Sound of Music - Chichester Festival Theatre

Any hints on what the other show he's in might be?

This went into rehearsals today - silly we've not had a full casting announcement.

A good cast announced but a lol at the colour blind casting in this particularly the kids. That is stretching history maybe too far and also adding new subtexts as audiences tend to take things literally.

Emma Williams?? Oh no. I had planned to give this one as miss (as much as I love Gina and think she'll be wonderful) but with Emma added in I might have to figure out another Saturday to Chichester this summer.

Torn on Emma Williams.

Yes it's great to see her, but she really should be Maria (she'll also make an amazing Mother Abess in 30 years).

She was robbed of her chance at the Palladium and I'm still annoyed all these years later 🤣

She is not. Rebekah Lowings (Who was brilliant as cover Eliza in My Fair Lady last year) has announced she is first cover Maria.

I cant say I get this casting decision. Seems to totally take away the realism of the story.

It's been years since I saw the stage version, is Max a nazi in it then? In the movie he isn't.

I generally prefer historically accurate casting where race would play a factor, but SOM is pretty light hearted fare and not something I'd be overly concerned on historical accuracy. Especially as it takes big liberties with the original story anyway.

Surely in a truly inclusive and equal society there shouldn't be an issue with a different races playing certain roles? To call it 'a choice' seems a bit regessive. Either history matters or it doesn't in these things.

Also no idea so it's not just you.

Max may not actually be a member of the Nazi party but he accepts the Anschluss & gets a promotion out of it (I can't recall his job title but he refers to now being first whatever it is whereas previously he was third) so he collaborates with the Nazis. Given how racist the Nazis were, it's impossible that that could happen with anyone who wasn't white. I have to say I personally find the decision to cast a black actor a baffling one, as is the casting of the Von Trapp children from a variety of ethnicities that would require the Captain to have had 3 or more previous wives!

I really don't think that it will generate a lot of audience comment - this is (quite rightly) standard practice these days.

You might get a few old people at a Saturday matinee who say something to each other (as people did when frozen opened with the younger and older castings) but otherwise I don't think people will remotely care.
Maybe I'm naive, but it's such a non-thing to be getting in a tizz about

I'm not sure it's standard practice to cast a family who are based on a real life one dealing with a racist enemy with no regards to race. Trust me a lot of people will notice and comment. The Frozen situation is silly as well as it takes you out of the show and is just bizarre. If this was performing in London it would be in all the newspapers and debated on TV