Sir Trevor Nunn Brands ‘How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria’ Distaseful
Theatre Critic Sir Trevor Nunn has spoken out against Andrew Lloyd Webbers popular TV show ‘How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria’.
He believes that the show does not truly represent a proper theatre audition process, and that the show focuses too heavily on Audience entertainment, instead of who is the best actress for the part.
He told The Times:”What these reality programmes more or less rely on is the viewing public being witness to distress. That is absolutely not how casting proceeds in the theatre.”
Nunn was involved in the early planning stages of the upcoming version of The Sound Of Music, but left the team due to the TV programme: “It was not a route I wanted to follow,” he added.
Chat about this on the Unreality TV Forum »
Loading ...
September 3rd, 2006 at 12:45 pm
After watching some of the ” problem like maria”, I agree with the Sir Trev.
Television has however changed ( not all change is for the best) and many people dont actually want to see a realistic casting for a theatre musical, simply cause its quite boring, for todays audience.
They want to see tears , possibly a few breakdowns, fist fights and tantrums, happy slapping etc the singing almost acts as a commercial break.
The only thing that disturbs me about the genre of this type of programme, is that up and coming actors, singers, performers etc, may rely to much on extreme personality and behaviour to push them ahead.
While their actual talent is becoming increasingly insignificant. I fear those with actual talent my turn away from the industry if they havent got mental health problems, behavioural problems or a super dooper cracking personality. We then are left with people like Chico.
Although we have always had suspect people on the goggle box in the UK , with suspect talent and a cracking personanlity ie Cilla Black. They are now becoming the majority.
Well done Sir Trev, it would be nice to look back in twenty years time on the year 2006 and see talented people from this era on the screen. But I suspect we wont ever repeat any of the programmes we make now (in this genre) , such as the “Marias”, cos they simply aren’t that good.
What grinds my gears is, In twenty years time the BBC we will STILL be screening fifty year old footage of Elaine Paige on the “Two Ronnies”. Dame Elaine (she should be if she isnt) perfected her craft without audience partcipation, temper trantums, hysteria, cracking jokes, trading on her personality etc.
Thats why she’s a singer who just sings very well.
The BBC will never screen “How do you solve a problem like maria” again.
They are also going to pick a Maria , that they would not normally cast for the part in a true audition. So in the longterm she wont be a patch on PAIGE (or Dame Julie Andrews.
I enjoy it for what it is, but it AINT THE REAL DEAL.
Nuff respec to Sir Trev, for telling it as it is.
Hiya lol.xxxxx