Sound of Music

The Sound of Music … a musical staged and performed by Maghull Musical Theatre Company at Southport Little Theatre, Hoghton Street, Southport on Friday, 22nd November 2024.

If you haven’t seen or heard of this iconic musical and some of its songs ... including ' Do-Re-Mi', 'My Favourite Things', 'Edelweiss', 'Climb Every Mountain' and the title song 'The Sound of Music' … where have you been for the past sixty five years?  This classic was adapted for stage in 1959 with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II from a book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. The storyline is based on the 1949 memoirs of Maria von Trapp – ‘The Story of the Trapp Family Singers’ … set in Austria on the eve of the Anschluss in 1938, the musical tells the story of Maria, who takes a job as governess to a large family while she decides whether to become a nun.  She falls in love with the children and eventually their widowed father, Captain von Trapp.  He is ordered to accept a commissionin the German Navy, but he opposes the Nazis. He and Maria decide on a plan to flee Austria and head to Switzerland with the children.

Production Team… when something as well-known as ‘The Sound of Music’ is staged… people will always have expectations about the characters, the situations and the scenes… so putting your own stamp on proceedings is definitely a challenge … a challenge accepted by Betty Hall (Director), Chris Rimmer (Musical Director) and Kayleigh Ginley (Choreographer) and what a great job they made of it. They’d gathered a great cast with no real weak links and as soon as those curtains parted, they all looked thoroughly engaged and up for the task ahead. Choreography was simple yet imaginative; Kayleigh never fell into the trap of trying to make the choreography too fussy or complex, this is a musical that really doesn’t need that ... so well-done Kayleigh, good job. Musical support was ‘impressive’... I was sat where I could see Chris doing his ‘thing’... I always find it interesting watching MD’s do their stuff and Chris looked to have total control of both cast and band. They supported/never overpowered beautiful songs, some with amazing harmonies, be proud Chris, be proud all three of you ... great job!  

The Cast ... I find myself suggesting the success of this production was down to the whole, opposed to an individual, so if I may, and before giving a few ‘shout outs’, I’d like to start by highlighting the cast.  So where to start, this may sound familiar ... ‘let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start’ ...  with the leads and named characters ... 
Heather Gomersall - ‘Maria’; John Coates  - ‘Captain von Trapp’, Emily Bloom - ‘Liesl von Trapp’ Orlando Campolluci-Bordi – Rolf ; Pam Ashcroft - ‘Mother Abbess’;  ‘Sister Bertha’ - Ingrid Cleverly; ‘Sister Sophia’ - Ellie Simons;  ‘Sister Margaretta’ – Kayleigh Ginley; ‘Franz’ – John Ball; ‘Frau Schmidt’ – Vicki Ridland; ‘Frau Schraeder’ – Emily Allen; ‘Max Detweiler’ – Les Gomersall; ‘Herr Zeller’ – Bob Cleverly; ‘Frau Zeller’ – Hayley King; ‘Baron Elberfield’ – Chris Barrie;  ‘Baroness Elberfield’ – Becky Barrie; ‘Admiral Von Schreiber’ – Ian Culshaw; ‘Ursula’  – Leanne Cooney. We had two sets of ‘von Trapp’ children... the one I saw ... ‘Friedrich’ – Finlay Casserley; ‘Louisa’ – Madelin Hutchings; ‘Kurt’ – Lachlan Robinson; ‘Brigitta’ – Lily Grace Faulkner; ‘Marta’ – Aleyah Ginley and the ‘cutest’ ‘Gretl’ – Mia Ginley. (Team ‘Mittens’ the ones I didn’t see) ‘Friedrich’ – Leo Manchester, ‘Louisa’ – Amelie Hayes, ‘Kurt’ – Jack Cole; ‘Brigitta’ – Bryony Jones; ‘Marta’ – Libby Manchester and ‘Gretl’ – Thea Shawcroft.   Postulants... Isabelle Culshaw, Summer Davis, Lucy Manchester, Elesha Nolan, Sienna Summerlin, Olivia Williams.  Ensemble ... Olivia Burns, Gill Culshaw, Natalie Davis, Pam Devereux, Elle Fletcher, Sarah Fletcher, Gaynor Hale, Helen Henshaw, Issy Housley, Sioban King, Caroline Lester-Hall, Suzanne Morris, Tom Avann, Alan Casserley, James Fleetwood, P-J Green, John King. 

