A family favourite
The Sound of Music is being performed by West Kings students this week
Makayla Gerroir grew up watching The Sound of Music but playing the lead role of Maria never crossed her mind.
“Never in my dreams,” she said before a recent dress rehearsal for West Kings District High School’s upcoming production of the hit musical. “She’s a character I admire. So, to be able to portray her is kind of amazing.”
The 17-year-old Kingston resident was involved in last year’s production of Willy Wonka.
“I was coming back without a doubt. It was such a fun experience. I didn’t really care what we were doing, I just wanted to be here,” the Grade 12 student said. “When I found out that it was The Sound of Music, I was so happy because it’s one of my favourite stories.”
The story is based on the memoir of Maria Augusta Trapp. Set in Austria in the 1930s, it follows a young nun in training who serves as governess to the seven children of Navy Capt. Georg von Trapp, bringing music and joy to the household.
The story was familiar for many members of the West Kings’ cast before they knew they were going to be performing it.
“The Sound of Music is my favourite musical,” said Lillian Peach, a 17-year-old from North Kingston.
She noted the love for the musical was passed down from her mother and grandmother.
“It’s become a staple in our house every Christmas. Every time it’s on the TV, we stop what we’re doing and we’re watching (it),” she said. “The music is fantastic.”
The soundtrack ranges from hits like So Long, Farewell and Sixteen Going on Seventeen to My Favorite Things and DoRe-Mi.
Lillian, a Grade 11 student, plays Hans Zeller and is an assistant director, working as a conduit between director Hal Jessome and the crew.
Gilliane Laxamana said it has always been popular with her family.
“When I was really young, my grandparents loved this movie. It’s always been a part of my life,” she said. “It’s been so nostalgic just being a part of it.”
GETTING INVOLVED
Gilliane, a Grade 9 student from Greenwood, plays Marta von Trapp – the second youngest child – and is also one of the nuns. She was inspired to participate after watching her older sister, Lauren, who was involved in last year’s production of Willy Wonka.
“It was so magical,” she said, pointing out which seat she watched the performance from. “I promised my sister that
I’d join even though I have a bunch stage fright, but it’s definitely boosted my confidence a lot.”
She noted being in the band Tinfoil has also helped her perform for an audience.
Gilliane said it’s fun to be able share the experience with Lauren.
“As a younger sister, I’ve always looked up to her. Just being in the same musical production as her, it’s amazing.”
It is also Lillian’s first time involved with the musical. She was inspired after watching last year’s production.
“I loved it,” she said, “and I just knew from the start I had to be involved in this.”
She’s always been drawn to musicals and plays but acknowledged it was nerveracking auditioning for the first time. That quickly changed.
“From the first reading, I kind of knew it was going to be a fantastic show and a great group of people,” she said.
Her on-stage role is of the main antagonist.
“I don’t think of myself as a
bad guy, so hearing that I was going to be the bad guy, it was kind of a little scary,” she said.
But with each rehearsal, it became easier and easier.
She said it’s “incredible” to see how so many parts come together from costumes and lighting to the pit band and cast to make the production a reality.
“It’s intricate and there’s so much detail that goes on.”
Gilliane added: “It’s so much work but it’s so worth it.”
Jessome said he enjoys working
with the talented students and seeing them step out of their comfort zone and grow.
“The satisfaction I get is watching them improve.”
SELECTION
Each year, Jessome and musical director Richard Bennett start with a list of about 10 shows and then balance a variety of factors to determine which show to put on.
Jessome, who is working on his 12th musical at West Kings, said The Sound of Music was a no-brainer for them.
“The music is just awesome,” he said.
Jessome’s daughter, Darragh Jessome, is working with the school’s talented singers.
“They’re singing a four-part harmony,” he said, noting he has never seen that done in his time working with the school’s musical.
“To me, The Sound of Music, it’s almost like a vocal concert with a little bit of dialogue in between to connect the dots.”
This is the third time the school has produced the musical. It was staged there in 1974 and 2001. The school has been doing musicals since 1961 when The Bishop’s Candlesticks hit the stage.
OPENING NIGHT
Countdown to the first show on April 19 brought a slew of emotions.
“(There’s) a lot of nervous excitement and jitters,” Gilliane said.
Makayla said it is the culmination of a lot of hard work that began at the start of the school year.
“It’s nerve-racking. It’s also very exciting. And it’s also sad because it’s going to be over soon,” she said, noting she remembers waiting for the cast list to be posted in September.
“The first rehearsal, we all sit in a circle and read our lines and we introduce ourselves to each other. The process of getting from there to here, it seems like it’s going to be challenging and slow, but it goes so fast and comes so easily it’s incredible.”
Lillian said countdown to opening night was scary but fun.
“There’s this butterfly that never leaves your stomach and every time you hear it being mentioned, you always get this little flutter in your stomach that it’s coming and it’s happening soon,” she said.
“It’s also exciting to get to show everyone what we’ve been doing for … months.”
Jessome has often been asked what it feels like to perform a show for the first time. It is hard to give a full description, he said, noting it can be somewhat different for each member of the cast and crew.
“The feeling, you can’t describe it,” he said.
“You couldn’t put it in a dictionary. I promise you it starts at your toes and it almost kind of numbs you. It’s a sense of relief, it’s a sense of pride, it’s just a sense of we did this together.”