Emma Williams Signs Off London Sound of Music Revival

The London Daily Mail reports that Emma Williams, the West End star who was previously announced to serve as the alternate for the role of Maria in the upcoming London revival of The Sound of Music, is no longer with the show.

Williams was reportedly contracted for four performances a week at first, but then the number of performances dwindled to two.  The Daily Mail cites her withdrawal from the show as resulting from frustration with the downsizing of her part in the production--for which had signed on as alternate, not understudy.

Williams was hired for The Sound of Music--which begins previews at the London Palladium on November 4th and opens on November 14th--in the case that the winner of the reality show "How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria" failed to meet the demands of an 8-performance week.  Recently, Connie Fisher was chosen as the star of The Sound of Music on the wildly popular BBC show, which featured the revival's producer Andrew Lloyd Webber among its panel of judges (although popular vote determined the ultimate selection of Maria). 

Fisher has said that she is capable of handling eight performances a week as the perky Austrian governess (although there will still be a need of understudies for when she gets sick).  "Last night, accountants were trying to work out a financial deal with her. She's a proven professional and will go on to much better things with people who will respect her," states the article of Williams, who has been seen in London in Bat Boy, Promises, Promises and Sex, Chips & Rock n' Roll, as well as in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, in which she played Truly Scrumptious.

The revival of The Sound of Music, which features music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics and book by Oscar Hammerstein II, will also star Simon Shepherd as Captain Von Trapp and Lesley Garrett as the Mother Abbess.  Partially due to the reality show furor and to the enduring popularity of The Sound of Music, the London revival has so far racked up £6million in advance sales.