The boy from oz: McKenny or Jackman

I was out raged when Todd McKenny was no longer the principal lead in "The Boy From Oz" and was replaced with Hugh Jackman when the show hit the US. Could someone please fill me in on how this happened and if you agree or disagree.

Hi,

I heard that Todd was not invited to play Peter Allen in the Broadway version of "Boy From Oz" because he is an unknown in the US. Hugh was selected because he is an Australian but is fast gaining celebrity status in the US due to his movie roles.

I never saw the Oz version of the show (and will always regret it as it will never be the same again) but am familiar with the work of Peter Allen, Todd McKenney and Hugh Jackman. I can't imagine Hugh, lovely as he is, being right for the role and have heard as much from people who have seen the Broadway version but I do understand why they did it. I don't, however, understand why they felt the need to drastically alter the show itself. From what I have heard I believe it should now be called "Liza and Judy from US!"

Gill

Hi Everyone

Seeing as you have mentioned Hugh Jackman, I thought it was appropriate to mention that a brand new competition will be launched next week for WA young people. Hugh Jackman is the patron of the competition and our co patron is the fabulous Jill Perryman.

More details here next week, don't miss it!!!

For all those young WA actors who want to be seen by the casting directors of all of the major soaps in Australia, this is your chance!

Kerri Hilton

Dear “Young Actress”,

I assume from your pseudonym that you are no older than early twenties. You are probably at that age when you think that all roles should go to the best actor for the job. I can remember when I was at this wonderful idealistic age, and I wish the world was actually like that, but I am afraid it is not.

Broadway in particular is a brutal and unforgiving world where careers, reputations and fortunes can be won or lost at the whim of fate, timing and critics.

While I think very few people would doubt that Todd McKenny made a better Peter Allen than Hugh Jackman. The show itself, and Todd in the lead, would not be enough of a drawcard in the buyers market that is Broadway to get people to see “Boy From Oz” over any of the other dozen musicals on at the same time. The show would open and close within a couple of months, tops!

With someone who is a genuine drawcard, like Hugh Jackman, the odds shift somewhat more in the favour of the show becoming a success. As it is the show has been less of a success than HughÂ’s performance. When Hugh took a six week break from the show, the producers actually closed the show for those six weeks because the ticket sales dried up dramatically for the period he was away.

This may be due to Martin ShermanÂ’s changes to Nick EnrightÂ’s script, but that is something we will NEVER be able to know for sure (although all anecdotal reports I have heard have been that the changes are VERY noticeable to someone who knows the original). But there was a reason they changed the script as well. Never overestimate an American audienceÂ’s intelligence.

Also there is the matter of the closed shop that is Acting on stage in America. Unless you have a green card it is almost impossible to get permission to perform in a big show unless you are North American. As it was the producers had to get special dispensation to allow Hugh to take the role, dispensation that would have been a lot harder to get for Todd (not being a movie star and all).

It is a shame that Todd didn’t get his chance for major limelight, but I was very impressed that at least Hugh Jackman mentioned him in his Tony acceptance speech. Without Todd there would have been no “Boy From Oz” at all, but without Hugh it could not have got to Broadway.

Congratulations to Hugh on his recent Tony, and congratulations to Todd for being the creator of a Tony Award winning role. A team effort well rewarded!

"It sucks to be broke and unemployed and turning thirty three,
It sucks to be me!"

Paul Treasure

PS Anyone who wants to do Avenue Q in the next couple of years (should rights become available) I would kill for that role!

Paul Treasure wrote:
>
> This may be due to Martin ShermanÂ’s changes to Nick EnrightÂ’s
> script, but that is something we will NEVER be able to know
> for sure (although all anecdotal reports I have heard have
> been that the changes are VERY noticeable to someone who
> knows the original). But there was a reason they changed the
> script as well. Never overestimate an American audienceÂ’s
> intelligence.

*looks around*

I've seen the New York production..... *whispers*....on video and its DREADFUL! And Hugh Jackman is dreadful in it.

The new "script" is just plain bad. There is absolutely no heart in the show anymore, which is a very big shame. All the heartfelt numbers (eg, Quiet Please, there's a lady on the stage and Don't Cry Out Loud) become these huge American Broadway dance numbers. And I Still Call Australia Home becomes a casual conversation with his mum at her kitchen table, not the huge anthem we know it as.

Hugh Jackman, although I like him as an actor, was really ordinary. He was a typical straight man attempting to be gay - which doesn't work, and the scenes with him and his lover were laughable. I'm pleased that he got a Tony, especially being an Aussie in an Aussie musical, but he doesn't deserve it. Todd McKenny was FAR more convincing, but as we all know, there was no way the show would survive with him being an unknown in America. At least now it will run for another few months, until the rumoured Russell Crowe is taking over - which is a complete joke.

Yes the show has been rewritten for American audiences to its detriment I believe. I have heard that Nick Enright wasn't particularly happy about what they did to it either. I'm sick of American's needing every product (eg, The Castle, Harry Potter, etc.) being changed for them to understand it.

"Never underestimate an American audience's intelligence"? Pfft... what intelligence?

Hi,

I didn't get a chance to see Boy in Australia but know the way that Todd performs and in bits that i have seen he did a fantastic job of protyaying Peter Allen, he captured that moment.

Congratulations to Hugh, i agree with the comment that without Todd there would be no Boy etc, but i know for a fact that Todd was given a green card to perform in the US. He was preparing to go over when Hugh rang him and basically broke the news to him. I understand that yes it would not have been the sucess that it has been but i believe its a bit rough the way he was treated.

Tyalia

I've often dreamt of having the pleasure in meeting one of our very sucessful actors/ actresses from Australia. I am a Sydney girl myself, but i saw this website and thought it was a wonderful thing for kids/ teens of WA who are aspiring young actors/ actresses, but what about someone like me who is really interested? I wish that one day i could be discovered as well. I know it's adream for many, but i was thinking crazily, like Hugh Jackman might visit this site. If i was a famous actor I'd love to visiti websites that were dedicated to me, about me etc.
Anyway, hi to everyone who visits this site. Take it easy everyone...
actress hopeful,
Kya Stewart.
xo