Carrie Underwood to Star in NBC's Live Broadcast of THE SOUND OF MUSIC- Page 29

[fbueller]

Posted: 12/25/13 at 9:57pm

"I think Carrie did a good job, there are still some places where she gave bad line readings. (And I blame this partly on the director for not helping her.)"

I still think Audra and Laura are partly to blame. I think they should have provided more help for Carrie.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/25/13 at 10:10pm

How could possibly know what kind of help she did or did not receive? Also, it's bad form for one actor to direct another.

All we can see is the final result, no way to know what transpired during rehearsal from the other actors or the director.

[musicaljen]

Posted: 12/25/13 at 10:26pm

Despite the reviews that this presentation received, along with my family I enjoyed the production immensely. And yes although I have seen much more hyper performances as Maria, I think Carrie Underwood still did a good job.
I know that I am in the minority but I will surely treasure the DVD.

The only problem is that not a lot of people enjoy live theatre, and that is why this
presentation got criticized the way it did.
I always felt that theatrical musicals being turned into movies like the sound of music, Les Miserables and more always fell flat and left something to be desired.
Personally movie musicals never fulfilled the same joy as when attending a live
performance beginning with Wise's The Sound of Music.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 12/25/13 at 11:47pm

People criticized it the way they did because Carrie Underwood looked completely lost any time she had to deliver a line, and she had absolutely zero chemistry with Vampire Bill. It's like they even weren't in the same room. And are you seriously blaming Laura and Audra for not "helping" Carrie Underwood? Were they supposed to give her line readings? It's not like Underwood showed some potential as an actress, it's that she looked like she had never seen someone act before.

[musicaljen]

Posted: 12/26/13 at 12:58am

I think all the performers gave excellent interpretations of the roles. Benanti's
Elsa was they way it should always have been done and McDonald's Climb every mountain
was heavenly.
Carrie Underwood's Maria was soft, but I would not call it bad acting. Her facial
expressions were brilliant at times. Its just that we are used to a more fiercely
Maria.
Last but not least, this show was done as originally written by Howard Lindsay and
Russel Crouse and I applaud to the decision to use the original script. What is written for stage should be kept for stage and not butchered for a cinematographic
version.

[Marianne2]

Posted: 12/26/13 at 2:09am

I just downloaded the cast recording or soundtrack (whichever it is considered.) I actually really enjoyed Carrie's singing, which is why I wanted it. Still holding out on the DVD though. I liked it a lot, but definitely thought Carrie Underwood and Stephen Moyer's acting were pretty bad. Maybe if it came down in price a little, I would get it.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/26/13 at 4:46am

People here were critcal of it because we don't like live theater? Your arguments make no sense. The ONLY time there was an inkling that Underwood could act was during Climb Every Mountain. Other than that her face looked exactly the same throughout.

Marianne, I, too, enjoyed her singing, very much. I just can't understand how she couldn't, in any way, bring any of the emotion with which she sings to the spoken word.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 12/26/13 at 4:52am

Dramamama611, thanks for pointing out the absurdity of that statement re people not liking it because they don't like live theater. And yes, she had the same empty expression throughout. Luckily the cast recording is nearly perfect (poor Vampire Bill attempting to sing), though I can't help but think what Laura Benanti or someone of her caliber could have brought to the songs in terms of acting--then again, it's not that hard to "act" most of Maria's songs, acting-wise, they are not as complex as the stuff Anna has to sing in THE KING & I.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 12/26/13 at 9:47am

"People criticized it the way they did because Carrie Underwood looked completely lost any time she had to deliver a line, and she had absolutely zero chemistry with Vampire Bill."

'Vampire Bill,' or Stephen Moyer, was absolutely DREADFUL. While Carrie was not the strongest, I'm not quite sure who could have brought more chemistry to that embarrassing give-and-take. Stephen was truly god awful. In my opinion.

Also, we can agree to disagree but I don't think she looked "completely lost." That might be a bit of biased hyperbole on your part. I thought she connected very well with the child actors, had a very moving reaction/moment with Audra, and showed great strength & vulnerability with Moyer toward the end of the broadcast. I'm not suggesting she was brilliant or even great, but you're being incredibly harsh on an untrained, inexperienced actress.

