The production values were what really made this performance of the classic musical so special.
The sets were not only detailed, grand and comprehensive, but they also exhibited a large number of subtle traits which made evident the care and commitment which had gone into their design.
A good example of this was the use of multiple landscape screens, which meant that the garden had a different background of mountains and lakes to the house proper.
Likewise, the abbey looked on to different wilderness again, giving not only a great sense of the realism in terms of the spaces being represented, but also made authentic the Austrian landscape which is the heart of The Sound of Music.
The staging as a whole was very good, with those intricate flourishes evident also in the lighting – as when a distinctive stained glass window apparently casts its shadow in the abbey.
The arrangement of Nazis was also interesting: they were often placed on either side of the orchestra pit, standing free of the stage space without intruding obviously on the audience.
This made their presence not directly problematic, but instead made one feel very uneasy – and that sense of the sinister in the everyday really brought the fear of Nazi occupation home.
Sadly, the performance was dogged by technical hitches; scene changes were often mistimed so that one or two men in black would enter the space, surprising the audience, before the lights were dimmed to close the scene.
This was a real shame. In small amounts, these are flaws to expect in any performance- but in this case they were prolific, and actually became quite distracting.
Alexandra Ward’s Maria and John Hall’s Captain Georg Von Trapp were both excellent, as were the seven children of Red Team and Sally Lewis in the role of Mother Abbess. Absolutely a joy to hear, it’s impossible to forget that this is in fact an opera company- despite the incredible set. They were supported with great verve by the orchestra under Phil Redding, and musically the piece was of a very high quality all round.
Overall, an excellent outing of The Sound of Music which captures much of the sentiment and charm of the original.
Very engaging to watch as well as to hear, this performance will be ideal for families and fans of all ages.
When it comes to musical theatre, you’ll find that York Light Opera’s The Sound of Music contains more than a few of your favourite things.
The Sound of Music, York Light Opera, York Theatre Royal, until March 17. Box Office: 01904 623568
Review by James Harle