A RESOUNDING SUCCESS FOR THE SOUND OF MUSIC
By Kirk Winter
The beloved Rodgers and Hammerstein musical The Sound of Music just completed a very successful six show run on November 16 at the Academy Theatre in Lindsay.
Attendance at all performances was excellent, and all the profits generated go directly into keeping the Academy Theatre’s doors open to the public.
The cast was uniformly excellent, with Sarah Bashford playing the iconic role of Maria, made famous by Julie Andrews in the 1965 film adaptation. Bashford has a magnetic stage presence and a lovely and multi-faceted singing voice that was ideal for this challenging role.
Rhys Warren, a veteran of many plays at the Academy, turned in a very creditable performance as Captain Georg von Trapp. Warren is a very good actor, and his rendition of Edelweiss was heartfelt, and one of the highlights of the show.
Directors Szabina Kitchen and Alison Ayers took a risk in choosing this play because it calls for seven charming and talented young people to star as the von Trapp children, who are on stage for huge chunks of the show. The directors were indeed fortunate to find nine local actors who rose to the challenge of these parts like theatre veterans. The two youngest children were rotated for in alternating performances. The night I saw the play all the children were spectacular led by Elora Powell as Liesel, Grayson Avery as Frederich, Ella Bashford as Louisa and Caden Mabee as Kurt. Isla McLeod and Rory O’Neil played the two youngest von Trapp children and were absolutely adorable. Ruby Fagan, who played Brigitta von Trapp, was a revelation and delivered her lines like a pro.
Almost every Rogers and Hammerstein play has a plum role for a multi-talented actor who can deliver comedic lines and sing. In The Sound of Music this part was played fabulously by Academy veteran Rob Powell. Powell brought the house down as Max Detweiller, a slightly shady friend of the von Trapp family. Powell clearly enjoyed the role and his enthusiasm was contagious.
An able supporting cast featured fine performance from Kelly Burrows as Elsa Schraeder, Georg’s initial love interest. Allison Merritt, Carley Dart and Carol Pypker provide comic sensibilities and fine singing voices to their roles as some of Maria’s fellow nuns.
The performance, that ran the better part of two hours and 15 minutes, included all the songs from the original stage play/film that people were waiting to hear including Maria, Sixteen Going On Seventeen, My Favorite Things, Climb Ev’ry Mountain, The Lonely Goat herd, Do-Re-Mi, Edelweiss, So Long Farewell and The Sound of Music.
There were times during the performance that I had to remind myself that these were amateur performers because the songs were delivered note perfect. Memorable performances included a stunning rendition of Climb Ev’ry Mountain by Molly Westland who played the Mother Abbess, and Jack Newton and Elora Powell who delivered a charmingly understated version of Sixteen Going on Seventeen while playing the parts of Rolf Gruber and Liesl von Trapp.
The pit band made up of Lynne Davis on piano, Chris Mabee on keybord and Rob Barg on guitar was first rate, and did an excellent job accompanying the singers and providing instrumental fills during scene changes.
The set designed by Traviss Ayers and his crew of four talented carpenters was first rate, giving the audience a true feel for the splendid house that Georg von Trapp would have inhabited as a member of the Austrian petty nobility.
Jennifer Simpson and her 10 wardrobe assistants did a magnificent job of finding, repurposing and creating costumes that ranged from nuns’ habits to military uniforms. The scene where the children appeared in costumes supposedly made from surplus drapes by Maria was complimented beautifully by seven children’s outfits that featured a most outrageous floral print. I had no idea that floral print lederhosen were a thing!
Tracy Heindl painted a lovely scene of the Austrian Alps that could be seen through the patio doors cleverly included as part of the set, and seven talented volunteers that included actor Rhys Warren ensured that the set was beautifully painted.
Stephanie Harwood-Jones and her able backstage crew of 10 willing assistants made sure that things behind the scenes ran smoothly, and not a cue was missed.
Many left the theatre marvelling at the enthusiasm and professionalism on the Academy stage that evening. If you have never seen a live performance at the Academy make sure you do. It is a one of a kind experience and well worth your time.