How do you solve a problem like Maria?

[fajrdrako]

How do you Solve a Problem Like Maria? is a British reality show. Now, I'd probably want to see this anyway since it's no secret that one of my favourite movies is The Sound of Music. I think it's clever, funny, snarky, joyous and romantic.

But that isn't the reason I’m watching this one.

The set-up is that Andrew Lloyd Weber wants to put on The Sound of Music in London. He wants the perfect Maria and none of the established London musical theatre stars seemed quite right. So he decided to hold open auditions - a sort of competition, really - for young singers and actresses who want to play Maria. He has a panel of experts who choose twenty women, then there's another round in episode 2 that whittles that down to ten.

I'm watching it because one of the panel of three expert judges is John Barrowman, whom I know and love from Doctor Who.

The over-dramatization of the show is silly, but rather appropriate. It's auditioning played like a sport. Lots of talk about the chance of a lifetime and heartbreak and last chances - reminds me a little of the old beauty/talent pageants, which I have never actually seen, except in the movie Miss Congeniality. The narrative does tend to cuteness and cliche, like calling Andrew Lloyd Weber the King of Theatreland and calling John Barrowman a "west-end darling". It's also fun to see these talented women singing snatches of some of my favourite showtunes. Not just from The Sound of Music but also Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Summertime, and all sorts of Andrew Lloyd Weber tunes.

The focus is mostly on the girls and already my two favourites have been eliminated. I like Bryony because she was asked why she thought she was appropriate to play Maria. "We have a lot in common," she said. "Maria was in love with Christopher Plummer. So am I." I can relate to that!