The Metro reports:

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 and discussions with the producers, Emma Williams, who it was anticipated would play the alternate Maria, has withdrawn her services from the production.’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

This article has been written by Maureen, a member of the Unreality contributors team. Thanks Maureen!

OH WHAT A NIGHT…WHAT A FINAL THAT WAS…

However did we reach it, the end. The winner was Connie Fisher who after a weekend of celebrating must now knuckle down to her new musical theatre career. Good luck to her. I won’t say ‘break a leg’ as this can sometimes be an ill omen as this could delay a budding career.

So reality TV talent shows can give quality to viewers watching and can make or break very real and promising careers, there have been many tears and tantrums from the competitors and no doubt some from the viewers voicing their thoughts to the square box in the corner of the room.

This show was one of the best, proving that the BBC really has got what it takes to give you the viewers quality TV. In the ratings war this show like many who have gone before Fame Academy, Star for a night, plus those concentrating on ice dancing, and come dancing have been broadcast for the more discerning viewer. On a vocal front none of the competitors for the singing competitions could be labelled as karoake artists, cabaret singers, cruise line or red coats. Not that there should be any disrespect for those whose livelihoods are dependent on this for their income of 10, 15 20 years standing, but they are a far cry from having there name in lights.

By comparison ticket sales for “The sound of Music” 50% have been sold now, so the initial investment of 4 million has been recovered in addition to the ongoing costs of the show for the next 6 months. Album sales of the original Julie Andrews recording have also suddenly risen and that strange phenonema of the singalonga disc sales are also looking healthy, all as a direct result of the programme. The value is yet to be calculated of all this, but the least that can be said is that the programme has had a positive feed back for the music industry and this is set to continue for at least a few more months. Very distant cousins however being ITV’s X factor is set this year to go out with a bang or on a high. Proving that whilst they may well have won in the ratings war it does not correlate into record sales.

Sir Trevor Nunns worries and those of other professionals have all been in vain, even though I do know he spoke the truth when saying that the show was so unlike real theatre’s way of auditioning and selection. Having been part of theatre all my life, I’d say the show was kinder.

So there we have it, The composer of the age of the Modern musical, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, the man responsible for placing Michael Crawford in a mask, and Elaine Paige in a Cat suit with the help of his three wise monkeys:- Co producer, and no stranger to ‘partnerships and music industry contracts’ as the Chairman of Global productions,- *’David Ian’… famed for his direction of Grease’, and Saturday night Fever’ and accustomed to taking chances – **’John Barryman’… soon to be highlighted in a Dr Who’ spin off “Torchwood” leaving temporarily behind his musical theatre roles in ‘Anything goes’ & ‘Miss Saigon’ and others too numerous to list, and finally – ***’Zoe Tyler’… whose quick tongue must have cut down to size many a budding artist, who I personally felt was a bit to close to Jayne Macdonald, but still she too has made a vocal journey to the London stage in Fame’, Les Miserable’, Jesus Christ Superstar’ and has many experiences of being a backing vocalist on stage and in the recording studio. These people are a true authority and these four with the help of viewers have now given us Connie Fisher. Runner up Helena Blackman 23 and a waitress. 3rd Siobhan Dillon 21 a fashion student.

How did Connie get there. Persistence, Stamina, personal conviction and confidence in addition to musical gift and an ability to really sing.Connie hasn’t just sang for her supper, she has sang for her life. It is these things which have brought her through and given her deservedly and without reservation the coveted role of Maria.

6.000 six thousand auditions, five cities, down to 20 at Sydmonton and the first excercise in singing to a distinguished crowd. Six months and a bit later…

Are you ready to get into a habit?

Are you going to wear your wimple with pride? Go on.

Let’s start at the very beginning……………MAUREEN.

The BBC Reported:

Connie is named your new Maria.

The moment was soon upon us – the question ‘How to Solve a Problem Like Maria?’ was soon to be answered.