Shout Outs ... Once again, ‘Let’s start at the very beginning’ which allows me to make comment on the great choral singing that opened this production by the Nuns ensemble, it really did set the tone for the entire musical ... first-class singing, good character interpretation and a nice mix of solemnity and quiet fun. I’m again wanting to compliment the Musical Director and his impressively good orchestra who provided us with some fine musical interpretations that supported all the singers ever so well, it really was a joy to hear a full orchestra in all its glory! Heather Gomersall and John Coates led the production really well as ‘Maria’ and ‘Captain von Trapp’ respectively. Heather looked totally at ease in the role of Maria, confident, assured, great stage presence ... her rendition of the title song ‘The Sound of Music’ was a highlight for me. I’m going to be honest here, as I always try to be, and suggest that I would never have had John down as an obvious choice for the role of ‘von Trapp’. As previously stated, iconic musicals and their characters come with certain expectations ... should I have been worried, not at all!  John’s experience came to the fore and he just created this believable character who had this natural chemistry with both Heather and the children. John used his voice well to show us the two sides of the captain towards his children, from the ‘strict disciplinarian’ to the ‘loving father’, which is vital if this this character is going to work. PS... loved the scene when ‘von Trapp’ and ‘Maria’ dance together ... well directed, a lovely moment!  Two other couples who did great things ... Les Gomersall and Emily Allen playing ‘Max Detweiller’ and ‘Frau Schraeder’ and Orlando Campolluci-Bordi and Emily Bloom playing ‘Rolf’ and ‘Leisl von Trapp’ respectively ... four great characters created, two great couples achieved, be proud folks. My final two ‘shout outs’ go to two groups... first the four lead nuns... Pam Ashcroft who took on the role of Mother Abbess and Ingrid Cleverly, Ellie Simmons and Kayleigh Ginley who played Sisters Berthe, Sophia, and Margaretta respectively. All four produced individual well-judged performances, whilst working and singing ever so well together as an ensemble. There is no way I could finish this review without highlighting the ‘von Trapp children’ ... Emily, Finlay, Madelin, Lachlan, Lily, Aleyah and Mia, who were just perfect fits for their roles and who were totally involved throughout. Mentioned before, but ‘Gretl’, as is usually the case, with her cheekiness and cuteness, basically stole every scene she was in!  As stated previously, ‘Not a weak link in sight’ ... be proud each and all!   

Staging/Set/Tech … loved the set, especially the von Trapp interior which afforded the cast the space and opportunity to do ‘their thing’ well.  Access and redress points were excellent, especially poignant was the ‘exit point’/ramp used for the von Trapp family to leave in the final scene... providing this perfect pictorial opportunity.  In charge of all things backstage was Stage Manager Ed McKillop and his crew, Alex McKillop, Radley Haynes, Chris Morris, Matty Swinnerton... who all worked hard keeping the production flowing from start to finish! Lights/Sound... lights and sound were excellent... the lighting plot being designed by Andrea Shacksmyth-Claire with Martha Jenkinson and Corrina Davies on follow spots. Sound was in the capable hands of Matt Hughes.  I’m again mentioning the ‘haze’ and I’m more than aware of the reasons for its uses, but there were times when we ended up with a ‘cloud’ that partially masked the actors ... I do make mention of this quite often, I know it’s uses, but I sometimes ask myself why!  

The Band... I’ve sung Chris’s praise throughout this review and rightly so, and these were his partners in crime ... ‘The Do, Ri Musos’ who provided us with a fabulous sound throughout ... Hilary Burgoyne (Piano); Corey Gerrard (Keys); Adam Dutch (Bass); Sam Jones (Drums/Percussion); Dan Rankin/Paul Sanderson (Guitar); Cliff Ray (Trumpet); Mel Waddington (Clarinet); Niamh Boland (Flute); Billy Lacey-Kiggins (Oboe); Jess Holdings (Violin); JP Warder (Trombone) and Emma Lenahan (Horn) ... enhanced the production!

Costumes/Props – beautiful costumes, authentic props used ever so well ... again enhancing the production so much.  Congrats to all involved!

Betty Hall... before closing this review... could I take a moment to make mention of this Maghull legend who is standing down after 18 years as ‘Chairperson’ here at Maghull ... Betty Hall.  As I said at the after-show meet with the cast... I can’t remember Betty not being at ‘The helm’ here at Maghull, so whoever takes over the reins has some mighty ‘big boots’ to fill!  Being Chairman of any group is never as easy as it looks, but Betty did it her way! I’m sure this won’t be the last time we see her here at Maghull, but enjoy the ‘downtime’ – you deserve it!

Thank you so much for inviting Susan and I to your production, we enjoyed it thoroughly!  Thanks for your hospitality throughout and for affording me the time to visit and speak with the cast backstage after the production ... it really is always a pleasure to do so!

‘Stay Safe/Keep Well’
“Stronger Together”

Jim Briscoe
NODA NW 
District 6 Rep

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