MEETING your idol is never a good idea, so they say. Far too often, you will be let down, disappointed, and they will be knocked off their pedestal.
For Connie Fisher, things thankfully didn’t pan out that way. Since her childhood, the Welsh singer had admired English Rose Julie Andrews, memorising her every move and note as Maria in The Sound of Music.
Fast forward two decades and Connie was crowned winner of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s search for a new Maria for his musical theatre production of the movie.
Just after she had completed her stint as Maria in the west end, Connie was on holiday in New York when she was introduced to her idol.
“I had no idea I was meeting her, and a friend of Rodgers and Hammerstein told me he had someone he wanted me to meet,” she said.
“He pointed to a car pulling up and Julie Andrews got out. I was stunned. I had always thought about how it would feel to meet her, and was slightly apprehensive, but she was just lovely. She is very elegant, and almost regal.
“She gave me lots of really good, solid advice. We didn’t speak too much about Maria as I didn’t want it to feel like I was treading on her toes, but she was very down to earth and understanding, just incredible. Seeing how much the role meant to her made me realise I wasn’t ready to give it up, either.”
Thankfully, it was decided that the production had been so popular that it warranted a national tour and Connie jumped at the chance to reprise her role. Originally, the tour was going to finish at the end of last year, but it was extended due to demand, meaning Aberdeen audiences will now have a full four weeks to see Connie perform at HM Theatre.
“I always secretly hoped we would tour, but I didn’t think it would actually happen, so, when I heard we were going on the road, I grabbed the role with both hands, she said.
“There really haven’t been many changes, so audiences will be seeing a west end show in their local theatre, which is brilliant. I’m glad we extended the tour to include Aberdeen; I have family in the Borders, so I’ll be popping in to see them on the way up.”
Touring is a completely different ball game to the west end, though. The gruelling schedule, which caused problems with Connie’s voice, becomes tougher as the cast moves from town to town. But Connie is upbeat and enthusiastic about the change of scenery.
“I know some actors hate it, but I’m really enjoying touring,” she said.
“You get to visit cities you might never have seen otherwise; you get to meet fantastic people, and you get to see different audiences.
“But mostly I like touring because I wasn’t ready to let go of Maria just yet. That might sound weird, but I wasn’t ready to stop being her. I love playing Maria because she’s such a well-loved character and, even if you’re not feeling your best, the audience reception always picks you up. I’ll never get tired of it.
“I’m getting married later in the year, too, and actors suffer with the recession just as everyone else does, so extending the tour has been great for saving for the wedding. There’s no better job than your dream job, and if you get that extended you can’t ask for much more.”
Although she admires Julie Andrews, Connie has been careful not to replicate her exactly.
“I’ve always been compared to Julie, which I don’t think is a bad thing, but I did want to put my own stamp on the part,” she said.
“The stage version is much funnier than the film, it’s much quirkier. Maria is more of a comedienne; I like that about her. I think it makes her more real.
“I haven’t watched the film version in so long because I don’t want to take on any of Julie’s mannerisms. I want to be Maria, but my Maria.”
Although musical theatre star Elaine Paige has been outspoken recently on her views that reality television shows are not the best entry to the industry, Connie stands by her decision to enter the show.
“I always wanted to work my way up, and I had auditioned for Lloyd Webber shows following drama school, but it just wasn’t working for me,” she said.
“I think acting is like anything else: you are an apprentice and you learn on the job. The show was the ideal opportunity for me, so I jumped at it, and I have absolutely no regrets. I got so much training on the show that I would never have got otherwise and, although I had been to drama school, I realised that a piece of paper is worth nothing; you have to prove yourself.
“It’s not easy going straight into a lead role, and I’m not sure I’d advise anyone else to do it without the appropriate training. But we’re actors and we love what we do, so if it’s worth it we’ll do whatever it takes.”
Winning the part of Maria also allowed Connie to make a radio documentary about the original Maria, and the true story of the Von Trapp Family Singers. Although the 1959 film was a Hollywood interpretation, Connie believes Maria would have been pleased to know her story had lasted.
“The Von Trapp family actually prefer a German film which was made before the Hollywood version, as it’s more historically accurate. But I think Maria would be pleased. She was a very clever businesswoman and would have been really pleased to see how successful her story has been. And, after all, it’s basically a love story, and even the film gets that part of it true, and it’s that lighthearted giddy quality that people love about the Sound of Music, anyway.”
The Sound of Music opens at HM Theatre, Aberdeen, next Wednesday, March 24, and runs until Saturday, April 17. For tickets or more information call 01224 641122 or visit www.boxofficeaberdeen.com