Immi (10) and I were invited to a preview of The Sound Of Music at the Regent Theatre and we were treated to my favourite musical live on stage.  The singing was beautiful.

When: until 17 July 2016.  The production is 2 hours 35min long with a 20min interval.

Where:  Regent Theatre, 191 Collins street MELBOURNE

Cost:  $79.90 – $129.90, click here to book

It is worth noting straight off the bat that the stage production is not identical to the movie.  And I am not talking about set limitations such as a painted backdrop of mountains and smoke machine effect vs actual Austrian alps in the opening scene – I am talking about small edits to the storyline and a slightly different order to the songs (and two songs that don’t appear in the movie!).  The stage production has remained faithful to the original score (not the movie adaptation) – and is also a little kinder to the character of Rolf.

It’s a wonderful story and the singing is sublime.  And the children are fabulous! (I actually went to one of the final auditions and it was amazing to see so many talented kids singing and dancing – I digress).

I love the story of Fraulein Maria and the von Trapps.  And the songs are ones I find myself singing any day – they have literally been stuck in my head all my life (thanks to a Sound of Music loving music teacher I once had).  The story and the characters have so many wonderful truths that are a good reminder for us all:

1. Believe in yourself.  Face your fears and don’t wallow in self-doubt – believing you have confidence is a major factor in your success.  Also, follow your dreams – when a cross road appears in your life use it to take a chance on going after a dream.  Don’t cower at life’s opportunities!
2. Running away won’t solve your problems.  Ignoring or avoiding tricky emotions is the easy path, but ultimately the less satisfying.
3. Make sure you have a good mentor/s.  Mother Abbess tells Maria to follow her heart, to “climb every mountain”.  She challenges Maria to be true to herself, and therefore push herself to be a better and bigger person
4. Stand up for what you believe is right.  It might mean you have to give up everything – but living with a conscience is better than pretending to go along with something you don’t agree with.
5. Know who your friends are.  “Uncle” Max actually did a very dangerous thing helping the von Trapps escape.  He may have appeared flaky and opportunistic – but ultimately he was a true friend who wanted to protect them.
6. You need to accept that love comes when it comes.  You can’t rush love and you shouldn’t settle for second best – just wait a year or two (or ten).
7.  Be grateful.  Life is scary.  But how you cope with fears will ultimately impact on your life coping skills, from thunderstorms to spiders.  Focus on the simple things that make you happy – like “snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes” and then you won’t “feel so bad”.
8. Tomorrow is a new day.  Things will always be better in the morning, “you cry a little and then you wait for the sun to come out.  It always does.”
   

   

   

What do you need to know about the Melbourne production?

• Following its record-breaking run at the London Palladium, the world’s best-loved musical, THE SOUND OF MUSIC is now playing Melbourne.  This lavish and critically acclaimed production tells the uplifting true story of the von Trapp family’s flight across the mountains and works its magic, for young and old alike.

• Returning to the stage in the role of Captain von Trapp is the multi-talented CAMERON DADDO. Starring alongside Cameron are many of Australia’s favourite stage performers; MARINA PRIOR in the role of the Baroness Schraeder, LORRAINE BAYLY as Frau Schmidt, JACQUI DARK as Mother Abbess, and joining them in the coveted role of Maria is one of Australia’s newest and most outstanding award-winning musical theatre stars, AMY LEHPAMER (Once, Richard O’Brien’s Rocky Horror Show and Rock of Ages).

• With its unforgettable score, Rodgers and Hammerstein’s THE SOUND OF MUSIC touches the hearts of all ages and brims over with some of the most memorable songs ever performed on the musical stage including My Favorite Things, Do-Re-Mi, Climb Ev’ry Mountain, The Lonely Goatherd, Sixteen Going on Seventeen, and of course the glorious title song The Sound of Music.  It’s the perfect family treat!

Disclaimer: Sponsored By Nuffnang