Galway Advertiser 2007/2007_03_22/GA_2203_E1_006.pdf 

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6 N E W S

www.galwayadvertiser.ie

March 22 2007

Our Aoife-r finally wins her chance to play Maria
BY JULIE TIERNEY In an ironic twist of fate musical star Aoife Mullholland has sensationally won the chance to play the lead role she lost out on last September when she was knocked out of BBC reality TV show How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? From April 9 the Salthill starlet will share the role of the famous singing nun, Maria, in The Sound of Music after its leading lady Connie Fisher fell ill. Connie was forced to cut her hectic performance schedule from eight shows to six a week, after her doctor ordered her to reduce her workload. She returned to the show at the London Palladium this week after a fortnight's absence to rest her damaged vocal chords. Although negotiations are still being finalised with Aoife, the 28-yearold confirmed she will finally play the part she ultimately wanted, Maria, for two shows a week. However she will continue her starring role as Roxie Hart, which she landed last November, in the West End production of Chicago at the Cambridge Theatre until March 31.

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Aoife Mulholland -- confidence, fitness, talent, and stamina paid off in the end.

Speaking from London yesterday she said she was thrilled to win the Maria role and is looking forward to experiencing

the transition from sultry murderess to sweet soprano nun. "I am rehearsing for Chicago at night and the

Sound of Music during the day so I am literally using every hour God has given me at the moment. I am so grateful for all the support I've got from home but I'm also wondering when I'll ever get to see Galway again!" Rehearsals began this week and Aoife has just three weeks to prepare for her six month long stint in the Sound of Music. "The contract is for two shows a week, on Monday evening and the Wednesday matinee, with the possibility of more shows. I know it's going to be a lot of hard work but I am pinching myself because I've always wanted to play this role." Announcing that Aoife will step into the West End limelight for the production, Andrew Lloyd Webber welcomed her to the role and complimented her `sensational audition'. He also said he was thrilled that Connie had returned to the show `fit and well'. Understudy Sophie Bould, who has been stepping up to play Maria in Connie's absence to critical acclaim, will return to her regular role of the eldest Von Trapp child, when Mulholland joins the production next month.