Book: Howard Lindsay & Russel Crouse
Music & Lyrics: Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II
Director: Martin Connor
Back on a UK Tour, Bill Kenwright’s production of The Sound of Music continues to delight audiences with its memorable songs and sincere characters.
Director Martin Connor focuses on the family bond of the Von Trapps and how after still mourning after his wife’s passing, Captain von Trapp (Andrew Lancel) brings his children up through marches and discipline, rather than with love, music and joy.
Lancel returns to the role after playing the same character in a previous tour and it’s clear his experience with the character shines through. Not only is he a stern father, but he counteracts this with a loving and caring figure who only stars to soften up when he meets Maria (Emile Fleming).
Fleming’s charming but straight talking character adds some natural light humour to the piece. Fleming has a wonderful development of chemistry with Lancel as well as with the young endearing Von Trapps where she quickly takes on the motherly figure.
Megan Llewellyn’s brings the house down as Mother Abbess. Her performance of Climb Ev’ry Mountain was nothing short of show stopping. Llewellyn controls her voice and continues to build it up right until the very end. Both the song and the reprise are pinnacle moments in the show and ensures both the end of act one and two has two incredible closing moments.
This production hosts some stunning choreography. Michael Anderson and Nicole Farrar show this off best during their duet of Sixteen Going On Seventeen. They glide through the stage together beautifully capturing youthful love and how much joy it can bring.
Gary McCann’s elegant set frames the whole production wonderfully with many spaces full of depth, character and beauty. It brings this production together nicely and even though these are large sets, each change is masked so that it doesn’t interrupt the pace of the production, especially towards the end when the tension starts to rise.
This large scale captivating production is a great throwback to a much loved classic. Complete with a great band, this top quality production is a polished piece of theatre that many will enjoy, regardless of if you’ve seen the film before.
*A complimentary ticket was given in exchange for this review. This value for money rating is based on the ticket price value of £41.50 + £3 Booking Fee. Click here for more information on The Value For Money Rating
The Theatre Twittic 