Andrew Lloyd Webber’s preparations for the stage production of The Sound Of Music have been dealt a blow after the ‘alternate’ Maria dropped out.
With only weeks left until opening night, actress Emma Williams (pictured below) had been officially contracted to share the role with Connie Fisher, winner of BBC1’s How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?.
For some reason, the professional actress with an impressive stage CV was angered after her part in the musical, which opens in November, was downgraded for the benefit of a reality TV star. Now Fisher will have to cover eight performances a week.
A statement from Lloyd Webber and Williams said: ‘Following the casting of trained actress Connie Fisher - the winner of the TV reality show How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? and discussions with the producers, Emma Williams, who it was anticipated would play the alternate Maria, has withdrawn her services from the production.’
This week Fisher, 23, described herself as a ‘full-time Maria’, and insisted she would perform every night in the new Sound of Music stage show
3 Comments »
I hate to say it, but was this all not pretty predictable.
Sir Trev said at the beginning it was unrealistic and now other professional stage actors are also getting peeved and walking out.
The thing about reality TV it is a novelty, and novelties have a short life span. whereas the theatre is a long term full time business.
I think if Ms williams stayed in the sound of music, her talent would not have been judged fairly by audiences as no-one can compete with a novelty.
It is the psychology of the audiences support for a novelty, as opposed to the acknowledged talent of the novelty, that is impossible to compete with.
I hope theatre audiences support Connie however, it would be interesting to see how both performers respective careers pan out over the next few years, good luck to them both.
Ms williams was lucky being offered the role next to connie at least she has talent. They could have given the role to Chico instead.
Thats what dawn thinks anyway
Emma Williams has a fantastic voice and was the youngest leading lady in the West End in ‘Chitty’. She has an amazing talent and stage presence. Her absence is the ‘Sound of Music’s’ loss.
My family and I have seen her perform on a number of occasions and have been bowled over.
We wish her luck in her career.
Connie Fisher and a few other of the contestants for this show are no novelty.
The reason why they are not novelties is due to the fact that they had engaged themselves on professional music theatre courses. The courses in themselves depending on how you do result in a professional singer a professional thespian graduating.
Graduates are then faced with the awesome task of finding jobs within the environment they are best suited to, musical theatre.
A great part of there working experience will come from theatre and not everyone is lucky enough to land leading roles no matter how able they are.
Connie Fisher took a chance on an unusal route to getting the job of her dreams a reality TV talent show, at the end of it she was the winner. She had successfully come through from one of several thousand possible contestants. In the view of the panel of mentors or judges she was obviously the best, in the opinion of the voters she was the best.
To date Connie has raised more than a stir. Sir Andrew and the production team are truly satisfied, and what greater news can a new musical theatre professional have than a CD which is selling and is in a prominent place in the album charts. Also what greater accolade to start a budding career than to perform alongside Lesley Garrett and on an opening night to have several curtain calls and a standing ovation.
I repeat Connie Fisher is not a novelty.
Bravo, congratulations, good luck.
MAUREEN
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