Sound of Music
Information
- Date
- 9th July 2022
- Society
- The CTC
- Venue
- The New Wolsey Theatre, Ipswich
- Type of Production
- Musical
- Director & Musical Staging
- Bridie Horne
- Musical Director
- Jade Tournay-Godfrey
- Choreographer
- Heidi Fox
- Assistant Director
- Madeleine Mears
CTC at their best. Bridie, Madeleine and their team have certainly triumphed again with this amazing production of Sound of Music. This Rogers and Hammerstein classic has so many unforgettable songs and a poignant storyline which is based on a true story.
The young and talented cast are amazing and you forget just how young they are! They opened with a beautifully sung ‘Preludium’ which the Mother Abbess and the nuns of Nonnberg Abbey sing un-accompanied. Evie Capon was the Mother Abbess, a part she played with warmth and compassion, and a marvelous singing voice. Abby Fleckney is Maria and puts in an unforgettable performance. She longs to become a nun but her love of singing doesn’t quite conform to the strict rules of the Abbey. She is sent to the home of Captain von Trapp to be the governess to his seven children. At first she is quite overwhelmed by all these children who have had such a strict upbringing but soon finds that they love singing just as much as she does. Her affinity and warmth with the children is really evident and they all bond really well together. The delightful Von Trapp children are played by Leah Head being the oldest of the children, Oscar Willis, Grace Boyton, Sam Behnia, Connie Tassell and Camryn Hey. The youngest Gretl is played on alternating performances by Ada Bendall and Madeleine Hall (who were just 8 and 6 years old). Their singing, acting and dancing was just so captivating with their individual personalities shining through.
Their father, Captain von Trapp, a widower, rules his children just like he rules the men on his ship. However, as time goes by after Maria’s arrival he learns to show his warmth towards the children. We saw the children’s Uncle Max played flamboyantly by Ethan Willetts as a good contrast to the other characters in his Jeeves and Wooster persona. On alternative performances he is played by James Hattan. Mariam Pope gives a confident performance as Elsa Schrader who plans to marry the Captain but as things progress with the Nazi invasion the Captain, Maria and his family have to flee over the border into Switzerland. Well done to all the cast and ensemble, for a memorable performance.
The standard of singing is excellent with all thanks going to Jade Tournay-Godfrey who once again works her magic with the cast as she conducts them, unseen by the audience, from a screen over our heads, but the cast are continually watching her for guidance. The dancing, choreographed by Heidi Fox along with the moves are beautifully done. The set designed and constructed by Colwyn Rowe and Steven Mears is once again a simple design but works excellently with a very effective upper level which must have been quite daunting to some of the smaller cast members, but they all confidently make use of this space. The pace is upheld as the cast bring in the various props for the scene changes which are also nicely choreographed with almost military precision. The lighting I felt could have been slightly brighter in some of the scenes but was still good and the costumes were all very appropriate and epitomised the period.
Thanks to Bridie and Susan Rowe for their hospitality towards us and NODA’s Past President Jacquie Stedman and husband David. You gave us and your sell out audience a wonderful evening’s entertainment.
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