But first Connie and Helena had to go head-to-head and sing their favourite song of the ones that they have performed during the series.

Helena sang Woman in Love, while Connie sang Shout. They then performed The Sound of Music together.

Andrew was proud of his two finalists – and the programme as a whole for showcasing such talent.

Over two million votes were received, but who was the nation’s choice? John and David favoured Connie, Zoe preferred Helena. But the man who was putting his reputation on the line, Andrew Lloyd Webber, wanted Connie to be his Maria.

Finally, Graham announced that Connie had won the contest and, more importantly, the role of Maria in the West End.

Connie was delighted to be named your Maria. “I feel on top of the world, thanks very much. I won’t let you down. Every night will be an opening night. Thanks for making my dreams come true.”

This article has been written by Maureen, the newest member of the Unreality team. Welcome aboard Maureen!

In consideration of the above question one must stay open minded. As the issue of quality versus quantity becomes paramount, in what would be defined as acts suitable for theatre. Only the best will fit the bill.

Within the opening statement is that assumption that theatre encourages good quality acts, which are few and far between. So how then can this media thesis type question be applied to televised reality talent shows, and what else does it imply? The possibility that in our most recent diagnosis of what is wrong with todays throwaway society, that far to many of us sit at home glued to the one eyed monster in the corner of kitchen, the bedroom, the living room, the dining room and fail to go out. Hence, a large proportion of the population are paying over the odds for home entertainment when the nutritional value of a take away meal or microwave tv dinners becomes the bill of fare. Have we really become this lazy and non discerning about entertainment?

The truth here is not easy to detect, but the television companies providing consumerised entertainent ‘recognise and know’ who to ‘target’ television programmes for. ‘Popular television’ or ‘peak time television’ – is television for the masses who stay at home after ‘work or tea’ during the week, and maybe, because of commitment to family – find themselves also at home during the weekend.

At first glance you would probably say no then to the above question, and then your curiosity would ponder why ask the question in the first place.

Can television ever provide quality viewing, which also falls into the reality TV genre of the talent show? The answer is yes. Yes I did say YES.

It is true it will also provide us with viewing that is stressful when it shows the first ‘ wild, outragious, tentative, over confident and the hilariously funny auditions’, that somehow set the mood for the viewer at home. In many cases this run up is far more exciting than the actual heats when some one is voted off each week. In my own personal view, I much prefer the heats and if a show promises to take a young amateur on a vocal journey it seems a shame to see someone distraught and returned home each week. At this juncture I feel some changes would not come in wrong.

So we have established for the viewer that the producers and programmers are going to give us some quality reality TV, even though this will also include some tosh. How then can we relate this to bums on seats in a theatre or sparking an interest in theatre going?

Well this Saturday, sees the ultimate show down for the three finalists in ‘How do you solve the problem of Maria’. Each week the show has progressed forward and has brought a selection of music which fits into the genre of pop, or popular modern musical. This is quite clever the way the programmers have done this, as I would have originally thought that the contestants should only have performed peices from the same period of the classical musical. After all, ‘THE SOUND OF MUSIC’, is without doubt a classical great and not a pop musical at all. The winner will have to have serious classical leanings to give it her best shot, making or breaking her new career. Critically one could say that the performances have been more polished than any X factor perfomer going through anyone of the ten or eleven heats of ITV/Granada’s offerings of a Saturday evenings – soon to start this autumn for real in a few short weeks of whittling down.

Furthermore, the choice of music for the contestants has created a vacuum, and a fan base for each one, each week. This is unheard of in todays day and age, when television rules over theatre and cinema. It is obvious that the cunning behind this is to create sufficient interest in the performers from the point of how well they perform popular music and that it should carry forward selling tickets for the opening on the:- 3RD OF NOVEMBER 2006.

