Review: The Sound of Music – exceptional, fresh and vibrant staging of much loved musical

Wow to the Sound of Music- an awesome collab between Pieter Toerien Productions and Cape Town Opera – on in Cape Town at Artscape, until January 14, 2024 and then on in Johannesburg, at  The Teatro at Montecasino, January 27 to February 25, 2024. This is the best staging that I have seen of SOM. This is a fresh and vibrant staging of the much loved musical – edgy, operatic in terms of voice and dramatically theatrical.

Brilliant performances by the leads Brittany Smith (Maria) and Craig Urbani (Captain von Trapp).The exceptional cast, includes Janelle Visagie (Mother Abbess), William Berger (Max Detweiler), Alida Scheepers (Sister Margaretta), Nadia Beukes  (Baroness Schraeder), Ashley Scott  (Liesl von Trapp), Ché-Jean Jupp (Rolf), Schoeman Smit (Franz), Megan Spencer (Frau Schmidt), Danielle Speckaman (Sister Berthe), Lusibalwethu Sesanti (Sister Sophia) and the adorable children as the young Von Trapp brood. The kids are delicious. Fabulous choreography (Duane Alexander), design (set – Denis Hutchinson), costumes (Maritha Visagie) and inspired direction by Steven Stead.

If you think that you have seen the Sound of Music and ‘been there done that’, no you haven’t seen THIS production. Exceptional, as I say. Do not, not miss.

When this production was announced, Pieter Toerien remarked: “Of all the shows we have presented over the years, ‘The Sound of Music’ remains in the top five most requested shows by our audience. We are thrilled to be able to present this wonderful show to a whole new generation of musical fans.”

They have done that with a Sound of Music which is a treat. Although set in period, in Austria on the eve of the Anschluss in 1938, this production riffs with a millennial energy which positions it very much in our times. With its spectacular music (Richard Rodgers) and favourite songs (lyrics by Richard Hammerstein II), inspirational romance and love story between Maria and Captain von Trapp (book by Howard Lindsay ad Russell Crouse), adorable children, framed against the backdrop of war, conflict and turmoil in Nazi Europe; what is not to like? What I found remarkable about this production is how theatrical and dramatic the narrative plays out with nuanced development of the protagonists.

Brittany Smith’s Maria starts off spunky and sassy and (love it – undercutting the saccharine of many Marias) and then transforms into a person with steely determination as she supports and accompanies Captain von Trapp on the family’s escape from the Nazis. Smith already has one Fleur du Cap Theatre Award and this is another award worthy performance. Yes, Maria is enchanting and playful but Smith channels her with gravitas.  The performances in this production are award worthy with knockout performances all round. Craig Urbani’s Captain von Trapp goes beyond the usual dashing and bereaved man who is often just a prop to Maria. Urbani imbues the Captain with so much yearning. He nails the protagonist who is fully cantered in his moral compass. Maria and the Captain convey a love story which is timeless and universal – love, caring and humanity transcending war, hate and turmoil. Nadia Beukes as the Baroness finesses the role – with elegance- sophistication and restraint- and a wonderful voice. It is a joy to watch her interact in the scenes with Max (William Berger). They are both opportunists and pragmatic. Within that there is the pull of ethics and morality.

Max ultimately does the right thing and the Baroness walks away – with grace and respect for Maria and the Captain. Berger is magnificent as Max. The award winning opera baritone is not only a powerhouse in terms of his vocal abilities but is also a superb actor. He is a hoot in his comedic timing as Max. He cracked us up. The fabulous. Janelle Visagie is reprising her Fleur du Cap Theatre award winning performance as the Mother Abbess and it is another magic performance- infusing the Mother with pathos, mirth and grit and bravery.  Ché-Jean Jupp textures his Rolf with the complexities of a suggestible young man who has been sucked into the fervour of National Socialism and who is clearly wrestling with his identity and belief systems. Ashley Scott brings a wistfulness and youthfulness to Liesel, the oldest of the von Trapp brood. I must mention that one can hear all the dialogue as well as the singing – with a fantastic balance between voice and music.

A revelation for me was watching musical director Kevin Kraak, conducting the musical ensemble. Try and sit in the first few rows and be entranced. Kraak sings along and his timing is utterly considered. At times of a capella – unaccompanied voice -he is conducting the voices and then subtly we hear the refrains of instruments and the build up- sublime orchestration and arrangement of Richard Rodgers’ score.

The design (Denis Hutchinson) is streamlined and elegant – not over the top and overdone as I have felt in other SOM productions – flipping seamlessly between the abbey and the Von Trapp villa, beautifully lit by Faheem Bardien. Weaving everything seamlessly together is Steven Stead in the director’s seat. He intertwines the classically trained opera voices with musical talents of veterans like Craig Urbani and with newbies to the industry like Ashely Scott and Ché-Jean Jupp – recent graduates of Lamta. Watch the Reprise – Sixteen Going on Seventeen, between Maria (Smith) and Liesel (Scott) in act 2 –poignant and emotional – with all innocence lost and sentience of the darkness ahead.

Stead charges the story with an edginess which tempers the sweetness of the story. Yes, the dark side is very much part of the narrative of the SOM but I think that in this production, Stead has heightened the menace which makes it so much more theatrical and thrilling. Yes, we know this story, but it still makes us hang on to see how it ends. Stead delivers a warm and uplifting Sound of Music, which we love but he has deepened the thrust of the face-off between adorable singing family and the zeitgeist of the times – conflict and anxiety – so relatable in this sad world of ours.  Do not miss this magnificent production – Pieter Toerien and Cape Town Opera’s Sound of Music- in South Africa 2023/24. I do rave. It is an outstanding production.

✳Featured image: Brittany Smith (Maria) and the von Trapp children in The Sound of Music, presented by Pieter Toerien with Cape Town Opera, December 2023 to February 2024 – Cape Town and Johannesburg. Picture: Nardus Engelbrecht.