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Post by Yonkers on Apr 26, 2005 15:27:34 GMT 11
Maybe Garry Penny should have been involved, at least they might have got themselves a decent director. Someone who knows where laughs are, or should be. Terence O' Connell's direction was poor (unnecessary script cuts and all) and I see he is directing Oklahoma! this year.
The Production Company have a habit of using people from "straight" theatre who really shouldn't be involved with musical comedy. This is just one example, Roger Hodgeman and the guy who directed the lamentable Hello, Dolly! (sorry can't think of his name, I've blocked it out) was another. There are but a handful of good directors in this country who can move from straight to musical theatre, none of those mentioned it would seem fit the bill.
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Post by sebastian on Jun 15, 2005 19:32:42 GMT 11
The Australian premiere of Sunset Boulevard was originally to star the brilliant Geraldine Turner. She was Lloyd-Webber's personal choice! He loved her recording of "As If We Never Said Goodbye" - it's fabulous. She has the star power, the voice, the vulnerability and the beauty of a Film Star. When Patti LuPone was replaced in London, Really Useful Co decided to go another way.... Hence Debra Byrne played the role. Judi Connelli was NEVER in the running. In the Sydney concert performances she played the role like a Drag Queen. Half the audience left at interval.
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Post by Yonkers on Jun 20, 2005 0:22:33 GMT 11
With Michael Cormick going into Woman In White does this mean they'll have to find another Joe?
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Post by laurelin on Jun 20, 2005 23:49:12 GMT 11
Judi Connelli was NEVER in the running. In the Sydney concert performances she played the role like a Drag Queen. Half the audience left at interval. You must have seen a different performance to me. The one I attended was wonderful and there was an instant standing ovation at the end. I also didn't see anyone leave at interval. I also know people who attended the opening night performance (there was only two performances) and the only problem they mentioned was the sound, which fortunately had been improved by the second performance. I don't know if Judi Connelli was ever in the running for Norma in the original production, but she was definitely supposed to play it in a co-production by the Sydney Theatre Company and RUG a few years ago. Unfortunately the funding for that production fell through and it didn't proceed. |
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Tom
Backyard Balladeer
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Post by Tom on Jun 21, 2005 9:12:31 GMT 11
Judi Connelli was MOST DEFINIETLY in the running for Norma. And Geraldine was MOST DEFINITELY not. She might have got through to one of the final stages of auditions, but I know as an absolute fact that the final three contenders for Norma were Judi, Robyn Nevin and Debra Byrne, who of course finally got the role.
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SarahB
Backyard Balladeer
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Post by SarahB on Jun 21, 2005 10:23:07 GMT 11
Guess what?!Big news! Just heard that for the first time in Production Company history- (I think?) -they have cast the same person in two leading roles- drum roll-Lucy Durack will be playing 'Bianca/Lois Lane' in Kiss Me Kate AND 'Laurie' in Oklahoma!! Also you can apparently catch her on Kerri Anne this week- word on the street is that it is on Thursday morning's show.... Thought you might want to know!
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Post by Talissa on Jun 21, 2005 10:55:41 GMT 11
Awww, yay for Lucy. She'll be brilliant. I can just see her in those roles, too.
And as for Michael, I did hear a whisper right after the shows were announced that he might not be able to do SB because he'd managed to get a job in London, so it'll be interesting to see what's done.
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Post by Sally on Jun 21, 2005 11:04:25 GMT 11
I KNEW there was a reason I went and got two KMK tickets  |
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Post by Talissa on Jun 21, 2005 11:06:46 GMT 11
What? You mean apart from Scott and Marina and the show itself?  |
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Post by Sally on Jun 21, 2005 11:34:29 GMT 11
What? You mean apart from Scott and Marina and the show itself? Well, okay, love them together, but believe it or not, I never have been a huge KMK fan - apart from Lois/Bianca |
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SarahB
Backyard Balladeer
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Post by SarahB on Jun 21, 2005 21:57:29 GMT 11
Just found some more casting goss out- James Millar will be playing Jud in Oklahoma and Matthew Robinson will be playing a smaller role in Kiss Me Kate- does anyone know any more? Oh and also- Lucy and Matt are doing their show again at Bar Me in Sydney on 2nd and 3rd July- because they sold out last time! They are having a good year!
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Post by Talissa on Jun 22, 2005 14:14:31 GMT 11
Just found some more casting goss out- James Millar will be playing Jud in Oklahoma... You beat me to it, Sarah! Mitchell Butel will be playing Ali Hakim, and Chris Parker will be Will Parker. Sounds like Oklahoma will be an utterly brilliant finish to the season! Also, Simon Burke might be taking over Michael Cormick's role in Sunset Boulevard. This isn't confirmed yet, though. And I was quite expecting Matty to turn up in KMK. |
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SarahB
Backyard Balladeer
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Post by SarahB on Jun 23, 2005 2:10:44 GMT 11
Oh that's exciting- I didn't know about Chris Parker and Mitchell! While I know this may be a bit late for anyone to see in time- but I just received an email from a friend telling me that Lucy is going to be on Kerri Anne tomorrow morning (as in Thursday)- I'm going to try and remember to watch it- I so often forget when people are doing Bert or Kerri Anne...
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Post by Sally on Jun 23, 2005 11:37:22 GMT 11
'Someone to Watch Over Me'. Only one of my favourite songs ever! |
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Post by Talissa on Jun 25, 2005 20:52:22 GMT 11
Gosh, Oklahoma's really looking to be absolutely brilliant. Amanda Harrison will be playing Ado Annie, alongside all the aforementioned names. And it's the last one for the year *dies* They expect us to wait this long for all of these?
And what about the rest of the KMK cast? Someone's bound to know, considering it opens in less than a month.
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