The Sound of Music - Stage Experience at Birmingham Alexandra Theatre Review

Post

Subscribe

Thu 15 Aug 2024 - Sat 17 Aug 2024

Birmingham Alexandra Stage Experience offers talented youngsters an opportunity to shine in a production in a professional theatre – and boy, this year do they shine.

The Sound of Music is an ambitious decision for any amateur production because it depends so much on having strong leading characters. And in the young people on stage this summer, the Alex has certainly found them.

Molly Hopkins is outstanding as Maria. Both hugely talented and confident, she inhabits the body and the soul of Maria so that she is thoroughly convincing from the moment she appears on stage singing the most famous of songs The Sound of Music.



Here is a young woman caught between a love of God and a love of the world and uncertain how to combine the two. But when she joins the von Trapp family as the governess to seven children, Maria discovers that earthly love and generosity of spirit maybe God’s plan after all.

Molly is endearing as the charming Maria so we can all understand how the children and the adults fall for her and she also has an impressive voice, capturing the nuances of the many songs we know so well.

She is matched by Ella Blair whose classically trained voice is very much to the fore in the role of Mother Abbess – her Climb Ev’ry Mountain is a showstopping moment which brings the house down just before the interval.

And Cree Henson takes on the role of Captain von Trapp with gusto. Initially, he is cold and regimental, unsure of how to relate to his many children after the death of his wife but, thanks to the lessons of Maria, a gentleness emerges alongside the principles which force the entire family to flee the Nazi regime.

The Stage Experience is now in its 19th year and has increased its number to 80 young people aged between nine and 24 following a more cautious return after Covid and there is talent in abundance. From the lead roles through the von Trapp children and into the ensemble, there isn’t a false step – all the more impressive when you learn the team has just two weeks of rehearsals.



Full credit to the creative team led by director and choreographer Pollyann Tanner for ensuring the show works with such a huge cast and moves seamlessly through the scenes.

The music and the wonderful songs from the daft Lonely Goatherd through to the powerful Edelweiss and the fun Maria, Do-Re-Mi and My Favourite Things are one of the reasons The Sound of Music has remained so popular since it was first created by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II nearly 70 years ago and the orchestra under musical director Chris Newton add so much to this production.

What also comes through the performance is the enthusiasm and joy of the young people on stage.

Some may go on to follow in the footsteps of other Stage Experience alumni including Joe Lycett in building a professional career in entertainment while others may simply remember their time in the show as a special moment but all are gaining valuable experience while ensuring the audience a thoroughly enjoyable performance.

The Sound of Music – Stage Experience continues at the Alexandra Theatre until Saturday 17 August, see here for tickets and more information.

#arts_culture
#theatre_shows
#music
#community
#family_friendly

%wnbirmingham