"Raindrops on roses, whiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens,brown paper packages tied up with strings, these are a few of my favorite things. .......When the dog bites, when the bee stings when I'm feeling sad, I simply remember my favorite things and then I don't feel so bad." It was that song that made us think happy cotton candy thoughts. It was that soothing melody that was transferred from generation to generation to cure all pains from cuts and bruises to feverish tantrums. These feel-good lyrics along with the a handful of songs from the musical Sound of Music have been flawlessly integrated into everyone's childhood. Definitely it would belong to many families' favorite things. It definitely is part of mine. It has been 52 years since the movie that popularized the musical was released but a global cult following still exists. After having seen the recent staging in Solaire I now know why.
The story is about a novice Maria Rainer who is sent to the Von Trapp family to be their governess so she can find her spiritual calling. The military run household is tamed gently by Maria through music. United by chance Maria and the Von Trapp family find love and peace at the most unlikely of times. The story is set on the onset of World War II and its political undercurrents were already conceivable. With the glorious music of Rodgers and Hammerstein the 30-strong international cast and Filipino add ons took on the challenge of ensuring the enduring appeal of Sound of Music lives on.
During the media call of Concertus Manila's "Sound of Music" most of the press asked the cast members what made SOM a household favorite. Some of them echoed my experience, it was the joyfulness of the music and the story that drew them in as children. Zoe Bevon who plays Liesl Von Trapp shared her insightful point of view. She quipped "You relate to different characters as you grow up" I realized how true that was because it is a play with an age range so great that it can reflect people in different stages of their lives. The story has rebellious kids craving for attention, teenagers figuring out what love is, and adults who are figuring out their convictions. You find new things fall in love with each time you revisit the musical. Also interesting was the point of view of the adults who got to know and love the musical as adults. Jonathan Taylor who plays Max Detweiler in the music didn't think there anything more than the fluff it was famous for. As he studied the material as an actor, he found darker and deeper layers into the Nazi history. In essence he believed that its message was strong and relevant, lessons that every generation could and should appreciate. The loving words from the cast intensified the responsibility to give justice to the epic story that everyone has come to love in their own special way. Thankfully, they delivered a delightful package of talent on that very same day.
The Cast
Carmen Pretorius as Maria Rainer was a refreshing sight. Having done Liesl prior to stepping into the role of Maria, her perspective of the characterization seemed full. She opted for a more contemporary feel far from the usual mimicry of Julie Andrews. She animated the role with her own brand of subtleties. Physically she was without the caricature excesses making her performance very natural and believable. Surprisingly her straightforward approach did not come across as stiff. Pretorius was witty, absolutely charming and most importantly warm. With notes like hers, I would be convinced too that music can fix every concern in the world. Her sustained energy kept the whole story intact.
Opposite her was Nicholas Maude as Capt Von Trapp. Similarly Maude stirred far away from Christopher Plummer's famous movie version. Consistent with the character his military style was strongly portrayed. What sets him apart is his ability to soften up at perfect moments. I would call his ability to blush a cute shade of pink on command as an awesome addition to his acting skill write up. Whether it's tears or love that commands it, it creates an atmosphere of sincerity. His pacing was almost too good, never a step ahead instead he reacts, skilled receiver.
Zoe Bevon as Liesl and Michael McMeeking as Rolf were good individually. Their sixteen going on seventeen was a fun number. However the dancing highlights were painful to watch. It lacked grace and finesse and I was almost afraid that they would ruin the sets.
Who can forget the children?! The Filipino cast was composed of Oren Soleta, Gwn Dorado, Dean Angelia, Krystal Brimner, Sam Lagman and Faline Dorado. Such vibrant and crystal clear performances from these children. Standing out was Krystal Brimner who was fully intent on making the most of her solo moments on stage. Her actuations were consistently purposeful whether she was in the background or foreground. Clearly it was their eagerness that captured the hearts of many.
The Visuals
The muted colors were a good contrast to the colorful performance because it didn't overwhelm the audiences with comical colors. It instead allowed the audiences to focus on what was going on. It was like a coincidental vignette framing everything delicately.
The Bottomline
The strength of this production goes beyond the amount of talent they have put on stage. What I believe is the core of this production is the clarity of the message. I have watched the movie hundreds of times and I have likewise seen and loved the musical versions but I saw something different with the treatment of the words and the scenes. The same words were uttered but I had a better understanding of its undertones because it was delivered with intention not to just entertain but to educate. In the song "No Way to Stop it, the Baroness and Max Detweiler convince the Captain to compromise his ideals because he can't do anything about it. They sing the words "Be Wise, Compromise" and "Just as long as I'm living there'll be nothing as wonderful as I". They weren't just conflict characters, I realized they were intended to reflect the ills of society. The reality of people choosing comfort over ideals. (I reckon this also stands out to me because it is a timely reflection of the Philippines but let's not talk about that). In the end when the Von Trapps flee, i realize that Jonathan Taylor was right when he said that his role and this play had layers. At the very end Max chose to be the sacrificial lamb, he learned to love and sacrifice so that others could be free. He stood firm with his chosen conviction. The family , Maria, love changed him. It wasn't just music that cured everything. it was the undeniable love that was so infectious and strong it could not possibly be denied existence. In the end, I believe the very intelligent direction of this musical paved way to give more purpose to all the transformations of the characters. There was a way to stop the madness after all.
The Verdict
This staging of Sound of Music is fresh and ready for the taking. It will be worth every penny. It will not only bring on the irresistible nostalgia, it will bring people so many new things to love. Test the concept. See you at the theatre?
Note :Photos of the cast show a different set of children as they were taken during the MEDIA CALL
