Singing the praises of Sir Winston’s The Sound of Music
The sudden urge to sing struck the audience following this largescale production of “The Sound of Music,” reminding the audience of the reason for the classic film’s transcendent popularity; the power of song.
From the first stage performance in 1959 to film and television, the award-winning musical has endured for generations. Sir Winston’s production of the classic tale certainly had big shoes to fill. Set against the backdrop of the Second World War, “The Sound of Music” is ultimately a tale of the love of family and home. When new governess Maria enters the home of the von Trapp family, guitar in hand, she is faced with a daunting task; caring for seven super-disciplined children and thawing the cold-hearted exterior of militanthouse-head Captain Georg von Trapp. With her she brings to the von Trapp family a new sense of hope and warmth; through spirit and song, Maria breathes life back into the von Trapp home and ultimately marries the widowed captain.
This ambitious performance was led by the enthusiastic Sarah Fowler (Maria), who embodied the whole-hearted and lively governess. Fowler captured the role of Maria with a clear and compelling voice, flitting across the stage with the rhythm expected from the bubbly character. She changes convincingly from the disordered novitiate to the motherly governess, a cornerstone of the family who leads the house along with Captain Georg von Trapp. The pair performed their fast-paced, whirlwind romance with consistency and ease.
The audience watched as the despondent militant-house-head Capt. von Trapp (Sebastian Walker) becomes the musical fatherof-seven in love with the enchanting Maria. Walker exhibited all the poise of the polished authoritarian. He started his performance strict and demanding, one fist resting stiffly across his suit jacket. He then gave a grossly different performance in the heartwarmingly sweet song “An Ordinary Couple” a challenging character arc to perform onstage.
The voices of those such as Sarina Laundry (Liesl von Trapp), Tawnie Vickers (Freidrich von Trapp) and Francesca Reid (Mother Abbess) beautifully performed the enduring classics.
Performers occasionally became inaudible due to microphone difficulties, taking away from the splendour of the classic songs. However, in a way representative of the theme of the musical itself, the performers persevered with the grace and poise unexpected from a younger cast. While some of the individual songs could have been catered to better suit the ranges of the vocalists, the group numbers captivated the stage with their buoyant and expansive sound.
The choreography, set-design, and extraordinary orchestration elicited every memory you may have of this classic story.
The minimalist set design and projection allowed for quick transition between locations; a vibrant stained-glass cathedral, the abbey, and the captain's grand manor. The performers were quick to take advantage of this conservative stage-layout, moving dynamically across the stage behind the school's orchestra.
Sir Winston's impressive musicians were the driving force behind the performance; the wide range of instruments brought the famed show tunes to life, perfectly accompanying the vocalists throughout the story.
This story comes to an end when the family is forced to flee Austria, upon which they realize that their home is not the grand manor where they had grown up, but in being together as a family.
“The Sound of Music” has secured its beloved place within the hearts of the audience, and Sir Winston's production will be remembered as a further fond display of the values represented within the film: courage, faith, and love