If they ever do a revival of My Fair Lady, I think she would make a perfect Eliza Doolittle. She has the voice for the role and she can definetly act. What do you think of her being cast in this role ?
Not "common" enough for the early scenes. She always comes across as refined.
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Exactly she is way to elegant to pull of the first few scenes. It also requires a younger actress. Kelli O'Hara would be excellent considering she was so good in the Philharmonic production.
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....not quite the image of the flower girl. There are lots of roles more suited to her talent and physical presence.
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Wasn't Julie Andrews the epitome of "refined." I would love to see her tackle the role and I think she could be quite excellent in the early scenes. However, I do think she is getting a little too old.
Audra can look younger with the right makeup. She can act and sing it; it would have to be soon because, yes, she isn't getting younger. Side note: I love her in Private Practice, she really is holding her own on that uneven show.
I'm not sure that Julie Andrews had developed that persona at the time MY FAIR LADY opened. Audra McDonald is great but I don't think she's someone I'm jonesing to see in a revival of the show, perhaps a concert presentation? Having said that, I much rather see her than dull Kelli O'Hara. However, if there's gonna be an Eliza in her late 30s I much rather see Kristin Chenoweth (who would be a hoot in the first act and who'd sing it beautifully). Really my picks for Eliza would be Laura Benanti, Kate Jennings Grant (who is the only principal in GUYS & DOLLS who knows what she's doing), or Anne Hathaway. The two other girls whom I think would be brilliant in the acting department are Anika Noni Rose and Karen Olivo, but neither one could sing it at all
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
Thanks for posting the link, Audra sings like a dream, but if she is too old at 38, isn't Kristin also too old at 40?
After seeing her, really seeing her for the first time in "Finian's Rainbow," I nominate Kate Baldwin for Eliza and Cheyenne Jackson for Freddy. Would love to hear them both sing those loverly songs.
Boom, I said that IF they cast an older Eliza, I'd rather see Chenoweth over Audra.
"Some people can thrive and bloom living life in a living room, that's perfect for some people of one hundred and five. But I at least gotta try, when I think of all the sights that I gotta see, all the places I gotta play, all the things that I gotta be at"
MFL has always been difficult because the story relies on the audience seeing a woman change from common to refined. Julie Andrews pulled it off because she had "star quality" and in the 1950s musicals, truthful acting wasn't a top priority.
Today's audience expects more reality in their musicals and needs an actress that can really make the transition. Georgia Brown was a master at moving between common and refined. Ellen Greene is another one that has done that well. It needs an actress that can make that transition.
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.
I think Audra played common and uneducated very well in Ragtime. I think she could handle the transition just fine. I'm also in the camp of only need a concert/studio recording out of this though.
Marie: Don't be in such a hurry about that pretty little chippy in Frisco.
Tony: Eh, she's a no chip!
I do not understand why age on its own should be a determining factor on whether someone can pull off the role.
Yes, it is one thing if someone actually LOOKS older. And I do agree that Audra may look a bit old for the part (although I am sure she can sing it beautifully); however, some older actors can pull off a younger part (Kristin Chenoweth, for example).
"We like to snark around here. Sometimes we actually talk about theater...but we try not to let that get in our way." - dramamama611
i would LOVE to see audra in this role!!! she is perfect for the part!! i think she looks great and can pull it off!
I think it would be really cool if there was an all black production of my fair lady with audra and brian stokes mitchel!!! now that would be amazing!! what do you guys think?
I of course would love to see Audra do it. I COULD see the argument that she's a little too old for it. A lot would depend on her supporting cast.
Those people who say she can't pull off "common" must not have seen her in "A Raisin in the Sun" or her work in "Wit" for HBO and "The Best Thief in the World" for Showtime. If you think she was too refined in any of those roles, than God bless the poor fool who y'all consider common. I'm sure they need some major help!
If Lea Salonga, who is 37, can play Cinderella now (Cinderella is younger than Eliza) then Audra should have no problems.
Personally I think they are both too old for the roles - but Audra is not doing My Fair Lady while Lea is doing Cinderella. Updated On: 3/29/09 at 04:25 PM
Audra's understudy for "Marie Christine", Sherry Boone, played Eliza in a really brilliant local production of "My Fair Lady" a couple of seasons ago at the Dallas Theater Center.
Instead of a full orchestra i t was only 2 pianos, and instead of a full cast it was only 10 actors.
"Those people who say she can't pull off "common" must not have seen her in "A Raisin in the Sun" or her work in "Wit" for HBO and "The Best Thief in the World" for Showtime."
I've seen most of Audra's work. While I think she is a good actress, she has that Juillard thing going on. Like most Juillard students, she has never been able to shed it. Audra would be much better doing "Camelot".
If anyone ever tells you that you put too much Parmesan cheese on your pasta, stop talking to them. You don't need that kind of negativity in your life.