Reading through the threads on here, one thing is driving me crazy.

Posters are adamant that such and such could never play Nancy because they are too big/small/fat/thin/Irish/Scottish/Welsh/Northern/old/young/
loud/quiet!

For goodness sake - it's called acting!!!

As far as I know, none of the finalists are cockney/dickensian/alcholics/victims of domestic violence/part of a gang of thieves.

In which case, none of them can play the part!

Have we seen any of the contestants actually play Nancy (and I'm not counting group numbers or VT snippets) ie acting and/or singing the part? Ironically, the best indication we get is during the exit song - and by then, it's too late!

Let's remember: Cate Blanchett is not really QE1 (or even English!), Ian Mckellan is not really a wizard, Arnie is not really a Terminator (robot maybe...)

I know everyone is entitled to their opinion as to who they like and who they personally would like to play the part, but to just say, out of hand - 'Oh, they are NOT Nancy!' is a bit rich.

Exactly...................couldnt have said it better myself...........redefine the role........is that not what they have said.........but hey..........you dont look like nancy

Funnily enough I was just reading a thread on The Stage site and someone said Jodie would never get a look in at a proper, behind closed doors audition because of her size, she would get a thank you and never hear from them again.

Mamaboogie, thank you for posting that Probably one of the most sensible posts I've seen on DS lately.

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yes I think your right........thats why she lost the 8 stone.......now thats committment and dedication for me.

It's not just her size (emphasised by vile dresses) but the fact that she just looks too old.

Thanks for saying that LaLaLaur - I have noticed you trying to champion sensible thought on this forum for a while!

I thought it might just be me being over sensitive!

In your opinion. Nancy has had a hard life - she's hardly going to look fresh as a daisy is she?

Acting ability is only part of the reason for casting anyone in a role.

There has to be a certain element of having the right look or feel for that particular part.

When you are involved in the performing arts, you have to be the total package for any given role. You can be the best actor/singer/dancer in the world but if you don't fit a particular part, you won't get it.

Talent is important but audiences expect people to be 'right' - I know that is hard to define but when you get involved in casting, you soon get a feeel for these things

the life style that Nancy would have had would make her a very young in age hag........she would look much older due to her life style.....she was a pro

so all this redefining the role.....actually means nothing

You can redefine a role in terms of your performance - but you have to work with the material provided.

Personally, I see Nancy (as adapted by Bart) as a role for someone who has seen a lot of life and has fought hard to survive. I don't think that you can take his songs and the dialogue and make it convincing with a very vulnerable looking youngster.

I remember early on on the process that ALW said he was looking for someone with a touch of the Amy Winehouse about her for the role. She has certainly been through it

As Laurence Olivier said to Dustin Hoffman: 'It's called acting darling..' (or words to that effect!)

what I was saying is that I would like to have seen all the girls act a scene from the show and then sing a song, possibly As Long as He Needs Me. Surely that is the only way of seeing whether they suit the role or not?

How can we tell if Sarah is Nancy by seeing her sing 'Ironic' or 'Mr Bo Jangles'?

Surely the judges must have thought that ALL the girls had the potential to play Nancy at the beginning, otherwise why put them through?!

If you look at the previous incarnations of this type of series - they always put through a range of people. Some who are almost immediately ready, some who have potential and some who just don't come over as being right. We only ever see a small part of the process.

They seem to try to get a range of looks and backgrounds.

The producers know that 11 out of 12 will get eliminated and they must have an idea from the start who the most likely losers are

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well none of them have a touch of the Amy Winehouse about them.........well maybe the hair do's do

I think alot of it is smoke and mirrors......they know who they want....and have surrounded her with hopefuls, but never going to be.

Lee all over again

As for this Amy Winehouse stuff - I don't see it at all!

The character of Nancy has had a tough life and is a survivor despite all this.

AW is a victim of herself, not life. I would find it hard to root for her in a play of her life!

Jessie has been ALW's fave from the start

and she has talent

but she isn't right for any incarnation of Nancy at this stage in her career

(I think the acting test tonight might show that quite clearly)

I'm kind of dreading seeing the acting test!! Especially worried about how it may be edited.

DVO: 'Wow! Rachel was just the best actress ever! She really surprised me! I especially loved that psychotic look you gave Babs Windsor with the mad eyes! Fabulous!'

DVO: 'I was very disappointed by Jodie and Sarah. Jodie was just too cabaret and Sarah was just too darn short.'

BH: 'I thought Sam and Niamh were gorgeous.' (starts drooling)

JB: 'THE KIDS ARE ALLLLLRIGHHHTTT!'

ALW: 'This is the toughest decision I've made since last week. I'm rather peeved.'

But alot of the girls simply haven't shown enough acting ability to make your point right.

Ground hog day.............

isnt it strange then they are getting rid of the actors in the cast...Fran etc

anyone would think they want the show to be rubbish, do they want bad reviews?

Some times, those who have been through the MT training schools can't scale back their acting to suit the cameras.

There are different techniques and skills needed to act to a theatre seating 1500 people compared to those needed to communicate through the medium of television.

Rachel and Fran both come over on screen as being almost exaggerated in their acting styles - and I suspect it is because of their training.

TV acting is always much 'smaller' than that needed for a stage like Drury Lane

When has ANYONE been given the opportunity to show any acting ability? Have I missed it?