The Sound of Music Pulls Heartstrings

Yesterday my work day ended with me watching the musical, ‘The Sound of Music’ during its Gala Premiere. It was like eating warm pancakes with maple syrup, butter and blueberries topped with whip cream for dessert. In other words, it was an extremely feel-good performance deserving of the plenty of standing ovations it received at the end.  The audience were enraptured and we were clapping almost after every scene and especially after every song.

It would have been impossible for anyone to have been mentally present in 2014 once the show started as the stage design, sets, costume and scenes  transported us back to the pre-world war two period in Austria. Nothing was left to the imagination. Stage sets had been created for the rolling green and brown hills, a hanging statue of Mother Mary and baby Jesus, a classic chandelier and there were even bright streaks of lightning as special effects!

Lead actress Bethany Dickson (Maria Rainer), Janelle Visagie (Mother Abbess) and the youngest of the children, Chloe Choo (Gretl) stood out among the performers as they seemed to me to be most in –character performing without missing a beat or cue.

Some too-good-to miss scenes include Maria Rainer expertly teaching the seven children the ‘Do-Re-Mi’ song and choreography while the children are running around the stage and over the furniture; the children’s military-like marching down the stairs to the tune of the whistle by their fathers for their self-introduction to Maria and the concert where the Von Trapp family performs under the rule of the Third Reich.

Beautifully performed songs include Mother Abbess’s passionate delivery of the songs ‘My Favourite Things’ and ‘Climb Ev’ry Mountain’ , the children saying goodnight to everyone through “So Long, Farewell” acting as parts of a cuckoo clock and of course the undeniably sweet ‘Sound of Music’ by Maria Rainer.

I was a tad disappointed that the dressing of the characters did not stand out as much as the décor on stage. In fact in one scene, Maria actually wears a dress which is stitched from the curtain used in one of the scenes. That is how good the stage décor looks.

All in all, the show is a must-catch! But look who we caught on the red carpet before the performance began!

The musical is running till 10 August 2014. Here are more details: Show Dates: 11 July – 10 August 2014

• Tuesday – Friday: 8pm
• Saturday: 2pm & 8pm
• Sunday: 12pm & 6pm

Venue: Grand Theatre, MasterCard Theatres at Marina Bay Sands Online tickets:http://www.sistic.com.sg/events/sound0814 Phone: +65 6688 8826 In person at: Marina Bay Sands Box Offices (Museum, Theatres, SkyPark, Retail Mall and Hotel Tower 1 Lobby)