"The Sound Of Music"

ESNA Theatre.

Loughborough Town Hall.

Based on Baroness Maria Von Trapp’s 1949 autobiography, this wonderful staging of The Sound Of Music tells the true story of nun Maria Rainer, who is sent to be a Governess to Captain Georg Von Trapp's seven children, Liesl, Friedrich, Louisa, Kurt, Brigitta, Marta, and Gretl, who she managed to win over with her attentiveness and kindness.

This isn't just any family though, these are the world-famous singing Von Trapp family. Music saves the day after he hears the children singing, which brings back memories for the Captain. Things don't get off to the best of starts though and the Captain orders Maria back to the Abbey.

After Maria returns to the villa, she learns about the Captain's engagement to the Baroness Elsa Schraeder and agrees to stay only until they find a replacement governess. The Captain though has feelings for Maria which are now stronger than those for the Baroness, so calls of the engagement and marries Maria instead.

From their romantic beginnings and search for happiness, to their escape to freedom over the hills as their beloved Austria becomes part of the Third Reich at the start of World War Two, it's all here.

I must say that this week I have been completely spoiled theatre wise, and here is another one of my favourite things to see on stage.

Maria is played by Hannah Oxspring, who I don't remember seeing on stage before, apologies if that is not the case. Hannah has a voice made for musical theatre, powerful, tender, controlled, strong, she has everything in those vocal chords, and she makes it sound so easy, as well as beautiful.

Captain Von Trapp is played by Darryl Clarke. You need to have a powerful voice and stage presence, showing authority, for this role and Darryl most certainly has both requirements for this role.

Mother Abbess is played by Emma Adcock. One of the standout songs in this musical is of course "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" and Emma gave me the tingles with her powerful and emotional performance of this showstopper.

Elsa Schraeder, the fiancée to Captain Von Trapp, is played by Jenny Stuttle. Elsa has a staid disposition, which is probably why Georg is attracted to her, but I always felt that Elsa gave up on the Captain just a little too easily.

Max Detweiller, the family friend who arranged the music festival and tried to convert the Captain to follow the predicted German route, is played by Gareth Busson. Gareth I have seen on stage before so I knew what an excellent character actor he is. You have to feel for Max, and Gareth brings that emotion out of the character, because he is torn between what he has been ordered to do by his superiors, and the Captain's patriotic feelings.

Rolf is played by Jude Bruton-Lang. I love the innocence of the song "Sixteen Going On Seventeen" which Rolf duets with Liesl on. If I remember correctly, it's been ten years since I last saw Jude on stage in "Little Shop Of Horrors". He has matured well since then and he has a lovely voice for musicals, and he has turned out to be an excellent dancer.

I loved the change from quite a frosty character to a warmer Frau Schmidt, the Von Trapp housekeeper, played by Liz Bristowe.

Franz, the male servant at the Von Trapp residence is played, with authority, by Simon Page.

Sister Berthe is played by Clare Hazeldine, Sister Margaretta is played by Beth Dring and Sister Sophia is played by Alex Hayter.

Herr Zeller, the antagonistic German Official, is played by Josh Hill and Frau Zeller is played by Naomi Dring.

Baron Elberfield, who we see getting into a bit of an argument with Herr Zeller at Capatain Von Trapp's party, is played by Martin Tailby and Baroness Elberfield is played by Janette de Voil.

Philip de Voil takes the role of Admiral Von Schreiber, a high-ranking officer in the German Navy who chases up the Naval position presented to Georg.

There are two teams of children, Team Rodgers and Team Hammerstein, Friday night's team was the latter. The children on Friday night were played by the following..... Anna Mitchell (Liesl), Austin Parker (Friedrich), Eliza Fardell-Wilson (Louisa), Rio Hatcher (Kurt), Dotty Dakin (Brigitta), Violet Coxon (Marta) and Sienna Hubbard (Gretl).

This team, and I am sure that Team Rodgers are just as wonderful, just ooze talent and confidence. The choreography is executed by them to an extremely professional standard, the hands turned out and all toes that should be pointed were just that; it was clean and precise. The choreography for "So Long, Farewell" was original as well.

All seven youngsters brought out the character of the roles brilliantly, and I loved the cheekiness of Rio and Sienna. This could have been a group of the like I see on Nationwide professional tours, in fact the whole cast and the production could match any professional touring show.

Whoever says "never work with children" should work with this lot because the talent and confidence is off the scale and their energy is completely infectious.

There's a big Ensemble who consist of Ruby Armes, Kirstie Bennett, Louisa Chadwick, Julie Dean, Nicola Dexter, Chris Dimelow, Lewis Fenn-Griffin, Clare Malpass, Becca Newton, Jo Pack, Sharavan Rosh Rajendran and Martin Tailby, all of which bring energy into their scenes.

Directed by Sally Burton this show is really special, and that's what Sally brings out of the story and the cast, that special element. It's a large cast but the flow of those characters throughout makes the show look and feel unhindered. It's also a longer than average show, but with sally at the helm, it didn't seem as long as it is, and I also liked the new elements that I can't remember seeing in other productions I'd seen, like the puppetry at the start of the second act. These things keep a show fresh.

Musical Director is Hazel Needham. This is the first time that Helen has worked with ESNA. The score for the show is iconic; many of the songs were Sixties chart hits for some big names like Vince Hill and Shirley Bassey. Helen and the seventeen piece orchestra deliver the lushness of the music while the harmonies are excellent, especially those that include the children as well as the nuns' sections. I was half expecting the roof of the Town Hall to open and a heavenly shaft of light to illuminate the stage. Hazel's arrangements for these songs also sound fresh.

The soundtrack includes many, many well known songs, "Maria", "Climb Ev'ry Mountain", "Do Re Mi", "Sixteen Going On Seventeen", "Edelweiss", "The Lonely Goatherd", "So Long Farewell" and of course the title track. Some clever lyrics from Oscar Hammerstein II in many of these songs; just listen out for the way he uses the word "mercedes", and of course some lush music from Richard Rodgers.

Choreographed by Nicola Scoggins. This is one area which has a very traditional structure and Nicola creates a really faithful set of choreography, as well as a variety of dance styles, all very stylish and classy. Again, taking in mind the size of the cast, especially in the ballroom party, there's a lot of work put into this show, and it all looks so sophisticated. The children in the cast are a real credit to Nicola because their choreography is as classy as the dances for the adults.

The costumes are from Costswold Costumes and Liz Bristowe and are as fabulous as you'd expect them to be for such a classy show.

Stage managed by Duncan Gadsby. Every aspect of this show smacks of professionalism and that includes the smoothness of the scene changes and management of the cast and set, supplied by Scenic Projects. The set looks fantastic, especially the ballroom scene.

Props are supplied by Julie Dean and Jenny Stuttle.

Technical Manager is Simon Pack.

Lighting is by James Cladingboel with sound by Melissa Underwood and Andrea Simpson. Together both areas of production added the final layer of sheen to what has proven to be a gorgeous piece of theatre.

"The Sound Of Music" is one of those musicals that we seem to recall from the film they put on at Christmas and being just a bit twee, but with the great score and also the emotional content, plus, depending on which way you view the ending, is neither a happy one or a sad one.

You can see "The Sound Of Music" at Loughborough Town Hall until Saturday 10 October.