The hills around the island will come alive to the sound of music this weekend, when the latest muscial production opens at the Gaiety Theatre.
Douglas Choral Union will open its production of the classic musical ’The Sound of Music’ tomorrow night (Friday), from 7pm.
The all-local production will run for eight nights, with two matinee shows, until Saturday, February 22.
The version of the family favourite show, which was also a popular 1965 film, which made stars out of Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, will feature singer Emily Coates in the lead role of Maria, the free-spirited, singing nun who takes care of the seven children of the Von Trapp family in Austria before the outbreak of the Second World War.
She will star opposite Simon Fletcher, who will play the authoritarian and stern Captain Von Trapp, a retired German military officer who is raising his family following the death of his wife.
There are two teams of children sharing the roles of the Von Trapp children on alternative nights, namely the ’Raindrops’ and ’Roses’ teams, with Robyn Mae Lawler and Jenny Hill sharing the role of the elder sister, Leisl.
George Graham, William Shooter, Bethany Williams, Ava Harvey, Evie Skillicorn and Kitty James, who make up the Rainbow cast, perform as the rest of theVon Trapp children, Freidrich, Kurt, Brigitta, Marta, Louisa and Gretl.
They will share the roles with Oliver Sykes, Joshua Mooney, Aeryn Breed, Maddie Wood, Millie Christian and Gertie Hills, from the Roses.
The classic tale sees Captain Von Trapp initially taken aback by Maria’s involvement with his children, before falling in love and marrying her. The family then attempt to flee the growing influence of the Nazi party by escaping over the Alps into Switzerland.
Christine Bregazzi also features as the Mother Abbess, Isaac Murtagh is Rolfe Gruber, Leisl’s teenage sweetheart, and Chris Jagus plays the music agent Max Detweiler.
Rachael Braidwood stars as the rich baroness, Elsa Schraeder, who attempts to worm her way into the affections of Captain Von Trapp.
Those who are familiar with the Sound of Music will know that the real stars of the show are the numerous Rogers and Hammerstein-written songs, including ’Climb Every Mountain’, ’Do-Re-Mi’, ’A Few of my Favourite Things’ and the soaring title song ’The Sound of Music’.
Director Tony Finnegan said that there is a lot of pressure in recreating such an iconic and universally popular show, such as the Sound of Music, and that the cast and crew have worked hard to make their own version, whilst also making sure the classic elements are retained.
’The tricky thing about putting on a show like this is that people will expect so much from it, as they are so familiar with the film and the songs,’ said Tony.
’The expectation here with the Sound of Music is that people want to feel comfortable with what they’re seeing.
’The challenge for me is to try to create a new production while giving people what they want at the same time. I have ideas on a certain kind of look or feel of a certain character, but we are also trying to put our own spin on it as well.
’What makes the Sound of Music so wonderful is that it is a totally character driven piece of theatre.
’At the heart of it is a simple, sweet beautiful story, well told and is one that is very heartwarming. That is something that we all need at the moment, I think.
’Although we are doing a few things that give it a fresh new kick, it is still that same traditional classic, and you don’t want to mess with the classics.
’It is a great family day or night out. There are very few things that you can bring your family to nowadays and I think that this is something that everyone can enjoy.’
Tickets start from £24 for adults and £20 for under 16s, with £22 for seniors, available frm the Welcome Centre and the Villa Gaiety box office, on 600555, and online from villagaiety.com
by Mike Wade
Twitter:@iomnewspapers