"How do you solve a problem like Maria?"

[Adam Chris]

Posted: 7/28/06 at 3:27pm

Has anyone heard this yet?

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/101134.html

"The July 29 broadcast will follow the initial audition process, and the ten finalists will be revealed on the Aug. 5 program. Beginning with the Aug. 5 telecast, the finalists will perform live before a panel of judges that include composer Lloyd Webber, producer Ian, stage star John Barrowman and vocal coach Zoe Tyler. Although the judges will comment about the performances, it will be the viewers who will be able to vote by phone each week for their favorite candidate."

*sigh*

[TxTwoStep]

Posted: 7/28/06 at 3:29pm

let's just hope they don't trick it out with "competitions" like seeing who can find their way through the hills of Austria on footpaths, sew clothes from curtains, etcetera....

[JohnBoy2]

Posted: 7/28/06 at 5:08pm

This has been going on, for some time. Auditions, I mean. It's as good a way, as any, to find their lead. Although, why anyone wants to see another stage production of TSOM, is a mystery. But, this reality show, will guarantee its success.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 7/28/06 at 5:16pm

Is Adam Guettel desperate for money?

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 7/28/06 at 5:38pm

I agree with TxTwoStep. There's only so much you can do while keeping it real -- she can say why she wants to be Maria, she can sing, and she can do a little acting and dancing. But it's not as if she has to collect rings through underwater tubes in a thirty-second time limit. I'm interested to see how interesting this will be.

Posted: 7/28/06 at 6:04pm

I have a few friends who were passed on and had to drop out because they were still in school. they said it was really a weird audition and they are looking for more of a pop style for maria.

[mrkringas]

Posted: 7/28/06 at 7:19pm

Its Andrew Lloyd Webber producing btw

There have been clips on the BBC and C4 today of some of the girls. While there was one girl who sounded a little bit more "pop", most were singing legit and doing songs like "I Could Have Danced All Night" and "Think of Me".

The idea that Webber and the director has is to find a young Maria who is more like the real Maria. The whole thing has caused a lot of disquiet over here. Some of the finalists have done professional theatre. Many agents were not allowing their clients to even audition for it. However the winner will only be doing 6 shows a week. An alternate has been hired- allegedly Emma Williams, a very young and talented girl who did Chitty, Bat Boy and Promises, Promises over here.

[jo]

Posted: 7/28/06 at 9:32pm

I saw Emma Williams in CHITTY and has heard her sing the role of Betty Schaefer in the concert version of SUNSET BOULEVARD.

She's talented, has a lovely voice, and is quite beautiful!

Maybe they should let her do the 6 shows and the winner be the alternate

[George67]

Posted: 8/9/06 at 6:59pm

and oh look David Ian is coming over here and doing the same thing with GREASE...

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/101303.html

[west end artist1]

Posted: 8/9/06 at 8:42pm

Emma Williams is a freind of mine from stage 84(theatre school)and she is 100 percent the alternate maria and is very excited.She will only do 2 shows a week at the moment but that will prob change according to her.

xx

[west end artist1]

Posted: 8/9/06 at 8:45pm

Ps the producers of the reality show are saying they are really happy with the audience figures but in reality the show is not doing as well as they hoped for with only 4.7 million viewers but they are hopefull it will pick up.

[blueroses]

Posted: 8/9/06 at 9:18pm

She climbs a tree and scrapes her knee
Her dress has got a tear
She waltzes on her way to Mass
And whistles on the stair
And underneath her wimple
She has curlers in her hair
I've even heard her singing in the abbey!

She's always late for chapel
But her penitence is real
She's always late for everything
Except for every meal
I hate to have to say it
But I very firmly feel
Maria's not an asset to the abbey...

I'd like to say a word in her behalf
Maria...
makes me...
LAUGH! (ha ha ha ha ha...)

How do you solve a problem like Maria?
How do you catch a cloud and pin it down?
How do you find a word that means Maria?
A flibbertijibbet! A will-o'-the wisp! A clown!

Many a thing you know you'd like to tell her
Many a thing she ought to understand
But how do you make her stay?
And listen to all you say?
How do you keep a wave upon the sand?

Oh, how do you solve a problem like Maria?
How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?

When I'm with her I'm confused
Out of focus and bemused
And I never know exactly where I aaaaam....
Unpredictable as weather
She's as flighty as a feather
She's a darling!
She's a demon!
She's a lamb!

She'd outpester any pest
Drive a hornet from its nest
She could throw a whirling dervish out of whirrrrl...
She is gentle!
She is wild!
She's a riddle!
She's a child!
She's a headache!
She's an angel!
She's a girl!

How do you solve a problem like Maria?
How do you catch a cloud and pin it down?
How do you find a word that means Maria?
A flibbertijibbet! A will-o'-the wisp! A clown!

Many a thing you know you'd like to tell her
Many a thing she ought to understand
But how do you make her stay?
And listen to all you say?
How do you keep a wave upon the sand?

