Review: New Wimbledon Theatre stages new production of popular show
An excellent production from Bill Kenwright, the show opens with the harmonic singing of the nuns in the abbey before changing to a backdrop of mountains and the familiar strains of the ‘Sound of Music’ theme wonderfully sung by Lucy O’Byrne as Maria. A relative newcomer, she shone in the role.
Closely following the film, Act I takes Maria from the Abbey to the home of Captain Von Trapp as governess to his seven children. Andrew Lancel as the Captain has a lovely singing voice, surprising some members of the audience around me who were familiar only with his TV roles in Coronation Street and the Bill.
All the children sing sweetly led by Annie Holland as Liesl whose well-known duet with Rolf – ‘Sixteen going on Seventeen’ also included some interesting choreography which showed off the high kicking talents of Kane Verrall, as Rolf.
The conclusion of Act I is the very memorable ‘Climb Every Mountain’ and, as the Mother Abbess, Rebecca Caine’s rendition had my heart pounding and brought a tear to my eye; I wasn’t the only one!
The story continues with Maria and the Captain marrying and the family entering the Salzburg Music Festival as a cover to escape the Nazis and ends with an image of the family climbing the mountain to cross into Switzerland to a reprise of that famous song, hauntingly sung by the company.
A thoroughly enjoyable evening.
By Anne Horsburgh
October 26, 2016