Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA In a word. - terrible It's projects like this that give musicals a bad name.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I didn't think it was all that bad. It's certainly not the movie version, and it had its faults, but I thought it was fun. Carrie Underwood was in over her head as Maria, but did a serviceable job. Her scenes playing off the adults were much stronger than her performances with the children, where they all seemed somewhat amateurish together. She seemed to play truer to the original story where she fell in love with the children, then the Captain as a result, rather than the movie version where she falls for the Captain I also enjoyed that they gave the Baroness more screen time and explained her a little better. In the movie I'm never sure if she's the villain or a confidant to Maria. She and Max together were a lot of fun, and a nice counterpoint to the story with the kids I though that the set was incredible. The abbey blew me away at the beginning, and continued to impress me throughout the show; when it was revealed that everything was all connected (just how big is that soundstage?), I was blown away. The festival stage set could have used some more work, but everything else worked really well I saw the stage version many years ago and have vague recollections of it, so it was nice to get to see some of those features again. Moving the songs around didn't bother me, and some of the neat things from that version (like Maria playing whack-a-mole with the kids during a verse of Do-Re-Mi) were back. I distinctly remember Climb Every Mountain being incredible at the end of Act I (with the curtain completely closed before the last note was over), and Audra McDonald certainly didn't disappoint And one thing that's always bothered me: if you climb over the mountains from Salzburg, you end up in Germany near Munich (not Switzerland like they said). That's really not where you want to be fleeing to if you're trying to hide from the Nazis Overall, it wasn't the movie, but it was never intended to be. They took a big risk using such an iconic story, and I'm not sure how it paid off. I saw plenty of flaws with the production, but still liked it overall. I'm hopeful (though somewhat skeptical) that it was a financial success and they'll continue to do this sort of thing in the future
Originally Posted By LuvsDsnyTrips I wanted to like it I had all my chores done so I could sit and watch it I did not like it and within 30 minutes....turned to something else Carrie can sing....but IMO cannot act I grew up with the music and the movie.....love the original
Originally Posted By FerretAfros If you only watched the first 30-45 minutes, then I think you missed out. Once all the characters were introduced, it began to get a lot better. I agree that the first chunk of it was somewhat lackluster >>I grew up with the music and the movie.....love the original<< I've seen a lot of comments like this. Just to be clear, the original is the stage version (which the TV version was much truer to), not the film version. Or if you want to get really technical, the original would actually be the story of the Trapp family, which bears only a passing resemblance to the musical we all know
Originally Posted By dagobert Are you talking about a musical version of Sound of Music? Last year The Sound of Music Musical played here in Salzburg very well. I still don't get the buzz the movie gets.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA 'The Sound of Music' was first a stage musical, yes. Music by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. Yes, this 'live' version was the stage version, not the movie. I've seen the movie, I've seen stage versions. This was terrible. Carrie Underwood was COMPLETELY miscast. It just didn't work for me.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>I still don't get the buzz the movie gets.<< I think it's an American thing. Much like the Wizard of Oz, it's so engrained in our culture that everybody knows it even if they've never seen it or didn't like it. I like it because it has a cute story (though highly fictionalized), good music, and great scenery; plus, who doesn't like Julie Andrews as a practically perfect nanny? : ) >>Yes, this 'live' version was the stage version, not the movie.<< Mostly; they sang "Something Good" which was written for the film, but overall it follows the layout of the stage version. There were also several moments that seemed to be nearly-identical to the film, but those may have been based on the original stage script I also swear I heard a musical cue for "I Have Confidence" (which was written for the film, and not performed in the TV version) in the score during the transition from the abbey to the mountaintop set at the very beginning, but maybe I was imagining things >>Carrie Underwood was COMPLETELY miscast.<< No real arguments from me. Who would you have cast in her place that could have done a better job, and still been as high-profile as her to get a lot of viewers?
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA Cast instead of Carrie Underwood? Not sure. But I don't think casting her was the right choice. She had no depth and no warmth -- we call her 'Dick Deadeye' -- and because of that, the show had no heart. They could have chosen a 'marquee' star as Captain VonTrapp and had an 'unknown' as Maria. Lots of actors. Lots of options.
