TV audiences will today get to judge whether ITV’s multi-million-pound investment in a one-off, live pre-Christmas version of The Sound of Music Live! has paid off.
Viewers have already caught a glimpse of former soap star and Strictly Come Dancing champion Kara Tointon (EastEnders) as the singing novice nun turned governess Maria in a special teaser trailer ahead of this Sunday’s broadcast.
Tointon, who won critical acclaim for her performance in Pygmalion at the Garrick Theatre four years ago, will be joined by actor and classically trained tenor Julian Ovenden (Downton Abbey, My Night With Reg, Grand Hotel)) as Captain Von Trapp. Other cast members include former Coronation Street favourite Katherine Kelley (Baroness Elsa Schraeder); Maria Friedman, who is currently playing Elaine Peacock in EastEnders, playing Mother Abbess; baritone and popular TV host and actor Alexander Armstrong (Max Detweiler); and comedy star and Bake Off presenter Mel Giedroyc (Frau Schmidt) whose sister, BAFTA nominee Coky Giedroyc (Wuthering Heights, Penny Dreadful) directs.
The two-and-a-half-hour version of the ever-popular Rodgers and Hammerstein film musical has reportedly cost more than £2 million to produce which will be broadcast live from London’s Three Mills Studios at 7.30pm today (Sunday).
Commenting on the project last week, Victoria Fea, ITV’s controller of drama said: “We are so thrilled to be making a landmark production of this eternally popular show, which promises to be a highlight of the Christmas schedules. There are some much-loved performers already preparing for the big night and we know they won’t disappoint.”
The ambitious project follows a similar production broadcast on US TV channel NBC two years ago. The show which featured chart-topping country singer Carrie Underwood as Maria was heavily promoted as ‘event TV’ and, although it was slated by the critics, it proved a mid-week ratings’ hit.
The Sound of Music made its theatre debut on Broadway in 1959 and the 1965 film adaptation, the last musical written by Rodgers and Hammerstein, won five Academy awards including Best Picture. The show in all its forms (film, stage, and even singalong) has remained a family favourite over the years.
Angela Thomas
Plus, don’t forget the award-winning Chichester Festival Theatre production of Gypsy starring Imelda Staunton will be broadcast on BBC4 on Sunday 27 December at 9pm.
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