29 replies to this topic

[Red Momma]

What a ridiculous thing to say! What you are suggesting is that the person who wins the part shouldn't be the person who is best for the job, but the person who has the best story - how on earth is that fair?

If the person with the best story is also the person who is best suited to the part then by all means they should get it, but to say that Francesca or anyone else for that matter shouldn't get the part even if they are the right person for it just because they haven't got a "rags to riches type story" is ludicrous!

Absolutely agree with guest.  The best person for the job should get the part not someone who has sat around dreaming.  There is nothing to stop anyone with a modicum of ambition going to an open audition for a show - there are plenty advertised in The Stage.
It's like every thing else, they want it instantly, and are not prepared to work the system to get on the stage. After all if they were any good they would have entered the competition and made it to the final

There is a lot more to performing in any show, than being able to belt out a number.  A lot of untrained people ( and some trained ones) do not have the stamina to sustain eight performances a week, and as shown last night, a lot simply cannot move about on the stage, without looking as though they had beansticks stuck to their limbs.

I, for one certainly hope that a trained pro gets it, as I am nor prepared to spend my hard earned cash to go to a West end show and see a  Wannabee in the lead.

[Matthew Winn]

Tell me about it... The show promises viewers a 'rags to riches' type story, where the winner comes from a non-musical background but has huge talent.

But being realistic about it, that's never going to happen. The concept is sold on the idea that someone can arrive from nowhere and become a star, but to be any good in a lead role you need experience of being on stage and having a beautiful voice when you sing in the shower isn't going to cut it. The producers of I'd Do Anything don't want too many people to realise that because if the dream fails to grab people's attention then hardly any hopefuls will turn up for the preliminary rounds. Singing around the house doesn't make someone an actress any more than fixing a leaky tap makes someone a plumber, but they don't want the hopefuls to realise that.

But as far as I can see, this show is going to turn out just like the other two. Connie Fisher - Had been an understudy on west-end stages. So had Lee Mead. So in my view the show is already won. By Francesca. She's starred alongside one of the judges FFS!

On the other hand they may be playing up the "professional actress" angle with Francesca Jackson because they don't think she will win. Then they can do a whole load of publicity along the lines of "See? Having connections on the panel didn't help her, so anyone could win it!" The logic is flawed, but enough people will believe it to keep the concept alive. Then they can get someone else with acting experience to win.