Best-known to British TV fans from her role as Mrs. Meaker in the cult series “Rentaghost,” but also a very experienced stage performer, Emery played Mrs. Higgins in Trevor Nunn’s production of My Fair Lady at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane and was also the tap-dance instructor on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hit show Song and Dance.
Previews for the Elton John-composed show have been pushed back to March 31. A press release attributes the re-scheduling to giving the 45 children performers a less arduous rehearsal period.
The full cast features Haydn Gwynne as Mrs. Wilkinson, Joe Caffrey as Tony, Steve Elias as Mr. Braithwaite, Trevor Fox as George, Tim Healy as Dad and Stephanie Putson as Mum. Brooke Havana Bailey, Emma Hudson and Lucy Stephenson share the role of Debbie, and Brad Kavanagh, Ashley Lloyd and Ryan Longbottom will rotate in the role of Michael.
The ensemble comprises Daniel Coll, Erica Ann Deakin, Alex Delamere, Damien Delaney, Susan Fay, Alan Forrester, Isaac James, Gillian Kirkpatrick, Chris Lennon, David Massey, Michelle McAvoy, Karl Morgan, Daniel Page, Steve Paget, Lee Proud, Mike Scott, Phil Snowden and Tessa Worsley.
The show is produced by Old Vic Productions and Working Title (the company behind films including “Love, Actually” and “Bridget Jones’s Diary”) and Old Vic Productions. Director Stephen Daldry, who directed the film, stays on board for the stage version, as does writer Lee Hall. For more information, call (0)870 895 5577.
