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Problem with Maria my fault says Lloyd Webber
By Alexa Baracaia, Evening Standard 21.03.07
Pressure: Connie Fisher backstage after returning to her role as Maria at the Palladium this week. She missed two weeks with a throat problem
Talent search: Connie Fisher with Andrew Lloyd Webber
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Andrew Lloyd Webber today blamed himself for the problems that have blighted his Sound Of Music star Connie Fisher.
The musical's maestro confessed he had underestimated the huge pressure she faced - and had failed in his duty of care towards her.
Fisher, 23, who won a BBC talent show quest to star in the West End production, has been forced to miss two weeks of performances due to a throat problem.
"I blame myself," said Lloyd Webber today. "She had an injury to one of the muscles in her throat.
"Connie made one mistake - she did 98 performances on the trot, eight shows a week. Originally we said she should do six and someone else would play the other two and that's for many years been standard practice in the West End.
"Connie was so determined to prove she was the people's Maria that she insisted on all eight. But we should have insisted that she do the six, and we didn't. I am sure (producer) David Ian would agree with me on this."
Lloyd Webber added: "Not only that, but she was signing autographs for 400 people out in the cold every night and all of that we should have stopped. Then she sung through a cold and I know, having been married to Sarah Brightman, a singer, for many years, that that too should have been stopped. If I had known at the time I would have stopped it. In the end we had to say, 'darling you've got to take two weeks off '. I see now, the fact that the public feel they own her, I can understand why she was doing it. But yes, I do blame myself."
Fisher has returned to her role at the Palladium but has cut her performances back to six a week, with fellow former How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? contestant Aoife Mulholland - currently playing the lead in Chicago - recruited to perform the remaining two.
Lloyd Webber was speaking today at the launch of his follow-up show for BBC1, Any Dream Will Do, which will find a male lead for West End hit Joseph And His Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Thousands have already auditioned for the role and Lloyd Webber, along with fellow judges Denise Van Outen, John Barrowman, Graham Norton, theatre producer Bill Kenwright and voice coach Zoe Tyler last night whittled the contenders down to 12.
Their identities will be revealed when the series launches after Dr Who on Saturday 31 March. But Lloyd Webber today revealed that they include a builder, a clothes shop assistant, a 17-year-old A-level student and an officer worker.
Lloyd Webber also insisted the eventual winner would not be subjected to the same pressure as Fisher has. He said: "We've learnt from the first project, obviously, but also Joseph is only a 100-minute show where Sound Of Music is closer to two-and-a-half hours and Joseph doesn't have the dialogue."
But he said the finalists had all been issued with gym membership to ensure they were fit to become live performers. He also said the experience of running televised auditions had taught him how few of the country's talented performers he gets to see.
"I think sometimes we producers don't get to see the raw talent we should. I went to a dinner party and my wife sat next to a top casting agent and she said, 'do you think Andrew would have ever seen Connie without the TV programme?' And he said, 'No'. Because with the limited experience on her CV she would not have got that far in the audition process."
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Reader views (2)
I agree wholeheartedly with Andrew - Connie's still young, and needs to look after herself and her voice. I'm a singer too, and know how important it is. We went to see the show in November 2006, and Connie was fantastic, and the show was wonderful.. So glad to hear she's better now, and back on stage. Carry on the good work Connie, but look after yourself, and good luck to Aoife too...
- Sarah Farragher, Barrowford, England
I agree 100% with Andrew Loyd Webber, it was his responsibility to ensure that Connie was protected from her new found fame and I admire him for being honest about it.
We went see the show on 20-3-07 and, of course, Connie was perfect, she is indeed a star in every way.
Finally I hope Sophie Bould is given the chance at a later date to take over the lead role, she so deserves, it have taken on the part so expertly. Well done everyone invoved in this perfect poduction.
- Sam Spinks, UK