Oh, how do you solve a problem like Maria?
How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 9/9/06 at 2:26pm

There are clips of this on YT with all the contestants. It's very trashy but I think its fun. I like Connie best I think. She's the best actress, at least.

Updated On: 9/9/06 at 02:26 PM

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 9/9/06 at 4:27pm

I wondered who was doing this first: GREASE or SOUND OF MUSIC. Either way, it's a silly idea. Do they really think this is going to generate an audience when it finally opens? All one has to do is look at the relative failure of the American Idol winners (with the exception of Kelly Clarkson, whow frankly seems to prove the rule) to know that this will work until Act One, Scene 3.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 9/9/06 at 4:35pm

Well, I think if the television show were as popular as AMERICAN IDOL, they would have no problem selling the show based on the winner of a reality contest (the AI concert tour routinely sells out stadiums all over the country) - but apparently, HOW DO YOU SOLVE A PROBLEM LIKE MARIA isn't that hugely popular. But than again, THE SOUND OF MUSIC may be a recognizable name enough to sell tickets without a star.

Ultimately it's just a fun PR move for the production. They aren't obligated to actually make the winner the "full time" Maria, and if they do find an amazing talent, they might have the added press of "a star is born:" those kind of reviews for Elena Roger are pretty much the only selling point for Webber's new production of EVITA.

[colleen_lee]

Posted: 9/9/06 at 4:59pm

I really wish it were airing here in the states. It's totally corny and cheesy and American Idol rip-off, but I find it interesting to see what songs people choose (some of which are just dreadful....Girls Just Wanna Have Fun? No. Not unless you're Cyndi Lauper or want to evoke the image of drunken bar karaoke).

Though I kinda thought the talent would be....well, better, I guess.

Updated On: 9/9/06 at 04:59 PM

[mpw607]

Posted: 9/9/06 at 5:38pm

American Idol ripoff? Sorry to inform you but the start of all this was a British show called Pop Idol. Following its success here, the format was exported to the USA as American Idol. Don't you even have Simon Callow as one of the judges?

It makes me laugh when Americans think everything originates in America.

[MrMidwest]

Posted: 9/9/06 at 5:39pm

"Who do you solve a problem like Maria?"

That's what Nancy O'Dell wants to know.

[colleen_lee]

Posted: 9/9/06 at 5:50pm

I wasn't implying it was rip-off of anything particularly American, just of the format of the show. I realize that it was originated in the UK, I just did not recall the name of the show (as it was obviously not American Idol).

[allofmylife]

Posted: 9/9/06 at 6:21pm

I've watched all six episodes so far. It's a guilty pleasure. This is a giant cheeze fest, very fromage. They make the winners sing "So Long, Farewell" to the loser who is booted off each week (and they make that poor girl sing the opening "I'd love to stay.... etc.") Fat chance. Get the bleedin' ell off!!!

Some of the girls have talent but no presence. One is lovely but wooden. An incredibly talented young woman had an accent as thick as Frau Blucher (neiiiiiighhh!!!!) so she was So Longed.

HOWEVER they have a clear ringer in the remaining girls who can sing and dance and has done the West End, but never a lead. She's clearly the one the show is pointing toward. Her name is Connie. Think Emma Thompson mixed with Dianna DeGarmo. She has so much talent that it's hard for her to tone it down which is what I'll bet they told her to do.

I feel the fix is definately in......

[colleen_lee]

Posted: 9/9/06 at 6:24pm

The WORST part is those horrific brightly colored Maria-esque dresses with the "M?" on the apron that they force the girls to wear for the sing-off and So Long, Farewell things. Just dreadful.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 9/9/06 at 6:33pm

And yet wonderfully cheezie. We really do own the British (and by parentage, I am one) so much. They've given us so many absolutely fromage TV. UK Idol becomes American Idol (and they deported Simon to the US to act as a judge). Deal Or No Deal.

I can't take my eyes off the damn show and I just KNOW they're planning one for America. Maybe to cast the Roxie role in Chicago after Bebe leaves, huh?

Updated On: 9/9/06 at 06:33 PM

[colleen_lee]

Posted: 9/9/06 at 6:35pm

They already planned "You're the One That I Want" to cast Sandy and Danny in the Grease revival (as if we really need anothe Grease revival). That was announced before Maria even began to air.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 9/9/06 at 6:59pm

Danny and Sandy are probably better roles to cast from a reality show: nothing too demaning in the singing and dancing department and it makes sense to have contestants sing pop songs.

Maria is a little more invovled...

But yes, the clips of MARIA are totally fun. I can't wait to hear who gets voted off tonight.

I think it will be between Connie and the Irish Blond girl (Aiofe?)although maybe Siobhan will be the dark horse. She's certainly more like Emma Williams who is already cast...

[HouGuy77002]

Posted: 9/9/06 at 7:01pm

Just came accross this video from the auditions. This young lady would have been a much better Christine (vocally) than Emmy Rossum.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1KG2qbbSUU