Muriel’s Wedding: New role, same show for Pippa

A quarter of a century later and Pippa Grandison is back in Muriel’s Wedding. Having played bridesmaid Nicole in the iconic 1994 film, Grandison takes to the stage daily in Muriel’s Wedding The Musical but in a different role.

A scene from Muriel's Wedding the Musical. Photo: News Corp.

A quarter of a century later and Pippa Grandison is back in Muriel’s Wedding.

Having played bridesmaid Nicole in the iconic 1994 film, Grandison takes to the stage daily in Muriel’s Wedding The Musical but in a different role.

This time round, Grandison is playing Betty Heslop, a role portrayed by Jeanie Drynan in the movie.

“So much time has passed. It is a real thrill to be a part of it again and with such a different medium too,” Grandison said. “When you are playing those nasty bitchy characters, it is all a bit of fun really, they were so horrid, it was quite fun to play the villain. And here I am now playing what has been described as the heart of the piece because Betty is unseen until it is too late.”

Muriel's Wedding The Musical actress Pippa Grandison. Picture: Flavio Brancaleone

Muriel’s Wedding The Musical opened at Sydney’s Lyric Theatre last week with Natalie Abbott and Stefanie Jones in the lead roles of Muriel and Rhonda.

Toni Collette and Rachel Griffiths of course played those roles in the film.

“The musical is quite filmic and has been directed in quite a filmic way,” she said. “All of the story, the heart of the piece is there, if anything it has made it more accessible with the music because there was a lot of ABBA in the movie and the way they have woven ABBA into the theatrical experience is really clever.”

Playing Betty Heslop hasn’t been easy and like the film, has a dark storyline amid what is largely an upbeat story.

Pippa Grandison (left) in the Muriel's Wedding

“It is a lot of responsibility playing that role,” Grandison explained. “Betty represents so many women in society who go unseen, they do everything for everybody else and nothing for themselves.”

Grandison has been a regular on the big and small screen since Muriel’s Wedding, appearing in shows like E Street, All Saints, Underbelly, Here Come The Habibs and Water Rats.

She has also been prolific in the theatre world.

Asked what she would say to herself if able to go back in time to her first day on set of the movie, she said: “I’d say make sure you enjoy it and relish it for everything that it is because it is going to be super successful.”

Originally published as Muriel’s Wedding: New role, same show for Pippa