Sancta Maria College in Louisburgh has announced the staging of its 23nd annual musical production, the family favourite The Sound of Music. Preparations are in full flow in the school with students and staff working tirelessly to produce this much loved show.
Although the plot will be one known to most due to the film’s usual reappearance on our TVs every Christmas, there are still many who are unaware of the story told in this wonderful musical. Set in 1930s Austria, on the verge of the imminent Anchluss with Germany, a young woman named Maria is failing miserably in her attempts to become a nun. When a navy captain Georg Von Trapp writes to the convent asking for a governess who can handle his seven mischievous children, Maria is given the job. The captain's wife is dead, and he is often away, and runs the household as strictly as he does the ships he sails on. The children are unhappy and resentful of the governesses that their father keeps hiring, and have managed to run each of them off one by one. When Maria arrives, she is initially met with the same hostility, but her kindness, understanding, and sense of fun soon draws them to her and brings some much-needed joy into all their lives — including the captain's. However, Georg is already engaged to a baroness and Maria is still a postulant so will romance prevail?
With classics such as "Do-Re-Mi", "So Long, Farewell", and "My Favourite Things" also featuring in the stage show, the audience are guaranteed a great night's entertainment. This year’s transition year students are, as usual, fully involved in putting the show on stage. Ably guided by stage manager Tara Needham and assistant Fenton McNally, the TYs are busy with set design, choreography, programme design, set construction, props, and costumes.
Marian Gill returns for her sixth year at the helm as director and is delighted to be involved in this year’s production. For his 23nd year, the talented John Flately returns as musical director to add his eclectic style to the well-known songs.
The show takes place from Thursday, February 1, until Saturday, February 3, at 7.30pm in Louisburgh Town Hall. Tickets will be available this week in the school, Gala Louisburgh, and Duffy’s Bookshop, Westport.
