The Sound of Music

Not so much the Hills are alive to the Sound of Music, more the Fens are alive with the Sound of Music, from the opening Dixit Dominus to the closing Climb Every Mountain. This Thursday evening performance seemed to have an audience of a ‘certain age’, but a very appreciative audience at that. With a show that is as well-known as this and songs so loved it can easily be a disappointment, but to say the least, this most certainly was not, it was a treat for all present. The audience thoroughly enjoyed themselves even overheard making some amusing comments such as ‘Oh it’s David Brammer’ ‘Look at his hair’ ‘Isn’t she sweet’. 

The Nuns Chorus opened the show setting the scene in the Abbey, these nine singers, initially led in their singing by Lizzie Bryant were well drilled in both their singing and movement, they gave great vocals in all their numbers. Usefully for a small crew they helped with set changes.

I loved the character Sister Margaretta played by Chloe Phillips-Bartlett, giving life and humour to the role, she was matched by Becky Key as Sister Berthe, they both ably assisted the Mother Abbess played by Jenny Bryant, my goodness Jenny, what a magnificent voice, you played your role with dignity and drew out the wisdom and compassion of the Mother Abbess in her dealings with Maria superbly, your solo ‘Climb Every Mountain’ was a real treat. The three of you coped with the little hiatus very well.

‘I am Sixteen Going on Seventeen’ could not have been sung without Rolf – Liam Nixon, hard to see as a 17 year old but your duet with Liesl was very well sung, the dance together was well performed and acting brought out the diffidence of Rolf and the longing to have a shy but longing relationship with Liesl. There was also a hint of contempt with the knowledge that the Captain did not share Rolf’s support of the Austrian Anschluss later in the show.

Aidan Cooper – Franz and Becky Key as Frau Schmidt both got their characters right and performed their supporting roles with aplomb, good clear diction and both owned their places on stage.

David Brammer had all the best comic lines as Max Detweiler and he delivered these very well with the correct timing, and there are a great many lines that have humour within them such as ‘I like rich people. I like the way they live. I like the way I live when I'm with them’. Unfortunately, his two words ‘Presto Changeo’ were missed by the audience. The opening of act 2 with the version of Blind Man’s bluff was great fun. David looked the part and was partnered at times by Rachel Shepherd as Elsa who performed her role with style, I loved the way you looked condescendingly at Maria times and when you said ‘she’s a nursemaid’ when Georg says that he will have a place set for her at dinner. The duet ‘No Way to Stop it’ with The Captain joining in was well sung and performed by all of you. Here there were two great character roles well performed, not forgetting ‘How can Love Survive’ your true duet.

I enjoyed the performance of Kevin Shippey as Captain von Trapp, it’s not always easy to have a view of one’s own performance whilst also directing, but Kevin pulled this off very well, his portrayal of the Captain as this gruff man still tied up in the grief of losing his wife and then not knowing how to treat his children. His pride in his country, the gradual realisation that there are children he loves and too that there is someone else who has come into his life. The on-stage relationship with Maria was clear to see. This was all performed with skill and brought the characteristics of this man to life, a great presence on stage and a clear deep singing voice, when he joined in the performance of Do-Re-Mi with Maria and the children the look on his face with the realization he needed to sing was great.

When I saw the children my initial reaction was, they are not young children, they are always young blonde children. Do you know, after five minutes it didn’t matter one jot, here were Liesl, Friedrich, Louisa, Kurt, Brigitta, Marta and Gretl played respectively by Joanne, Owen, Bridie, Ted, Emma, Saffy and Ebony (who got all the oohs and ahs). These seven had gelled as a group of siblings, they looked as though the belonged together, they acted in harmony, filled the stage with their performances. Whether they were lined up in Sailors uniforms, hiding from the thunderstorm, dressed in ‘curtains’, or smart for the wedding, their singing and harmonies were really great. Do-Re-Mi is always great fun, and this was performed and sung with great humour, fun and style. The choreography and singing of each child in ‘So Long, Farewell’ was a treat. Kurt’s dancing with Maria, Gretl’s hug with her father and of course Liesl’s duet of ‘I am Sixteen going on Seventeen’ were highlights of the children’s performances, well done Joanne for your portrayal of a sixteen-year-old who thought she didn’t need a governess. 

Well done ‘children’ but of course the star of the show really is Maria. Samantha Rose pulled off this starring role with real panache, you not only looked like our images of Maria from the film but sounded like her. You too had gelled with the children as well as with the Captain, you really were a young woman torn with a belief that your future was in the Abbey but also a gradual realisation that you were beginning to fall in love not only with a family of children but with the father of the children. Your onstage relationships were well shown whether with Mother Abbess, Leisl or the Captain. The iconic song ‘The Sound of Music’ was lovingly sung and performed across the stage. Samantha you took this role and made it your own, lovingly performed and beautifully sung throughout the show. You have so many wonderful and loved songs, you reached all the notes and didn’t let your audience, or the company down. Really well done.

This show has only a small chorus and some very small speaking parts, these were all performed well to complete the show and the story. The set was simple but effective, a bridge across the rear of the stage gave height for the concert scene and the escape across the mountains (good to see a bit of recycling!). Props were relatively simple; scene changes were quick and efficient making much use of the cast. The Mountain landscape on the back wall and the garden seen through the French doors completed the effect of the set. It still makes me shiver to see a Nazi flag unfurled. Costumes, hair and makeup were good to period and someone had been busy with the ‘curtains’ which was a shame they were used only briefly, but that’s the nature of the show. If any quibble, it would have been the boys pyjamas, I loved Maria’s beautiful floaty dress and her grey coat, and the wedding scene wouldn’t have looked out of place at a society wedding.

A special word to Marie Cunningham, in the short rehearsal period you had, the singing and the harmonies were very good, you obviously drilled your singers well. Well done. Sound and light were clear effective, and the Cathedral Window Gobos were effective. Cynthia Maxey’s choreography was thoughtful and effective especially with scenes that are imagined by so many in different ways.

A big well done to Director, Cast and Crew. ‘One of My Favourite Things’, thank you for inviting me.

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