Sound of Music brings smiles

MUSICAL: SHOWPIECE TURNS EVEN GRUMPY ONES INTO HAPPY BEINGS WITH HIT SONGS, FUN Schwartz and Pretorius are slick performers fit for world stages.

There’s only one thing I really didn’t like about the second SA tour of Sound of Music, now on at The Teatro at Montecasino: it made me smile. I’m somewhat grumpy – it doesn’t translate to mean, I just stick to my own lane and choose to keep those happy emotions for times when I’m by myself. But last weekend the world’s favourite musical made me grin from ear to ear in public thanks to its consistent slickness, high production value, infectious cast and old favourites like Do Re Mi and Sixteen going on Seventeen.

It’s no wonder Pieter Toerien Productions brought back the mega show: it’s a consistent hit, thanks to its age-spanning appeal that is a giant dose of hopefulness.

The latest production stars Carmen Pretorius as Maria. In many ways Petorius is theatre royalty – and with her impressive and infectiousness on-stage precense, she’s the kind of Maria that the world stage can only dream of. Pretorius has been in the role throughout the production’s world tour, which translates to not only an exceptionally polished performance, but an incredibly focused one.

Andre Schwartz returns as Captain von Trapp. Currently promoting his new single, Schwartz uses his vocal training to dominate the stage as the patriarch of the Von Trapp clan. His presence might equate to more single sales on iTunes thanks to the role. Schwartz isn’t new to mega-productions, previously starring as The Phantom in Phantom of the Opera.

It’s great to see a renowned star work so well with a cast that includes first-time performers in the form of the Von Trapp children – all tasked to breath life in minor roles.

The Sound of Music is testament that mass appeal musicals are necessary and fun.

The show at The Teatro closes this weekend, but opens at the Artscape in Cape Town on May 6, where it will definitely turn into some grumpy person’s favourite thing.