The
Sound of Music, by Rodgers and Hammerstein St. John's College Auditorium until Saturday 2nd |
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The Sound of Music must be the ultimate
'feel-good' musical, and in its latest manifestation at St. John's
College Auditorium there are definitely good vibes to be felt. This
is really due to a number of outstanding singers who lead the show,
and make up for the moments when the performance rather lacks the
professional touch. There are so many opportunities for these stunning
voices to be heard, from the opening a cappella chorus to the final
uplifting number urging us all to 'climb every mountain' that it is
a shame the production is not more dynamic. Director Stephen Bartlet-Jones has opted for a traditional approach
to staging, using a rather unimaginative set and a minimum of props
to set the scenes instead of taking full advantage of space and light.
As a result, the production at times begins to lack pace, and this
is not helped by slow scene changes and large numbers of stage-hands
scrambling about between scenes. Similarly, the placing of the band
in front of the stage, where its sound often overwhelms the voices
so that lyrics and dialogue cannot be heard, does little to heighten
the drama. Olivia Rowland 30/5/01 |