[Gwen]

how hard are they to do?

[jazzygirlsings]

Depends on who you are and how quickly you pick up certain accents...

[audreydarling]

they aren't that bad if you are familiar with them, otherwise you have to repeat and mimick, but it's easy to get the hang of. The accents in the movie are good, if you wanted reference. It also depends what character you play. Eliza has to have a refined and a cockney accent, Alfie has a cockney accent, etc. Also ensemble members should try to do the accents as well as they can to make it feel more real, but it will not make or break the show.

[ALoneWanderer]

I find it's much easier if I have a reference for the accents so the movie might help you a lot. For a part with an accent usually I'll try to get a recording of someone else playing the part and mimic their accent at first until I feel comfortable going off and using different inflections and such then them becuase I have a hold on the accent.

[Salome]

try looking at different films..not my fair lady..because people have a habit of copying a certain performer which is never good.

for good cockney accents see Major Barbara, Oliver,Great Expectations or Sidewalks of London.

[Savoyard]

I've always had a fairly easy time with accents, but since I'm in the deep south, a lot of the members of the cast had particular difficulty when we did this show, particularly with the cockney. I was reminded of Dick van Dyke in Mary Poppins only you could hear a little drawl too!

If you need specific advice on an accent let me know.

[Mark Walton]

See this thread for differences in accents between original Broadway and original London cast albums: http://musicals.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=16637

[broadway_baby416]

I adore the accents in My Fair Lady! There are so many different ones, it's pretty tricky to do imitations of all the different parts but if you're just going to do the one part it isn't that hard...for me, anyway.

I took this drama class a while back and for accents we studied My Fair Lady. It was so much fun, with Eliza, Henry Higgins, the aristocrats at the Ascot Races, Mr. Doolittle...Eliza even develops her accent within the show, I've seen too many productions of My Fair Lady where Eliza has really strong Cockney and then, all of a sudden, has perfect British! It drives me insane! Probably just because I'm a freak like that, but whatever...

[jazzygirlsings]

^Oh! That's so wrong!

At Ascot, she really should have an accent that's a bit over-the-top, enunciation wise...as this is her first outing and she's trying like hell to fit in and pronounce everything correctly...(When I did it, I remember feeling like I was going to hyperventilate after saying my "H's"! LOL!) And the other things she says (like the bit about the gin and her father) make it that much funnier!

[katethegreat]

Just for the record (I believe this is to whom Salome was referring...)Audrey Hepburn's accent in the film was awful. As were many other accents in the film....
It might actually be interesting/useful for you to look at Shaw's 'Pygmalion' which MFL's based on. Everyone who's seen MFL knows that Professor Higgins is interested in phonetics - in the book and the play they're used more. Plus you get to see them written down.

This is no attack, but I've cringed at americans trying to do cockney accents since Dick Van Dyke (couldn't get worse if he tried). Most people with English accents can't manage proper cockney. All I ever want to say is don't try so hard - the more you push it, the more fake it'll sound. The more you study accents, the more you realise it isn't as simple as just the accent. Everyone has different and individual tone to their voice - else we'd never tell each other's voices apart! Find a phrase you find simple to say in the accent and try and bring your own tone into it. The more you repeat it, the easier it'll be.

[le_moofin]

This might come as a surprise, but a good source for Cockney accents are older episodes of Monty Python. They use Cockney accents every now and then... I must agree, Audrey's accent wasn't the best I've heard.

[katethegreat]

Terry Jones' old women are often very ott cockneys, if you can get to the extreme - work on reigning it back in.
Just steer clear of the stereotypical "Cor blimey guv", "apples and pears" etc...

[Ulla Dance Again!]

Don't be hating on my Audrey!!!!

The one thing you can do is just to watch and learn. If you watch enough British programs, or even know someone who is actually British, then picking up the accent isn't so difficult. Then again, if you're naturally talented and good with accents in general, it won't be too hard for you.

[Salome]

No one is hating Audrey..she just wasnt a very good Eliza.,adequate, yes, great, no. not everyone can do everything.

[Ulla Dance Again!]

I was JOKING, Salome.

[Salome]

[Ulla Dance Again!]

Hey, if I can take down the sound guy at Ogunquit Playhouse, I can take down anyone.

[Salome]

hmmm..true..but ive been in several fights.

[Ulla Dance Again!]

Aye, so you have the upperhand.


(but I did actually take down our sound guy at Ogunquit Playhouse. )

[Salome]

as long as you dont remember my weak spot i'm good. lol

[Ulla Dance Again!]

Lol, okay.

[Salome]

haha..i guess you dont!

put em up woman!

[katethegreat]

Ding ding! Round one!

I do like Audrey, just wasn't the best there could've been for the part...

Having heard so many american actors doing 'british' accents on sitcoms etc, I'd just have to say BE CAREFUL - these people obviously think their accents are right - at least whoever hired them does - but they're very, VERY wrong

[Mark Walton]

[katethegreat]

[musical4eva]

I have an audition on wednesday (not much warning I know) and I'm going for Eliza. I'm fine with the RP but the cockney accent I had been doing doesnt work in relation to some of the lines. Any tips?

Also does the Queen of Transylvania use a transylvanian accent for her single line? lol this is my backup