The Stage

Pushed too hard

Published Monday 11 September 2006 at 16:20

I would like to back up Andrew Bennett’s letter about the Maria show (Stage Talk, August 10, page 9). Namely the main concern being the unnatural way that these girls are being pushed vocally to a level that may or may not hold during the long run of nine months to a year of a production.

We have seen the same thing over and over again in reality shows, although for shows like The X Factor and Pop Idol, it doesn’t really matter when studios can engineer voices for recordings etc. For a West End show, the main concern for me is not that of a strong voice but being able to sustain the long and deeply gruelling physical and psychological effects throughout a run of that length.

Being even more realistic, as a voice and singing teacher myself, you cannot magically produce something in three days flat. Neither can you expect the public to choose wisely as they have really no idea of all the technical and physical requirements of what makes a strong, capable and versatile singer able to cope with eight shows a week.

I fear that the performer chosen may end up in a baptism of fire and the psychological pressure they will be under may prove too much. The creative team want someone with fresh-faced innocence, a great voice and personality, young enough to convey the independent spirit of Maria. They have The Spotlight casting directory, online and in hard copy, hundreds of capable agents, dozens of drama school showcases and an oversaturated industry full of young, attractive and highly competent female singers, trained to the utmost. The enterprise of Maria School boggles the mind.

J Askew

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