The Sound Of Music
Information
- Date
- 22nd June 2023
- Society
- Tickenham Drama Group
- Venue
- Tickenham Village Hall.
- Type of Production
- Musical
- Director
- Owen James
- Musical Director
- Sue Parker
How wonderful to be back at Tickenham Village Hall. A first for me in around eighteen years when I last saw the super production of The Hired Man. Thank you for the most wonderful welcome from Lou Beale (so nice to see you again), and her team front of house. It has always had such a wonderful community atmosphere at Tickenham, and none of that has been lost. I did feel for you nuns wearing their regalia in all that heat, but you really did set the scene front of house. It felt quite natural to see the open set for Mother Abbess’s office. The back lit cross was a good added effect.
The Director set the spirit of this show right from the off. The simplistic sets, just using what was needed to depict our setting and the scaled back orchestra to one piano actually did this piece no harm at all. As an audience it really focused on what was important here, which is the content of this show. We were able to focus on the dialogue which when you think about it, is still sadly as poignant today as it was back in 1959. You scored very highly again on your casting. Not always easy to get everyone just right in their parts when you are in a club environment but this was spot on, so it was quite obvious from the first couple of scenes we were in for a very good night.
The singing in this production again reached great heights. The Alleluya chorus hit us with wonderful harmonies and even when unaccompanied you all kept terrific timing. I even noticed the MD wasn’t conducting so this showed signs of how well drilled this operation was. Maria won us over as soon as she started to sing. The Hills of Tickenham were certainly alive. Again it was so easy to forget there was no orchestra, when you have an excellent pianist and such strong clear vocals. We were all blown away.
Song after song we were hit with great impact and the pace of songs and dialogue was just perfect. This ran all the way through the show, so well done on maintaining that.
The songs “Maria”, “Favourite Things” and "I have Confidence” were sung with just the right amount of humour and fun. Sisters Margaretta, Bertha and Sophia all added a super energy, all displaying your individual characters. Simple choreography was all that was needed. I really appreciated how you all broke that fourth wall and included us as an audience, we felt very much a part of the action.
“Favourite Things” saw another side to Mother Abbess letting her guard down and guiding Maria to the way ahead. Maria certainly displayed her growth in “I Have Confidence” and again a strong vocal.
Finally we get to meet The Von Trapp family. All characters very well chosen. The strict discipline and regimentally run household under the guidance of captain Georg von Trapp. He gave us a very well thought through performance. I could read your facial expressions fully. It was clear you ran that household with a rod of iron. Each child was completely focussed throughout, and added their own individual characters, bringing us many a smile and laugh. I’m sure I heard a few “aahs” throughout the audience too. This shone through in spades in “Do Re Mi” a tricky song which must have been rehearsed to within an inch of its life. It was excellent.
Liesal and Rolf displayed their fine acting qualities when secretly meeting. Great energy in “sixteen going on seventeen” we could all sense this was going to be a difficult coupling and I thought you portrayed these too characters very well indeed throughout the journey of this show.
“Lonely Goatherd” delivered with lots of fun and a good energy and again nice simple choreography which worked a treat.
Elsa ands Max certain made their mark as soon as they hit the stage, both very considered portrayals. Max great comedy timing and good projection of voice. Elsa looked stunning throughout from your poise to the look that could kill. A good actress with a very pretty voice just to complete the package. The red dress particularly stunning.
Act 1 wouldn’t be complete without the rousing “Climb Every Mountain” and this didn’t disappoint. Mother Abbess and the chorus of nuns played us out beautifully and poignantly into the interval.
I haven’t forgotten Franz or Frau Schmidt. Franz always on cue and looking very dapper in his uniform. Frau Schmidt played this character perfectly. Great actress and made every word count, we felt your stress and strains of working in that household and good comedy timing especially during the “whistles” your sympathetic side alway shone through. I enjoyed seeing you onstage again. Well done.
During the second act, I decided to just sit back and enjoy and that I certainly did. Two things jumped out at me. The songs, “Something Good” and “Edelweiss” both sung to perfection. I thought the chemistry between Maria And Georg worked extremely well, I believed everything you both portrayed. I don't think I’ve ever heard “Edelweiss” sung with such meaning and pathos. Congratulations to you both.
So, were there any negatives? To be honest all I could nit pick in this production were just a few “clunky” scene changes. Just one example: towards the end where the garden furniture needed to go off you could have maybe used the children under the direction of Frau Schmidt to have come on as if playing a game to remove them before they lined up to be scrutinised by her. As long as its choreographed the audience wouldn’t have given it a second thought, but when the pace suddenly stops our attention span wanders. I believe this was the only wrong lighting cue also, certainly all I noticed anyway, so well done lighting team. Sound also seemed to be well on cue and I thought a great balance between the vocals and piano.
So not only did I think this was a brave choice for Tickenham to take on, I also thought you did it the best way to suit the surroundings and space in the hall. This was also a brave decision and one that really paid off. Congratulations.
Thank you so much for the invite and again your warm hospitality. I’m already looking forward to the next production.
Mike Purnell.
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