The Sound Of Music

Teesdale Operatic Society is one of the most inclusive societies I know out there with only Principal roles required to audition for their show. This however often throws up some major obstacles with cast size and venue capacity. So how do you solve a problem like the Witham?

Well in experienced Director and Producer Dawn Trevor you transform the Theatre with its traditional staging and raked seating into a Round stage with the audience circling the compact central stage, all set on 1 level. You might think that this wouldn’t work with a huge cast of around 50 members and numerous scene changes but it most certainly worked with perhaps more impact than a traditional staging concept.

The circled stage allowed for three main entrances, allowing the most effective of opening numbers with over 20 Nuns in perfect harmony combining with clever lighting to give us a majestic and spiritual Preludium. It set a beautiful tone for the evening.

The Nuns themselves were amazing throughout, principal roles being taken by Joanne Wall as Sister Sophia, Lynda Weston as Margaretta and Gail Barlow as Berthe. The three of them blended so well, not only with some soulful vocals but also in their characterisation. 

Joanne’s beaming smile and curiosity of Maria mixing well with the enthusiasm of Lynda, both of them battling with the grumpiness of Gail’s more traditional character. Their togetherness and comedy in “Maria” was a brilliant version of a very tricky number.

All of the Nun’s mixed wonderfully with the caring and warmth of Mother Abbess played to perfection by Karen Davison who balanced the mothering instincts and nurturing of Maria excellently. Her connection with Maria evident very early on in Favourite Things whilst her vocals in Climb Every Mountain were note perfect with great control throughout the song.

I have had the privilege to have seen The Sound of Music on a number of occasions, including a professional tour, and in Dana Al-Malak as Maria, I witnessed the best performance of this character that I have ever had the honour to see. A wonderful operatic voice with tender and soft vibrato matching an acting display that belongs on the West End. Her connection with the Von Trapp children was so warm and tender, combining a friendship level with the older children and a mothering compassion with the younger children at ease. 

She showed us a natural journey in her character from confused young woman picking on Von Trapp with huge enjoyment right through battles with her own feelings to a tender and caring wife and mother. TOS you have unearthed an absolute star.

Combining well with Dana was Russell Billingham as Captain Von Trapp, elegantly stern in his voice and with a lovely stiff posture throughout his character really came alive once letting his guard down once he had succumbed to both Maria’s bullying and affections. He showed us lovely soft vocals in Edelweiss and mixed well with both Max and Elsa in their songs and scenes.

Sarah Gent as Max really brought the comedy to the piece, delighting the audience with an infectious bubbly energy throughout. The blindfolded game of tig to start Act Two a perfect example of this whilst she kept the pace of the scenes flowing at all times. Elsa was played wonderfully by Louisa Cameron, not a huge role in the stage show but managed with such great control and elegance. She personified charm and grace, demonstrating a beautiful voice in No Way to Stop It whilst bounding around the stage with Max.

Of course no Sound of Music would be a success without the 7 children and these were by far some of my Favourite Things of the evening. Each one of them had their own little character and all came together to produce the most amazing sound in a wide range of songs. Every number was brilliant but I must highlight the excellence in vocal ability in Lonely Goatherd. To get one actor (Dana) nailing a Yodel is one thing but to get all 8 together in perfect sync is sensational. The Yodel battle between Maria and Liesl was spectacular and felt like we were in a sing off on The Voice. 

Emily Ross shone as Brigitta, her teasing of Maria a real highlight; Sophia Mulvaney brought so much warmth to each scene as Marta; Alfie Webster mixed brilliantly with his siblings and also Maria in their little dance scene and Louisa was played with so much energy and conviction by Elsie Porter who continues to grow and shine in TOS productions. I have to confess that little Rosie Stephenson may have stolen my heart as Gretl. For such a young actress, I am guessing 6 or 7, her lines so delivered with a punch and she never put a foot wrong all night. A huge special mention must go to Teri Smith who played the role of Freidrich. It is not unusual for a Society to be short of boys to fill these parts; however Teri didn't just step in, she excelled. With a huge beaming smile and sublime voice she made the parts her own.

Liesl is often portrayed as the mother figure amongst the siblings and Kallie Henderson as Liesl did not disappoint. She captured the insecure teenage emotions of her character wonderfully and had the vocal ability to suggest that she is definitely a future Maria herself. Her scene with Rolf played by the wonderful Daniel Vickers just brought a huge smile to my face and their duet “Sixteen going on Seventeen” captured their personalities brilliantly. 

I had the privilege to be on stage with Daniel for the first show he did and wow does he keep getting better, his vocals were soft and smooth, his mannerisms slick and this is a young actor who can steal a scene at ease.

I hate the term “minor roles” as it is these characters who often keep the pace and direction of a show on track, and in Caroline Harland as Frau Schmidt and Peter Firby as Franz, TOS had just the ideal cast members. Caroline wonderfully kept the house in check with not only great stage presence but perfect and slick line delivery whilst Peter added the calm and control over the Von Trapp house. Perfect roles for two talented individuals who I am sure we will see in major roles soon.

Act Two in The Sound of Music can, if you are not careful, get slower as the story gets darker yet TOS managed to control this pace. New characters emerged with Stephen Brenkley giving us a hateful characterisation of the Nazi General Herr Zeller, facial expressions and sniping one-liners giving the audience a real distaste of his role. Emily Backes and Nigel Fletcher also playing their roles with great conviction.

What kept Act Two effective and emotive though was the clever direction and staging. The Concert got the audience highly involved eliminating the need for a huge cast on the limited stage, the stripped back and simplistic wedding a perfect backdrop for the lovely harmonisation of the Nun’s ensemble and the empty stage a perfect finale for a quiet exit to the hills for the Von Trapp family. There was no need for gravestones and tombs - the lighting and empty stage actually worked better as the focus remained on the actors.

Although there were some sensational individual acting and vocal displays this was an Ensemble production. Cast members performed slick scene changes, provided backstage vocals and brought the whole show together.

The 7 strong Orchestra was wonderfully led by Annette Lawson as Musical Director and she must be so proud of what she heard on that stage tonight. The band didn’t once overpower the hard work she had put in with the cast allowing the stunning vocals and clear harmonies to take centre stage.

Putting this show on in this format, as a Round, was always going to be a huge gamble. The cast members had to stay active throughout ensuring all sides remained involved and on show yet the huge gamble was how exposed it left the cast. Singing 1 foot in front of an audience member is intimidating to say the least and every little detail can be seen throughout yet the whole cast rose to this challenge. Despite these challenges it was a gamble that definitely paid off as the show was a resounding success, myself and the audience absolutely loved it and I have to admit that our car had the soundtrack on all the way home filling the Dales with The Sound of Music.

A huge thank you to the whole production team, Front of House and Cast members for a truly fantastic evening and I can’t wait to be back with you soon for whatever 2025 brings.

 

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