‘Nanny’ takes on wicked roll in ‘Cinderella’
Fran Drescher. The nasal sound. The Queens speech. The high-pitched giggle. The screech. “The Nanny,” in her Broadway debut, is a replacement, playing the evil, mean, nasty, ratty, lousy, wicked Stepmother in “Cinderella.”
“A big Broadway musical is finally off my bucket list,” she says in a nice, normal voice. “In the show I speak with a little bit of affectation, but at one point I throw my famous ‘Nanny’ laugh and say ‘Huh?’ in that old nasal twang and everybody laughs.
“Opening night for me, I was scared I wouldn’t remember the lines. I dropped one but didn’t blow any. Now I’m more confident. I’ve made it my own. On TV, I produced, directed, starred, promoted, so I’m used to working hard hours. But I’ve learned to pace myself.
“A salad at home, arrive a half-hour before curtaintime, do my own makeup, which I always did on TV, add the wig and out I go. Then home right after. No going anywhere or any extra stuff besides the show. I only go out Sundays.
“Listen, they offered the job, I was available, and a musical was a great opportunity not to pass.”
She catch reruns of her series when they’re on TV?
“Occasionally. I’ve kept all the episodes. Y’know, sometimes, like right in the middle of it, I remember what was then going on in my life. And how much thinner I was. That’s what’s great about this show. Wardrobe. Big wigs and hoop skirts make my waist look smaller.”