For final proof that the BBC have an invested interest in encouraging a revival into theatre going and theatre training, a percentage of the phone in vote will provide – Capped Bursary grants for up to 50 of the girls from the final 100 who auditioned for Maria, which will enable them to carry on with further training of their acting and singing skills. Also a second section exists known as the FAB trust which is open to all and sundry who prove they have a viable interest in becoming a performer and like the ‘Princes Trust’ will award bursaries up to 10k for training purposes.

All in all, is the tide not turning for televised talent shows after so many years of absolute tosh.

If you have not watched ‘How do you solve the problem of Maria’ so far .. if I were you I would not miss Saturdays Final.

This article has been written by Maureen, the newest member of the Unreality team. Welcome aboard Maureen!

From approximately April this year there has been talk on the grapevine of searching for and creating a new musical theatre stage star, for the role of Maria in one of London’s many West End Theatres. Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber did own ten of these London Theatres at my last count and according to recent economic reviews, into there financial health a few are floundering to attract full houses over a length of time. One could say once a show has run its course, than that is it, how can you possibly revive it. Should you spend more on a few more lavish sets and change your major players, who can tell what the best course of action will be against the nations fickle musical tastes?

So Andrew this time round, intends to invest 4 million pounds on the latest production of, ‘ The Sound Of Music’ . Spending on this scale is obviously an investment, and I am going to say outright it is not being done for truly artistic reasons but rather with a serious expected return to counteract some of the shows that have had a down turn in profits. Nevertheless, by sheer enormity of the indiginous population count and with tourist figures escalating everyday for London, 4 million pounds could easily be recouped into the bank with a good year or less of ticket sales.

So the hunt has been on for a new Maria, the final of this hunt is on Saturday on BBC 1 at 6.45 pm. Whoever, is chosen by the viewers to be the next Maria Von Trapp with in the view point of the UK’s biggest theatre Producer one David Ian must appeal to the public and sell tickets. Will it be Waitress, Helena Blackman, 23,… or fashion student, Siobhan Dillon, 21, …or the peoples favourite- call centre operator, Connie Fisher, 23?

Over the last few years reality TV has certainly attracted the public eye, it has brought to the viewers attention ordinary everyday people and enabled the showcasing of both the talentless and the talented. I suppose you could say this is home grown entertainment for the first time elevated by television, marketing, merchandising. For the lucky ones who win, they have not had to succeed the hard way, by toil, grind, years of study and having to stay motivated in a negative world, where rejection is the norm.

Curiosity though at this point, makes me wonder why if we have so many talented people in Britain, why they don’t join in there local provincial theatre companies? These companies have for members good amateurs, semi professionals and people of professional standing. The shows the majority of them produce , grant it – do not run for years. Furthermore, they haven’t had the same level of investment – that theatres in the capital would have. Some companies have to beg for every penny of sponsorship from private investors and the rest is raised via charitable events and a little from arts bodies. There shows do not have the lavishly expensive sets and beautifully finished stage outfits many a production will cost somewhere within the region of 25k to 40k all in, just for a week or less. Rather sad, that once they have these funds the shows run for such a short spell and are every bit as good and in quite a few better performances by far, than some musicals in the capital, I have seen over the years. The reason their shows are so good, is that the members of such companies are very talented, just as dedicated and gifted to the art of performing – but the greatest of all is that they possess a love of music second to none.

Is it possible that the contestants of reality TV talent shows tell themselves the grass is greener in the capital than it is at home?

Provincial theatres do struggle to survive, many have closed down which is a crying shame. So if all the provincial theatres close where will the next generation of Maria Von Trapps get the opportunity to perform and develop? Surely, the Capital alone can not fulfill the artistic needs of the nation?

MAUREEN

Connie Fisher is now favourite to win the reality show ‘How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria?’.

Bookmakers William Hill have installed Connie as the 4/9 favourite to land the role of Maria in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new West End production of ‘The Sound of Music’.

Siobhan Dillon is second favourite to win the show on odds of 5/2, with Helena Blackman currently on odds of 6/1.
Click here to find out more!

