Strangeness in Toronto...

[fajrdrako]

Over the weekend, Simon Lee, who was one of the judges on How do you solve a problem like Maria? was missing. For, they said, "personal reasons". Which sounded a little odd. Andrew Lloyd Webber was there, so it wasn't as if the show was suffering, but Lee had been an interesting and consistent aspect of the show, and I missed him. I had liked him and enjoyed his comments.

So it came as a shock today when auriaephiala sent me a link to a news item in The Ottawa Citizen that explained why he'd been missing from the last two shows.

I am... astounded. Flabbergasted. Bemused.

I sounds like something in a movie, I said to auriaephiala. No, she quite rightly replied: a play.

I am boggled.

Comments

[darthhellokitty.livejournal.com]

Holy shit! Man, you KNOW there's a story behind that story.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

There certainly is. I hope we get to hear it! And I really, really hope to hear Simon Lee's side of it.

[walkingowl.livejournal.com]

Yep... a play! And this is only the end of the first act!!

How embarrassing to end up having your personal -- um -- discussions end up public like that. Well, next time, maybe avoid blocking the door and just let both of you go off and collect your wits in private for a little while. Gad, what a tale.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

What a tale, indeed! I hope some day Simon Lee can laugh about it and maybe make it into a musical comedy....

[benbenberi.livejournal.com]

Whoa. That's, like, way bizarre.

Somebody's been confusing fiction and reality.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I think so! Hard to tell where the confusion crept in....

Still boggling.

[elebridith]

O_O
Whoa. *scratches head* Hopefully we get to see Act Two a.k.a. his version?

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Hopefully! When the air has cleared a little...!

[skywardprodigal.livejournal.com]

I'm not surprised.

I've had friends who've been kidnapped by powerful men with public names. It happens. You never really know who's into what.

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

I've had friends who've been kidnapped by powerful men with public names. It happens.

Really? Wow. I am still amazed. I guess I've never known any powerful men with public names.

And really, there shouldn't be anything in this world that should surprise me any more. But. Sometimes things... sneak up.

[skywardprodigal.livejournal.com]

Really?

Yes.

Kidnapping seems to be a thing. Whether or not a guy has a public name. :(

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Kind of scary.

[auriaephiala.livejournal.com]

Latest news on this today is that Andrew LLoyd Webber has fired Simon Lee from the Toronto Maria project.

"Simon is a very talented person who is extremely important to us. However, on this occasion, we felt it was necessary to seek the termination of his engagement on 'The Sound of Music' in Toronto," Lloyd Webber's Really Useful Group said in a statement.

http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=9ed187d7-9928-4d11-9fe2-81ca33c48b75

[fajrdrako.livejournal.com]

Interesting! I wonder what the reasoning was? That Lee was a liability, or might be seen to be such in Toronto? That they didn't want scandal associated with Maria?