The Sound of Music

The Sound of Music is a timeless classic story of love which is familiar to most people because of the film adaptation starring Julie Andrews however this could lead to a little confusion as the film was slightly different from the original stage production. The first scene, which is in the Abbey, introduced us to a truly magnificent set with chancel screens and an impressive wide stairway leading up to a lovely ‘stained glass window’. This in subsequent scenes became double doors and the stairs came down into the Von Trapp house. In the final scene the stairway became the mountainous escape route for the family. The good use of props, gauzes, cloths etc. helped to depict the other scenes. To some extent, the show relies on having a ‘good’ Maria and equally a ‘good’ set of children and we were not disappointed on both counts. In her first role with the company Georgina Bailey excelled as Maria. She has a beautiful, expressive singing voice and her passion, vitality, warmth and naturalness made for an all round charming performance. Georgina had a great affinity with the children and the scenes with them were a sheer delight. The Von Trapp children, referred to as the ‘Raindrops’ at the performance I saw, were all, so adorably endearing. They oozed confidence and both their singing and dancing were superb. Darci Wilson was excellent as the precocious Brigitta and Jessica Sharratt was enchanting as Leisl, the duet ‘Sixteen Going on Seventeen’ with Rolf, convincingly played by Nathan Wragg, was lovely. David Walters was  assured and dignified as Captain Georg von Trapp but I felt he needed to be more austere and brusque as the dictatorial father so as to represent a more defined contrast with the showing of his softer side in later scenes. Sue Siddall portrayed authority, confidence and ‘maternal’ understanding as The Mother Abbess and her strong and powerful voice came to the fore in her rousing rendition of ‘Climb Ev’ry Mountain’. Dawn Melloy was elegant and graceful as Elsa Schraeder, Tony Winfield was enthusiatically engaging as Max Detweiler and Judith Doram cool and calm as Frau Schmidt.The chorus of nuns contributed greatly to the overall atmosphere particularly Alison Doram (Sister Margaretta), Roseanna Sanderson (Sister Sophia) and Tammy Marsh Beresford (Sister Berthe) when they joined Mother Abbess in the singing of ‘Maria’, which was heavenly. There was also worthy support from all of those playing minor roles. Good lighting, sound effects, costumes and choreography together with a fine orchestra all added to making it one of ‘My Favorite Things’! 

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