The Sound of Music
In true catholic tradition, I have a confession to make. Until last Sunday, I had never seen The Sound of Music, even though songs like 'The Lonely Goatherd', 'My Favourite Things' and 'Do-Re-Me' have probably been part of my musical consciousness since pre-school. Rightly or wrongly, and ahead of last night's performance, I therefore dug out a DVD copy last Sunday, and watched it from start to finish. All 174 minutes of it.
It is consequently a huge compliment and tribute to everybody involved with Norfolk & Norwich Operatic Society that Tuesday's opening night of 'The Sound of Music' at Norwich Theatre Royal was such a fresh, moving and joyous performance. The entirely non-professional cast and a 23 piece orchestra dazzle from start to finish, creating two hours of live theatrical magic - transporting us to the Austrian Alps with visionary direction and choreography from Chris Cuming, and aided by the huge curved video screen onto which CGI graphics seamlessly transported us from abbey to mountainside, and into the very Von Trapp residence, all with dizzying realism.
But a musical must stand and fall by its singing cast, and this one definitely passes with flying colours. Michelle Unstead is fabulous as the compassionate and caring, yet slightly confused, Maria. Sam Greig brings a warmer edge to the role of Captain Georg von Trapp, yet maintains authority and discipline in his patriarchal duties. Katherine White oozes cosmopolitan glamour as his fiancée Elsa Schrader, and is wonderfully aided and abetted by the delightfully roguish Adrian Wright as the scheming Max Detweiler. Sarah Cubitt, as the mother abbess, leads her ensemble of nuns with dignified authority and an impressive vocal presence, whilst James Bell hits all the right marks as the treachorous telegram boy Rolf Gruber.
And then, of course, there are the children. The seven young actors chosen to play Liesl, Friedrich, Louisa, Kurt, Brigitta, Marta and Gretl ensure that this show remains an absolute heart-melter. Each of the boys and girls exudes charm and professionalism, and has the audience in the collective palm of their hands. From the 'sixteen-going-on-seventeen' maturity of Sophie Chapman as Liesl, to the irresistable cuteness of Florence Martin as Gretl, this sibling ensemble are the real stars of the evening.
Congratulations to NNOS and everybody concerned with this stunning production. It has been a painfully long wait for audiences and performers but, with this version of 'The Sound of Music', Norwich Theatre Royal proves that musicals are back with a bang, and please may that long continue.
