Crown comes alive to The Sound of Music

THERE must have been some very proud parents in the audience at Crown Theatre Perth last night and they had every right to be.

It was the Perth opening of Australian production The Sound of Music and the six juniors of the von Trapp family, cast locally, delivered a truly delightful performance to match the talent of the more experienced leads.

“When you know the notes to sing, you can sing most anything” – these kids are testament to it.

Maria proved no problem at all to solve for Amy Lehpamer who grabbed the role with gusto, humour and utter joy.

Every Maria eventually needs her Captain Georg von Trapp and Cameron Daddo was the perfect amount of stern and sweet as he transformed from naval officer to loving father and husband.

One scene in particular where he hugged his children for the first time in a long time is emotional viewing.

It was wonderful to see WAAPA graduate Du Toit Bredenkamp return home in his first professional production as Rolf while Stefanie Jones rounded out the von Trapp offspring as the lovely Liesl.

Marina Prior’s Baroness Schraeder proved the cherry on top, but it was Johanna Allen as Mother Abbess who got the spine tingling with the epic Climb Every Mountain.

However, nearly every song proved a favourite under the musical direction of Peter Casey, from Do Re Mi and Edelweiss to The Lonely Goatherd, So Long, Farewell and The Sound of Music.

The set design moved effortlessly between abbey to misty mountain peak and lavish von Trapp family home while the opening scene of nuns singing vespers by candlelight while walking through the theatre was a winning touch.

This production of The Sound of Music was more of a treat than raindrops on roses or schnitzel with noodles.

It is certainly one of my favourite things.

Showing at Crown Theatre Perth until October 9.