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I'd Do Anything's Jodie is cast as Nancy. But not for every performance...

jodiewins.jpgSaturday night's musical talent search 'I'd Do Anything' came to a close this weekend with 28 year old Jodie Prenger walking away as the future Nancy in Cameron Mackintosh's new production of 'Oliver!'. The public's choice was somewhat controversial considering both Mackintosh and head judge Andrew Lloyd Webber would have preferred runner-up Jessie. That said, they did leave themselves an easy out clause no matter what the outcome was. Until this week, the official Oliver! website stated that the winning Nancy would only be doing four shows a week, and not the eight that the judges ranted on about throughout the competition...

Now the statement has been updated, and according to the producers of the show...

"Sickness and holiday permitting, we have decided that Jodie Prenger is scheduled to perform on Monday and Tuesday evenings, Wednesday matinees, Friday evenings and both performances on Saturday. Until the show opens in December we cannot make a final decision on any additional performances."

This is good news for Jodie, who could easily have found herself only doing the same number of shows as her understudy. It also implies they trust her voice to hold out for more shows. This almost makes me respect Cameron Mackintosh again, after he allegedly said earlier in the competition that Jodie was 'too big' to be Nancy.

Yep, there it is. Ridiculous weight controversy is rearing its ugly head yet again. Jodie is a size 14-16, having lost masses of weight on The Biggest Loser in order to follow her dream. If that doesn't show fighting spirit and determination, I don't know what does. Nancy is one of only a handful of roles in the West End that is at all suited to a curvier woman, so why her weight is even an issue, I'm at a loss. If Mackintosh truly preferred Jessie's voice, fair enough, but that's now how it came across.

Of course, if the rumours about Burn Gorman playing Bill Sykes are true, perhaps Mackintosh was more concerned about Jodie's height than her weight?!

PS. Some people have made the point that Nancy would be poor and therefore unable to afford food, so the woman playing her should be thin. I don't know when authenticity became such an issue in musicals? If she can wear satin, numerous petticoats and jewellery onstage, and break out into song at every given opportunity (and if Oliver can be Welsh) I reckon Nancy can be a bit curvy!

Posted by Gemma on June 2, 2008

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Comments

On the issue of whether nancy would be thin- even though she would have been poor the victorian diet for poor people could include mainly cheese, bread, meat etc things that are stodgy. Also if she hangs around the ub as much as the film implies then think of all that beer!!

Posted by: sam d | June 2, 2008 2:13 PM

Well done Jodie you deserved it you were great! I will come to see u at the west end

Posted by: Georgia Burke | June 2, 2008 4:24 PM

Well, Keisha, whom the Lord loved so very much was, according to some annoying people I know, too black to play Nancy at that time (that goes for Sophie Okenedo too, apparently)... you'd never catch Mackintosh making a comment like that but fat girls are fair game, dontchaknow. Even when they're not fat.

Personally, with their emphasis on a youthful Nancy, I'm surprised they didn't comment that she was too old and actually ended up discriminating against the younger contestants for lack of stamina. But, then, an audition process has to be an exercise in discrimination otherwise we'd all be Nancy...

Posted by: Alex | June 2, 2008 4:37 PM

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