35 GMT
I like Carrie and think she does have talent; it's just what comes along with her.
It's whinging and over the top fangirls. Crying when she has a day off, or doesn't leave through stage door.
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Post by theatrenewbie on May 16, 2019 15:30:26 GMT
How about amira okereke whos doing Oklahoma.
Brilliant soprano, right age if we’re going off shaws (18-19 yrs) and how amazing subtext would it be having an actress of colour as a flower girl been turned into duchess then finding empowerment and triumph over Higgins.
If people are suggesting Sheridan Carrie and Rosalie why not. Surely she’d be the the most suitable, exciting and inspired casting of the three.
Haters gnna hate
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Post by sparky5000 on May 16, 2019 15:37:18 GMT
I like Carrie and think she does have talent; it's just what comes along with her. It's whinging and over the top fangirls. Crying when she has a day off, or doesn't leave through stage door. Oh for sure, but that shouldn’t be a reason for not choosing her for things. Idk, looking at it objectively, I think that CHF is very talented, and personality and acting-wise she would be a good fit for Eliza. And as people are talking about singing ability being a requirement for the role, we’ll i think she has that in spades. I’d choose her over someone like Rosalie Craig any day in that respect 🤷🏻♀️😜 |
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Post by Deleted on May 16, 2019 15:50:12 GMT
I don’t think it’s necessary that a famous name is cast in this for it to sell. It has survived on Broadway very well without one (though I’m happy to be corrected. I’m so desperate to see Rachel John back on stage it’s unreal. She would be just luvver-lee.
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Post by xanady on May 16, 2019 15:53:38 GMT
^Agreed.This is will sell and sell on nostalgia value and name recognition alone with or without names.Please,please,please...no ridiculous stunt casting!
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Post by Being Alive on May 16, 2019 16:03:01 GMT
I don’t think it’s necessary that a famous name is cast in this for it to sell. It has survived on Broadway very well without one (though I’m happy to be corrected. I’m so desperate to see Rachel John back on stage it’s unreal. She would be just luvver-lee. I mean you're quite right, My Fair Lady sells itself, but Diana Rigg, Norbert Leo Butz and Lauren Ambrose certainly helped I think a little. I wouldn't be overt to a 'well-known' older actress as Mrs Higgins - they'd never get her but someone like Judi Dench - as a 'name' draw. But I agree that it sells itself and doesn't need stunt casting |
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