[quote="Sparkling Diamond"]I like Julie Andrews BUT she is waaay to sugary sweet and the real Maria Von Trapp wasn't like that, she was gutsy with a wicked sense of humour (my mum read me The Trapp Family Singers when i first got into musicals and this show)

I remember the old "Julie Andrews Show" of 1972-73: on one of them, she interviewed the real Maria (who died in 1987). I forget most of the substance of their conversation, but it ended with a sort of "Pillsbury Yodel-Off", based on "Lonely Goatherd".

Well, I learned TSOM by heart with Julie Andrews, whose voice is absolutely gorgeous, so my vote goes to her. I never saw any of the others (just heard the album with MM), so I guess I'm really not qualified to cast a vote!

Katie

Julie Andrews, Mary Martin was just too old.

Julie Andrews definitely!!! Mary Martin is OK, but I'm not a huge fan of her. I do like her Nellie in South Pacific though. Shirley Jones played Maria in St Louis once and her son Patrick Cassidy (playing opposite her in 42nd Street) was Rolf and Sarah Jessica Parker was Brigitta I would have loved to have seen that as she's my favorite actress. Doris Day as Maria- ew ew ew!!!!! Perish the thought!

I saw Laura Benanti in Into the Woods (she was fantastic!) and read that in her bio. I can see her being a good Maria. As for the Mary Martin vs. Julie Andrews thing- isn't Maria supposed to be sort of a tomboy? I think that Mary Martin had that aspect of it down better than Julie Andrews, but Julie Andrews is the ulitmate Maria! Oh, and as for Audrey Hepburn playing Maria- she's amazing..but no. Ditto for Doris.

Mary Martin was too old..true but so was 37 year old Rebecca luker.Andrews was closer to the correct age. SOM is one of my least favorite shows so i really can't truely jusdge who was better.. for the material given i actually liked all 3 of the actresses i mentioned...with the great Mary Martin having the edge.

Julie Andrews for sure . . . actually Laura Benanti should be up there too . . . while I liked Rebecca as Maria, Laura was MUUUUCH better . . .

I dont see the facination with Laura. she was so dreadful in the revival of into The Woods. granted its the only thing i saw her in so it could have bene just woeful miscasting.

I thought she was excellent on the recording and I read many reviews that stated she was the only one that competed with their Original counterpart. Was she really that bad?

She certainly beats Jacqueline Dankworth on the OLC. Though she might have been having a bad day when recording the album, coz she sounds 100% better on the SWEET CHARITY studio cast album.

As for the perfect Maria, Lisa McCune on the live Australian cast album is pretty fabulous.

i really disliked her in the ITW Revival. actually Greg Edlemann and the other prince were every bit as good as Westenberg and Wagner.

John McMartin really stole the revival as narrator ..he was brilliant. and very different from Tom Aldredge.

Julie Andrews..... without a doubt. I can't stand to hear/see anyone else in the role. Mary Martin's version of "Lonely Goatherd" bothers the living daylights out of me..... Rebecca Luker has a gorgeous voice, but she's just not Maria.....