Sir, Your correspondents, who deplore Andrew Lloyd Webber’s search for a new Maria (letters, Sept 2), might bear in mind that every new theatrical venture needs to generate publicity. Surely that is what How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? is designed to do. Yes, many contestants will lose out, but at least they will have a DVD of their audition to show to future directors and producers.
Lloyd Webber’s shows have given employment to hundreds of thousands of actors, musicians, dancers and designers. If this production of The Sound of Music does the same, theatre can only stand to gain.
ROBERT A. GRAY
London N19
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Sir, Geoff Greenwood complains that “winning one of these shows is reliant on the most public responses”. Is not that the very criterion which governs the success or failure of any production?
He compares the audience reaction to public willingness to attend the atrocities of the Roman Colosseum. I have, on occasion, witnessed worse atrocities at the London Coliseum.
PETER KING
Filkins, Glos