The Sound of Music

The Sound of Music

Honiton Community Theatre Company

Music by Richard Rogers Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II

Book by Howard Lindsay & Russel Crouse
Directed by Amelia Kyriacou

Musical Director: Ian Crew

Choreographer: Kayley Docherty & Alexie Kyriacou

The Beehive, Honiton

Thursday 1st August 2019

‘Tricia Barclay

NODA SW Representative District 6

Against a stunning backdrop of “the hills”, with floor to ceiling arched windows and a wooden cross depicting the Abbey, HCTC certainly brought this well-known piece to life to the delight of the packed house, and embracing again the spirit of their name by presenting another successful community production. All the familiar characters were well represented and played with sincerity and charm - Capt von Trapp diligently even recreating the individual whistle calls when summoning his children! The chorus of 13 nuns glided reverently around the set, giving a particularly moving feel to the opening sequence, with the three senior nuns each highlighting their own very different characters. The Mother Abbess was very well played, her experience showing through, most particularly in “Climb Every Mountain” which was beautifully sung. Two other seasoned performers brought their skills to the roles of the Captain’s friend, and his intended bride.  Max breezed affably through the proceedings, with his focus always on his forthcoming musical production, despite the looming threat of the Third Reich, and quickly established a warm rapport with both the children and the audience! Elsa was glamorous and sophisticated, the epitome of a wealthy Baroness, while bringing an element of brittleness and cunning to the role, but was gracious in her defeat when realising the true affections of her fiancée laid elsewhere. The children were delightful and very natural, each capturing the individual personalities of their characters, little Gretel had the most engaging smile! The bedroom scene with the “Lonely Goatherd” was enchanting, and the duet with Liesl and Rolf, “16 going on 17”, charmingly performed, their relationship perfectly believable. Central to the action Maria and the Captain were just right. Maria, initially shy but certainly not retiring, bonded well with her challenging “charges”, Captain von Trapp was stern but tender, and both moved and sang with seemingly consummate ease. Scene changes performed by members of the cast were kept to a minimum, and well-orchestrated with military precision by Franz the butler, certainly making his presence felt in a pair of pristine white gloves! The simple set was well designed and effective, with a raised area Stage Left for the Mother Abbess’s office and a lovely curved short staircase leading down. This area was also used at times as part of the house and perhaps with hindsight the furniture could have been rearranged to make a study rather than just placed against the wall as it was in view the whole time.  Costumes had been well planned and co-ordinated, a lot of dedicated teamwork with the matching outfits for the children, and the veil for the wedding scene was beautiful. The band was placed Stage Right and under an experienced baton complemented the performance completely. Everything was sympathetically played and unobtrusive with the string section, flute and piccolo particularly memorable. Well done HCTC for a delightful, and warmly received show, and for having the confidence in a very young but very talented production team!

 

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