"I can't help but think what Laura Benanti or someone of her caliber could have brought to the songs in terms of acting"

There would have been no broadcast if Benanti was Maria.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/26/13 at 9:49am

There's a part at the beginning where she has to say a variation of "No, Mother" like five times in row. It's one of the most embarrassing line readings I've ever heard.


Updated On: 12/26/13 at 09:49 AM

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 12/26/13 at 9:51am

...And I'd expect nothing less of an untrained, inexperienced actress who primarily sings for a living. Surely no one is denying that. I think you have to temper your expectations and standards, though.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/26/13 at 9:56am

Oh, just shut up.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/26/13 at 11:44am

Except she was hired to act like a professional. In a professional setting. To be honest, I don't blame her -- I have no doubt that the girl worked and worked hard. She never should have been put in this position.

That being said, I know I've cast people that I was sure I could get where they needed to be acting wise -- to varying degrees of success. And while I hope none of my students have ever been ashamed or embarrassed by their end result, I don't work with professionals.

However, that doesn't give her a bye to the situation. I would just hope that she never is put in this position again.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 12/26/13 at 11:49am

"I would just hope that she never is put in this position again."

Why?

[musicaljen]

Posted: 12/26/13 at 1:43pm

First of all I never said that people on these boards don't enjoy live theater. But as stated this program was watched by millions of people, most of whom don't enjoy or
never/rarely attend live theater.
This particular presentation was done to capture the essence of the original theatrical
production, as will other similar broadcasts will do in the near future.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 12/26/13 at 4:53pm

There would have been no broadcast if Benanti was Maria.

Liza's Headband, if you're gonna engage, at the very least reply to what I actually said. I said that I imagine how great Benanti would be singing those songs now that she's grown into such a fully realized actress (and that voice). I never wrote that she should have played the role for this broadcast. It's called reading comprehension, sweetie.
Also, I don't understand why we shouldn't hold Underwood, who you know was hired for a F*CKing acting job, to the standards by which we would judge any other actor. That is just such a ridiculous statement. And I'm sorry, but a couple not-as-atrocious line readings does not a good performance make.
Phyllis, I know exactly the scene you're talking about! To me, the worst, was her introduction to the Captain with the whole business with the whistle. If I hadn't watched that scene in the movie, I'd think it's one of the worst written scenes in a classic musical since it was acted so terribly.

[Tink2]

Posted: 12/26/13 at 6:32pm

I agree that the worst line delivery was when she returned the whistle. Maria, deliberately, calls him "Captain" three times to make a point of her intentions to address him by such. Not with a whistle. This point is completely lost with Carrie's line delivery. It doesn't even sound natural. I do not understand how the director could have allowed this to happen. Seriously.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/26/13 at 6:37pm

BECAUSE CARRIE UNDERWOOD SAVED CHRISTMAS

[dramamama611]

Posted: 12/26/13 at 6:51pm

Allowed? We can hope he did whatever he could, and this was as good as it was ever going to be. I'm sure he didn't have a lot of choice about this.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 12/26/13 at 6:54pm

Why are we still discussing this?

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 12/26/13 at 7:08pm

[South Fl Marc]

Posted: 12/26/13 at 7:26pm

" "I would just hope that she never is put in this position again."

Why? "

Because she sucked. If my sister (who loves everything), niece and nephew commented that she couldn't act then let me tell you, most everyone else recognized that fact too.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 12/27/13 at 12:15am

Well, I'm glad you spoke up, because I don't think the last 26 pages was enough.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 12/27/13 at 9:35am

NEVER FORGET

[logan2]

Posted: 12/27/13 at 12:33pm

I watched this again with family over Christmas - and we all agreed that we preferred Carrie Underwood's singing to the singing of Julie Andrews. Of course, Andrews gave a better acting performance, but I've never particularly liked her singing voice. It's like Shirley Jones in Oklahoma and Carousel. Some soprano voices, to me, seem to suck all the melody out of songs. My nephew said we should edit a version together where we dub Carrie's voice over Julie in the movie. I know it wouldn't work because the live version is so different from the movie version - but I thought it was a sweet idea from such a youngster.

Before the hate begins, I love Julie's acting in singing and non-singing roles (S.O.B., STAR!, Mary Poppins, Tamarind Seed) but just not a fan of her voice, but I am sure I am in the minority on this.



Updated On: 12/27/13 at 12:33 PM