Review: ‘The Sound of Music’ at The Garrick

Lichfield Operatic Society’s production is filled with warmth, energy and impressive musical talent.

There is nothing quite like the thrill of a live orchestra sending tingles up your spine as you wait for the curtain to rise. Lichfield Operatic Society’s production of The Sound of Music at the Lichfield Garrick began with just such a moment.

Musical Director David Easto led an accomplished 14-piece orchestra of keyboards, strings, woodwind, brass and percussion with sensitivity and flair.

Stylish staging and atmospheric lighting drew us into the opening scene in the Abbey, where the ethereal voices of the nuns filled the theatre with beautifully controlled acappella harmonies. The seamless transition from the Abbey’s stained-glass windows to Maria in the mountains was especially imaginative and set the standard for the evening.

Samantha Hedley quickly stole the audience’s hearts as Maria. Her warmth, spirit and engaging stage presence made her a natural centre for the story. She was well matched by Cameron Morgan as Captain Georg von Trapp, who entered as a cold and seemingly heartless figure before gradually revealing the loving father beneath the stern exterior.

The arrival of the von Trapp children immediately captivated the audience. ‘Team Raindrops’, the cast for Tuesday’s opening night, featured Shannon Robinson as Liesl, Jude Pick as Friedrich, Martha Tomlinson as Louisa, Stanley Pugh as Kurt, Sophie Tomlinson as Brigitta, Aria Morgan as Marta and Annalise Cox as Gretl. Each child brought an individual personality to the family, while the adorable Gretl had everyone on her side from the very outset.

We were treated to all the much-loved songs, from Do-Re-Mi to Edelweiss. The inclusion of numbers from the original stage musical that do not appear in the film brought welcome variety. Shannon Robinson and Leo Foëtu-Foster performed Liesl and Rolf’s duet beautifully, with charm and lovely harmonies.

Dawn Welch brought warmth and authority to the role of Mother Abbess, while Kate Pilling as Elsa Schraeder and Hein Hemke as Max Detweiler completed a strong principal cast.

The comedic moments were delightful, but the production also conveyed the growing threat of the Nazi annexation of Austria. This shift from family happiness to fear and uncertainty was handled sensitively and gave the story real emotional weight.

The choreography was another strength. Particular highlights included the lively thunderstorm scene and the tender sequence leading to Maria and the Captain’s first kiss.

From the opening harmonies to the final curtain, this production was filled with warmth, energy and impressive musical talent. It honoured everything audiences love about The Sound of Music while giving the familiar story a fresh theatrical sparkle. The enthusiastic applause at the end was thoroughly deserved, and Lichfield Operatic Society should feel immensely proud of a memorable evening at the Garrick.

There are still a very limited number of tickets available – here – and if you can get your hands on them it will not disappoint.