You will all have to forgive another long essay of mine. I was just thinking about this and felt like posting it up. Here goes:

I see lots of debate on here about the Dorothys vs. the Nancies, Marias, etc. and talent/quality level. I also see debates about what the judges say about the contestants’ abilities (“is Stephanie’s voice/Danielle’s acting, etc. really as great as the judges say”) and I was thinking about something. Having worked with teenagers in theatre in the past (admittedly on a very small amateur level), I think some people may be missing something that the judges are looking at. I really don’t think the judges are looking at these girls as finished products (except maybe Lauren and Steph, who are both older and have more training)—they are looking at their natural talent and potential as performers. I think the fact that the Wizard of Oz production is a year away is deliberate as well—it will give them time to get some extra training for whoever wins to help her realize the potential that the judges/voters see.

I’m leaving Lauren and Steph out because they are older and have more training and experience, so it is easier to look at them as finished products . Although they are still young and will improve as well as they get older, they are both more polished and experienced, and so it is easier to judge them as they are now rather than on what they will become. The other girls are younger and, while you certainly can and should judge them on how they are now, you also have to take potential and natural ability into account. I will try to break down my thoughts about the five girls who are under 20 here (listed in alphabetical order):

Danielle—I understand the exasperation of some with Sheila’s gushing comments about her acting, but I also perfectly understand where Sheila is coming from (and I noticed her acting before Sheila pointed it out). This girl displays more natural acting ability, IMO, than all the girls here. She has actors’ instincts that appear to be natural rather than taught. She appears to think about everything and approach all her tasks (even the missions) as an actress. She is also a very accomplished dancer for her age and has a great, big, musical theatre voice that is a little rough at times but will only improve with age and training. I think her voice is already excellent, but she does need to work a little bit on range and vocal control. I think she is already excellent now (I think she and Stephanie could both play the role without a year's wait), but in a few years she could be incredible.

Jenny—She already is a natural performer. Her biggest asset, currently, is stage presence. She has some issues with her voice (tends to get squeaky and nasal), but those can be worked out with more training. She also needs to get some more training in movement in dancing. She has potential to be a very successful performer as well, though, although I wonder if she might be better off as a singer than as a musical theatre actress.

Jessica—To me, she has the most natural stage presence of all of the contestants. When she’s onstage, she draws the eye, even when her actual performance level is not as high as the others’. She also seems to have a natural comedic ability that will serve her very well in the future. What she really needs to work on is her voice, and also some of her awkward movement issues. I think she can learn to move better, but some of the gawkiness will alway be there, I think, and it can be an asset in the right type of role. Still, even if her voice doesn’t get up to the level of the others, I think she has a big future ahead of her in the right kind of roles that will showcase her humor and stage presence

Sophie—She has a lot of obvious talent, but I think she is the most unpolished and raw of all the under-20 contestants. Her voice and acting skills are evident, but she needs work on her movement and dancing, but I think her biggest problem is nerves. She frequently looks lost and terrified onstage, and if she can work out this issue I think she can be very good. I’m just not sure she’s at a West End performance level yet. I think she will be there with some more training and work on her nerve issues, though.

Stephanie—She is very, very accomplished as a singer and dancer already. Of all the under-20 contestants, I think she’s got the most developed voice, and her dancing is IMO equal with Danielle’s although a little bit flashier. She is a natural performer with a big stage presence, and I am sure she will have a successful career whether she wins this show or not. Her biggest issue, I think, is acting and interpretation of lyrics. She is so good at singing and dancing that her performances often, to me, seem very slick and polished but don’t have a lot of substance to them. She needs training to work on her acting ability to be able to really pull out the meaning of the songs she performs. If she can do that, she will be a force to be reckoned with in the business.

I think all of these girls have a lot of potential, but some are more ready now than others. Still, if any of the younger girls wins, the one year lag time between the TV show and the stage production will give ALW and the other producers time to get the winner training to work out any issues she has and get her ready to wow the audience when the show opens next year. I am also really curious to see where all of these girls will be in five years. It will be interesting to see how their potential develops and what kind of careers they end up having.