Originally Posted By mawnck 18.5 million viewers. Highest non-sports rating for NBC on a Thursday night since the ER finale. Now what do you have to say for yourselves? <a target="blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com/2013/12/06/tv-ratings-thursday-the-sound-of-music-live-hits-high-notes-for-nbc-greys-anatomy-the-big-bang-theory-hit-lows/220544/">http://tvbythenumbers.zap2it.c.../220544/</a> <-------Thinks Julie Andrews and Mary Martin were also horribly miscast, considering they were playing an Austrian nun.
Originally Posted By EdisYoda I have to agree that Carrie Underwood was miscast. As a singer, no issues, but as an actress, no warmth and near the end, I kept seeing her looking at the cue cards. Overall, I enjoyed it, however it could have been much better with someone else cast as Maria.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip I thought it was fairly well done given the constraints of live TV and performing without an audience. As for Carrie Underwood, ANYONE would have seemed miscast in that role. Julie Andrews performance in the movie has so defined that character in everyone's mind that anyone else would have suffered in comparison.
Originally Posted By LuvsDsnyTrips For me....it could also be the memory of the first time to an indoor theater to see any movie... I just remember it was glorious....and I do love Julie Andrews.
Originally Posted By Jim in Merced CA The movie is sensation. Julie Andrews does a fantastic job as Maria Von Trapp, and you just can't beat the on-location scenes in Austria, with the kids running around. To me, the movie completely trumps the stage version. And when you try to go back and sing 'Lonely Goatherd' in the bedroom -- it just pales in comparison to me. Sure it got great audience. Carrie Underwood is extremely popular and has a huge fan base. Still doesn't mean she, or the project, was good.
Originally Posted By magic0214 My thoughts: I loved it. I realize she isn't a great actress, but seeing live theater and hearing her voice on TV made my year. Have never been more in love with a TV program. Those baffo ratings hopefully translate into more Live musicals on TV. (I want to see Reba in South Pacific...her vocals during the Carnegie Hall performance of the show are mind blowing) I do have to say that I was incredibly surprised to see how many people were talking about it today at school (remember, I'm a high schooler). Tons of people loved the show, which I was so happy to hear. People I would have never of expected to watch a 3 hour musical theater presentation were enthralled. To know that it succeeded in that respect is amazing.
Originally Posted By ecdc The reviews savaged it, and while we were flipping through the channels, we couldn't help but snicker at the appalling performances. But...NBC apparently scored in the ratings. Good on 'em, I suppose.
Originally Posted By mapleservo We thought it was Ok. Agree that Carrie Underwood was in way over her head. Extremely wooden at the start but improved a bit as it went on - I think her "acting" while she was singing was significantly better than when she was reading lines. I thought the rest of the cast was pretty decent. Leisl/Ariane Rinehart was wonderful. Anyway, I appreciate that NBC tried something different - better than another reality show. Maybe they'll get it right next time. I agree with magic0214 - it was fun to have a TV "event' that so many folks watched live (even it it was a car wreck for some). That doesn't happen much these days. But I kinda hope walmart gets stuck with a boatload of those CDs.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip ^^^ Are you kidding? It is a CD featuring Carrie Underwood... they will sell a ton of them!
Originally Posted By RoadTrip NBC knew exactly what they were doing when they hired Underwood. Do you think they actually thought they would get a Emmy-winning performance from someone who had neveer acted before? They hired someone who would deliver a monster audience for the show and she did.If they had been going for acting quality they could have hired a Broadway actress that was unknown to much of the country... and the ratings wouldn't have been anywhere near as high.
Originally Posted By magic0214 ^^ To tell you the truth though, I am expecting her to get an Emmy nod, HEAR ME OUT! I think some will support her in taking this jump, even though the performance acting wise wasn't the best. The Emmys have been known to nominate things that the critics didn't like, but since they were huge pop culture events, they nominate them anyway (Like The Bible getting a Best Miniseries nod). Carrie also brings in the star quality that they enjoy. I want to see Laura Benanti get a Supporting Actress win, though. She ROCKED as Elsa.
Originally Posted By TheRedhead "To me, the movie completely trumps the stage version." Amen. Sound of Music is one of those rare cases where the movie is not only better than the stage version, but flat out FIXES things that are wrong with the stage version (Cabaret being another good example). "I want to see Laura Benanti get a Supporting Actress win" I want to see her play Maria. Might've made me remember to watch this. I've seen her perform "Something Good" live and it's fantastic.
