THE SOUND OF MUSIC. Director: Steven Stead. Cast: Brittany Smith, Craig Urbani, Janelle Visagie, William Berger and Nadia Beukes. Musical Director: Kevin Kraak. At Artscape Opera House until 14 January, 2024. BEVERLEY BROMMERT reviews.
Entranced by the luminous sweetness of this Rodgers and Hammerstein classic, many devotees of The Sound of Music tend to overlook or disregard the work’s psychological depth and dramatic intensity – which does it scant justice.
In this 2023 production from Pieter Toerien and Cape Town Opera, director Steven Stead has deftly accorded equal weight to radiance and darkness, maximizing the impact of multilayered content without any sacrifice of charm.
World class execution
The result is a warm-hearted, spectacularly beautiful and thought-provoking musical presented with world class execution and stylish staging.
All the features that make The Sound of Music a perennial favourite are present: credible characters, a fairytale romance, witty lyrics and haunting melodies, not to mention some shrewd insights into the murky depths of human nature.
Picture postcard prettiness and sentimental appeal are cheek by jowl with corruption, brutality and lust for power, though a reassuring message delivered at the end affirms the resilience of the human spirit as well as the redemptive power of nature and music.
Seal of excellence
Judiciously cast leads Brittany Smith (Maria) and Craig Urbani (Captain von Trapp) offer authoritative portrayals sufficiently nuanced to make their personae authentic; in her reprise of the role of Mother Superior, soprano Janelle Visagie again enchants the ear with a soaring rendition.
Impressive though the acting may be, it is the high-octane vocal proficiency of this production’s performers which sets the seal of excellence upon it.
Nor is this confined to lead singers; it is also discernible in cameo roles such as Max Detweiler (baritone William Berger) and the engaging septet of youthful von Trapps, whose pure, childish voices warble their way with gusto through the repertoire taught by their governess Maria.
Against Denis Hutchinson’s elegant sets and skillfully lit by Faheem Bardien, the well-known drama plays itself out at a brisk pace. However familiar, it never fails to engross its audience.
Congratulations are in order for this stellar production of The Sound of Music, the cherry on top of the year’s entertainment.
Book here for The Sound of Music Cape Town shows.
Johannesburg theatre fans will soon also have an opportunity to revel in this full-scale musical masterpiece from 27 January 2024 at The Teatro at Montecasino. Book Sound of Music tickets here for the Johannesburg run.
What: The Sound of Music review
When: Until 14 January 2024
Where: Artscape Opera House Cape Town
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