Great post, enjoyed reading it. I have to say i actually agree with your points made on every girl. Its what ive been thinking, especially as we're progressing through the competition and getting to see more of the girls. I think at this stage all the girls have the potential to play the role, some could do it now (danielle, lauren, stephanie) and others in a years time. The reason i left steph out was because although i think she probably has the best voice and is also a very good actress and dancer i just dont see her as dorothy. dont know why, i just dont think she could pull off the young innocence the character needs, imo anyway.

You might add the ones who have gone too. Bronte and Dani probably have something special too and Emilie is actually very good at some things and the finished product might well command a stage too.

Three questions follow.

The first is how long does it take for any problems to be ironed out. There seem to be at least 8 months available after this show - does that potentially render most problems, apart from being too mature looking, irrelevant? Jessie moved from what we saw on IDA to a completely different character in ALNM in less time, she's now getting comments on how classy looking she is as a cabaret performer. Diana Vickers who had the most unusual voice and moves on X factor became a completely different character singing in a massive range of different voices in Little Voice. She was vocally frail on X factor but didn't miss a WestEnd show singing Bassey. Tinkering with Jenny's voice or Danielle's acting range looks much simpler.

The second is if they would be better off long term doing the training and not getting opportunities now. Quite a few of the ALW younger girls have learnt on the job and have now got the big roles - would they be better if trained? Would that make them more successful or are will they be in higher demand because the name now counts more. There's another question in there too whether you are more saleable if you are unique or if you are solid but sure. Some people seem to have done well because they can do what others can't well , others because they are solid and known to the public. Some are more unique and not working, as are some without a major selling point.

Three I still don't trust what I am told - particularly when the opposite message has been leaked out too (Jenny and Steph have had their acting ability noted at the same time as they have been labelled as unsuited to the role and Jessica seems to be world class but low on the wish list) I have no idea whether someone excluded (like Katie) or Jenny or Jessica or Danielle could act the key scenes better because no one has shown everyone acting similar relevant material.

Good post again snoop, cant find fault or dissagree with anything you've said.


Plus as you point out, with a year to develop/mould the winner, the shows producers (ALW) cant really go wrong, whoever wins.


And as has been said before, a good run in this show will boost the career/opportunities that will be offered to any of the girls if they do persue the stage as a career.
There are many very talented performers out there who would just love to have the chance at "the break" that this show offers to the girls, wether they win or not.




Raven

invisible post bug

Excellent analysis snoop - really agree with everything you've said here.

One of the nice things about this show is that even if the girls don't get work right away, they will certainly get a place on a musical theatre course if they want it and will be able to get more training. They're so young and have so much time to improve. I'd love to see what Danielle, Sophie, Bronte and Dani could do in a few years.

I think your the only person on here who's as big a cynic as me!

This series I've looked at what the can do and what I like the best. As far as I can see all of the top 11 could play Dorothy, it's a question then of what kind of Dorothy, and what is the public looking for, and is it the same as what the judges want.

Most of the teenagers on these programmes have tended to learning on the job rather than studying. Wasn't it Antony on ADWD who started at Mountview then dropped out. He's been in Joseph and Les Mis since then.

I don't know, but I really want someone who I think is suited as a Dorithy to win. And who I like as a performer. Danielle. The way she acted Red, was really special imo. Showed she has something.

I also want people of whome I really enjoy their performences to do well. Steph. Who never holds back.

They are all good performers, although I'm still not sure about Jessica. Hopeing for a Steph and Danielle final. perhaps Lauren. But I can see that Stephanie will probably be there. There's something about her that still gets on my nerves a bit. I'm really not sure what it is actualy. Becuase I like her voice.

After all this is a show, and I want the people I enjoy watching to stay till the end. Even if Steph isn't what I think of as Dorithy. I'm thinking she'd make a good Nancey actualy. Or someone in chicago.

I just think its unconvincing for the panel to tell me that someone isn't Dorothy when they are physically right and they also tell me they are excellent actors. I think if they are right about the acting , the person can act it why are we not being shown what they look like as it.

The learning on the job thing raises all sorts of questions. Some people look as if they would have benefitted from the training, others look OK after being dropped in the deep end, others appear to be so naturally good that they don't need it . Others raise the question whether the best training course is to be taught by a good director how to do it, to do it and to watch really good people do it around youfor a year? The winner has an 8 month paid, fulltime, course available to them .

Agree Anthony. And he went out in week 3.........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGzcgFtGiDk