Comments on: Whitlam drama through the eyes of Cleo

By: Meg

Meg — Wed, 10 Nov 2010 04:36:36 +0000

@ducko I read that article today also…in the Switched On section? Was it suggesting that she had definitely been cast or just linking the two John Edwards producitons? I think it said “I can see Asher Keddie as Ita Buttrose…”. I think she’s fantastic, it would take a seriously seriously large amount of Asher Keddie before I considered it overkill, but I take your point.

By: ducko

ducko — Sun, 31 Oct 2010 00:06:17 +0000

According to Sun Herald (31/10) Asher Keddie will be playing Ita in the ABC drama series Cleo, just as I feared.

By: Stephen

Stephen — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 09:40:33 +0000

I was thinking actress Susie Porter could play Ita, she looks a bit like her at a younger age

By: Ronnie

Ronnie — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 09:14:41 +0000

Great to see John Edwards back at the ABC – he’s been producing the best drama in Australia for years, but unless you have PayTV you haven’t been able to see it. I’ve been really disappointed in ABC drama commissioning for the past few years – 3 seasons of BORing is beyond endurance!

By: dave

dave — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 08:44:44 +0000

I like Justine, Claudia and Asher as much as the next person, but they seem to get the lionshare of the limited work. Unemployment must be at 98% among thirty something/forty actresses. Susie Porter should be added to that trio. I hope that the excellent casting agents that toil away in this country will cast Ita creatively, not just go for a visible name or face. Asher as Blanche D’Alpuget will be intersting to see. High profile names playing iconic or household figures can just as risky as casting a nobody.

By: @all

@all — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 08:17:39 +0000

yeah, yeah, they’re all great actresses who work with that team. I am wondering what the right age will be. How old was Ita during this period?

Want to watch one of Edwards best dramas with a lot of unknowns at the time, watch Marking Time. Im personally hopeful an unknown or relatively unknown will be cast however may end up being too hard a find.

By: Trix

Trix — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 07:48:20 +0000

@ducko, was thinking exactly the same thing. John Edwards has worked with Justine Clarke before in his poorly received female surgeon series, with Justine in the lead role. Seems he likes to stick with people he’s worked with previously (Claudia Karvan, Asher Keddie) so wouldn’t be surprised.

By: ducko

ducko — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 04:02:41 +0000

Thinking about it further, I could see Justine Clarke in the role of Ita. I know she’s in Tangle but that has a smallish audience given it’s only shown on Pay TV.

By: Adam

Adam — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 03:52:48 +0000

Asher is brilliant… good talent needs to be showcased…

By: Trix

Trix — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 02:29:54 +0000

John Edwards is fast turning into an uber producer, and bringing to TV some very interesting and dare I say original projects. Glad to see both Spirited and Offspring up for a second series before the first has even aired. Hopefully a pleasant change from the somewhat pedestrian fare served up elsewhere (Spirited certainly is). And he’s obviously very comfortable with having female driven lead roles, also good news.

By: @ducko

@ducko — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 02:16:53 +0000

we dont always agree but this time i do. I think Asher is great but after Offspring gets into full swing it will be Asher overkill.

Good question….. who to cast…..

By: ducko

ducko — Wed, 14 Jul 2010 01:29:39 +0000

I wonder who’s going to play Ita? And please, not Asher Keddie.

By: Adam

Adam — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 23:31:06 +0000

Mistake David: Edwards and Rush have both produced Tangle and Offspring

By: dave

dave — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 22:31:10 +0000

The Whitlam project seen through Ita’s eyes sounds fascinating – could be a clever twist on the standard bio pic or telling of history. I am enthusiastic about any new narrative projects that at the very least play with the form, have original creative energy about them, and keep the tradition of Australian story telling alive and well.