MovieChat Forums > The Sound of Music Live! (2013) Discussion > Audra McDonald steals it

Audra McDonald steals it

posted 10 years ago by mk_k6-326-626621
5 replies | jump to latest

I know some people huff and puff whenever directors decide to cast unconventionally - different race, age, build etc than were used to. But I have to say, in this, that concern lasted about a second. Her acting and talent for me held this entire mess of a show together. Carrie Underwood was just that, wood. Why they asked a clearly inexperienced actress but decent country/pop singer to carry an entire production like this is a puzzle. The acting from many of the supporting players was hit and miss, some of them brilliant stage performers, on screen, look hammy and camp. Its a mess of a production and the True Blood guy's singing was flat. The only one who truly captivated me and didn't make me feel nervous was Audra McDonald - simply brilliant. For me, talent triumphs over conventional but uninspired casting anyday.

[–] christopherbkk 10 years ago

Absolutely, 100%, totally agree!!!!!!!

[–] slrussell1908 10 years ago

Yes she did, she got great reviews for her part.

[–] shulma2002 9 years ago

Audra and Laura were both great. Moyer wasn't too bad. It was enjoyable as I never saw the stage production before.

[–] sjbradford 9 years ago

No - she was too showy. Like she knew how good she was - a preening performance.

[–] markedjuan 9 years ago

Casting an actor of a different race sometimes works, sometimes it doesn't. In the case of The Sound Music, I think it just doesn't work. The Nazis figure prominently in the plot as they serve as the villains in the story. In this version, they become less of a threat since they're actually blind to the fact that the mother superior is of a race they considered not ideal at all.

I understand the producers' intent of eliminating boundaries when it comes to casting, but in this case, the story loses credence. It's like pretending there was no racism during that period. Thus instead of making this production look more progressive, it ends up being more of a fairy tale than the original film ever was.

Simultaneously, Audra McDonald does steal the show with her amazing talent and ruins it with her mere presence.