Imelda Staunton to Star as Sally in West End Follies

[qolbinau]

Thoughts:

* She is in every Sondheim show (Sweeney Todd; Gypsy; Now Follies!). Yawn. I realise I'm a bit hypocritical given I want Bernadette to have done the same triad. 

* There might be a chance it will be filmed, which is good (but a shame they missed the 2011 revival)

* People are quick to criticise Bernadette's vocal ability, but Imelda Staunton croaked through Sweeney and Gypsy (she is not a great singer). Am interested to know how she will handle the role vocally. No doubt she'll croak through the role and yet still be praised for it

[icecreambenjamin]

She really isn't a classical soprano at all.  I think that she's done some marvelous work, but this may be a bit much for her.  Perhaps she will surprise us though and be sensational.

[perfectlymarvelous]

I wouldn't exactly say she "croaked" through Gypsy...I saw her live (though I haven't seen the video) and thought she was wonderful. Not as much of a powerhouse as Patti LuPone, but who is? 

Anyway, I'm excited for this. She will certainly act the hell out of it. Also, a link for those who care about such things: 

https://twitter.com/BazBam/status/781628770662879232

[GreasedLightning]

I'm sort of getting tired of seeing her face. 

[Jay Lerner-Z]

I'd buy a ticket.

Has Dominic Cooke ever directed a musical before?

[Mister Matt]

She is in every Sondheim show (Sweeney Todd; Gypsy; Now Follies!). 

You forgot Into the Woods.  She was the original Baker's Wife on London.

[ljay889]

Bernadette sounded quite lovely during the soprano moments. Imelda will not. And people got on Bernadette for playing a 49-year-old, but she looked the age. Imelda certainly looks 60.

[gypsy101]

oof i don't think this is the role for Imelda. i like her a lot but Sally is something that you need a good singer for. Imelda doesn't have the voice for this.

[imeldasturn]

It's not West End

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

I almost always prefer non-traditional singers who are brilliant actors to technically proficient actors who are less interesting. In this case, however, Sally's soprano is as much a part of her character as her manic-depressive behavior, or her obsession with Ben. While I had issues with Peters' acting choices in the last revival, her voice was a very good fit. Victoria Clark was, of course, a force as Sally at Encores! (and I assume she was in top shape in LA). Staunton strikes me as more of a Hattie, really. Sally she ain't. And no, I can't stand her singing on the Gypsy cast recording -- her Mrs. Lovett, on the other hand, is glorious. Why doesn't she ditch Follies and come to this side of the Atlantic to do Sweeney Todd?

[QueenAlice]

I think she will likely be splendid. If Judith Ivey and Bernadette could handle the score, she should be able to as well- it's really not much a soprano role as written. And whatever misgivings I had about the taped GYPSY, she is an extraordinary actress live. And Janie Dee is so divine in everything she does. This is being presented by the RNT so it will finally be a production of FOLLIES with a budget big enough to do the show justice.

[IdinaBellFoster]

This is an awful choice. The only character she should play in FOLLIES is Hattie. 

[Cupid Boy2]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3814968/Follies-tempt-Imelda-National-Actress-returning-wooed-artistic-director-BAZ-BAMIGBOYE.html 

The Daily Mail is reporting she said this will be followed by the Broadway transfer of Gypsy in 2018. 

[qolbinau]

They can't seem to put her Gypsy to rest. But I'm thankful they're talking about that and not Sweeney. I think I will literally turn into Sally from FOLLIES if there is a major NY revival without Bernadette Peters. 

[M.O.A.I.]

Don't quite understand all the hate for Staunton or her Gypsy on this board. I've only seen the videos of her three big showstoppers, but they're all pretty damn incredible. Extremely excited to see it when it comes to Broadway.

And I SO wish I lived in London and could go see this production. Staunton and the National doing my favorite musical sounds like heaven!

[Sally Durant Plummer]

Judith Ivey was a terrible Sally - and COULDN'T handle the score. I thought that was common knowledge.

I would never compare Bernadette and Imelda's vocal abilities. It may be an unpopular opinion, but I think Bernadette's voice is in pretty incredible shape. Imelda is a wonderful actress (she sounds great on the Sweeney recording) but her Gypsy was a masterclass in overacting. And that's coming from someone who thinks Miss LuPone's portrayal is definitive.

[ageorges3]

Often wish I lived in London so I could catch stuff like this!  Thought Staunton was extremely successful in her portrayal of Umbridge in the Potter movies - it's an unlikeable character that I wasn't a fan of in the books, but from a performance perspective, she definitely had an interesting take on the part!  Realized years later, well after I saw Order of the Phoenix, that she's had a wonderful stage career as well - Gypsy, Sweeney - and it seems like she's a highly sought out talent over in the West End!

[Gorlois]

This is the first major revival of Follies since I fell in love with the 2011 recording. I'm so excited!

[aaaaaa15]

Her Gypsy performance just shouldn't have been filmed. It was a performance to experience live and not have close ups etc. I don't think there were any complaints about her acting before the video was released.

[EricMontreal22]

How I wish they could use the original book.  

And this will be filmed at least for N America theatres as part ofthe regular NTLive cinecasts, won't it? (Though those done get DVD rights)

[Cesare2]

Isn't Imelda Staunton also kinda short to have been a Follies chorus girl?  

[QueenAlice]

Considering Janie Dee- the person I really would have loved to have seen play Sally opposite her Phyllis is Joanna Riding. 

[PalJoey]

 

She has zero vulnerability. This is going to be a Sally-who-just-escaped-from-the-loony-bin.

Note to directors: Sally only asks herself if she is losing her mind out of unrequited love for Ben. There is no reason to take the question LITERALLY.

I blame Liza.

 

[QueenAlice]

How Joey, have you seen the movie "Vera Drake? Imelda certainly has the ability to be vulnerable. It's funny, I'm just thinking back and remembering the first time I ever saw her on stage and  it was as Dorothy in the RSC production of the Wizard of Oz! She was certainly vulnerable in that, and had a lovely soprano voice as I recall it too.

But  I do agree she doesn't exactly look like a past follies girl. But if she has a good director I think she will be fine.

[neonlightsxo]

imeldasturn said: "It's not West End"

 

Yup- not West End, it's the National. But nobody here knows the difference.