Salthill singer Aoife Mulholland was voted off the show at the weekend during a double eviction night, which also saw Abi Finley leave the show.

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.

The remaining girls from the BBCs hit show ‘How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria’ attended their first movie premiere this week.!

They were seen strutting along the red carpet on the arm of Owen Wilson at the London premiere of his new film You, Me And Dupree.

Not content with attending the show, the girls decided to steal it, bu doing the Can-Can around the leading man!

Western Mail reports:

BOOKIES have tipped a Welsh actress as the red hot favourite to win this summer’s hit talent show, How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?

Connie Fisher is one of eight remaining finalists competing for the chance to play Maria in a new Andrew Lloyd Webber production of The Sound Of Music in the West End.

With two finalists already eliminated and another one due to be voted off on Saturday, the competition is heating up, but in the eyes of the public and the bookmakers, the 23-year-old from Pembrokeshire is the favourite to win.

Yesterday bookmakers Ladbrokes revealed odds on her winning are 5/6, and said support for her was so strong, they hadn’t calculated odds for any of the other finalists.

Ladbrokes spokesperson David Williams said, “The reason for such short odds is that she’s far and away the best competitor on the series. She’s the only one attracting support.”

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At William Hill, odds on the Welsh Maria are 4/5, while her closest competitors Siobhan and Leanne have odds of 3/1 and 5/1 respectively.

Connie, who graduated from the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts last year with a first-class degree, attributes her success to a childhood competing in eisteddfodau around Wales.

Yesterday her Mum, Jan Fisher, 58, said, “I’m extremely proud as I know she’s worked jolly hard for it. She’s done four gruelling years to get a degree. We’re just extremely proud.”

Postings on the programme’s online message board such as “How do you solve a problem like maria? Give the part to Connie, she is just brilliant”, reflect her popularity with the public and yesterday Welsh entertainer Owen Money said he was backing her as well.

He said, “I realised her talent about seven years ago when she was on the first series of Just Up Your Street. I think she’ll win, I really do.

“She has the talent and the confidence as well. It’s her whole personality, you look at the way she looks and she does look like Maria.

“She’s destined to win it. She’s head and shoulders above everybody else. And if she didn’t have the talent she wouldn’t have been on my programme.”

Connie had her first professional acting job at the Torch Theatre, Milford Haven, – the princess in Aladdin – and she also worked with the youth theatre as a teenager.

Peter Doran, artistic director said, “Connie doesn’t just have a good voice, she can act, which is important because the role [Maria] is not just about singing. It’s also a very heavy acting role.

“The thing that impressed me when I first saw Connie in the youth theatre was how good an actress she was, I was totally unaware of her voice at that stage.

“She has got amazing eyes that find you wherever you are sitting. She holds your focus and you find you can’t take your eyes off her. It was only later when she was in a project where she was allowed to sing that I realised her voice was quite exceptional.”

Connie, who is busy rehearsing for Saturday’s show, said, “My uncle bets online and he went on a website and saw people had put £3,500 on me to win.

“It’s quite a lot of pressure, but I’m hoping if people are prepared to put money on me then they’ll pick up the phone and vote because it all comes down to the public backing me.”

The X Factor has once again proved why its one of the most popular shows on TV at the minute.

The X Factor managed to beat BBC rival show ‘How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria’ by over 3 million viewers, coming in with 8.4 million to Maria’s 4.4million. In fairness though, the arrival of the X Factor didn’t diminish Marias ratings, proving that Graham Norton might just be worth every penny of his new contract!

I wish that ITV and BBC wouldn’t air the shows at exactly the same time. I know its good for competition and all that, but I would love to be able to watch both shows, and I still haven’t worked out how to use my video recorder!

I have a strange passion for West End Musicals, and while watching Maria I can easily imagine it is me on the stage, however I hate to miss an epsiode of The X Factor and Simon Cowells caustic comments.

If the channels would just alter their schedules it would make my life a lot easier!!!!