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The Twilight Saga: New Moon
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A smart, prickly and rewarding view of sexual and emotional confusion
Cock
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Too long and drawn out but very entertaining with excellent special effects
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London,
Nicholas de Jongh's rating
Reader rating
Dir: Jeremy Sams, Arlene Phillips (choreography).
Cast: Margaret Preece, Simon Burke, Finoa Sinnott, Paul Grunert, Amy Lennox, Luke Fredericks, Summer Strallen, Connie Fisher
Description: Andrew Lloyd Webber's production of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, directed by Jeremy Sams and choreographed by Arlene Phillips.
Trains: Tube: Oxford Circus 
Phone: 0870890 1108
Website: www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk
Quite remarkable: Connie Fisher (left) as Maria
Connie Fisher heads The Sound of Music cast
Even if critics snarl or sneer at this Fifties fairytale musical with the classic songs, this theatrical sugar-supplement with natural appeal for under-12s, our mockery will not stop Jeremy Sams's old-fashioned production from being a mad success.
For The Sound Of Music, the last collaboration of Rodgers and Hammerstein, continues to touch, soothe and manipulate about 10 different, intimate chords of its entranced audiences.
I do not intend, anyway, to mock. Watching the septet of exceptionally appealing and talented child actors, who play Captain von Trapp's neglected offspring and go into Do-Re-Mi, My Favourite Things and Edelweiss with such natural gusto, I saw the light. I at last understood what drives plenty of adults, as well as youngsters, to go wild with pleasure over the Sound Of Music.
For people whose childhoods were damaged by a parent's death, lack of love or care and concern, The Sound Of Music offers the chance of a replacement-dream. It becomes a seductive fantasy of putting old wrongs right.
Whether you identify with the children, with Connie Fisher's refreshingly different Maria, who tries to shut herself away from life in a nun's habit and can't, or Alexander Hanson's disturbed von Trapp, who whistles for his children as if they were well-drilled dogs, the fantasy works a treat.
Maria turns out to be a perfect liberator. She rescues kids from their repressed, joyless existence: inspires them to become prize-winning singers in months, emerges as their substitute mother, falls mutually in love with von Trapp so that he turns paternal at last.
Even though the family has to climb at least one mountain to escape the Nazis, the past is redeemed. The songs, often childish lullabies of reassurance, complete the therapy for those in need. I, conversely, cringe at their ingratiating winsomeness and whimsy.
Sams's production follows all too reverently in the footsteps of the famous film, except in the vital respect of Connie Fisher's quite remarkable Maria. She may not yet be a convincing actor, and uses her hands far too much to signal emotion, but her voice takes the high notes and she sings with serious ardour.
More importantly she eclipses her famous but deficient predecessors. She has none of the cool, antiseptic vitality of Julie Andrews's over-refined Maria or Petula Clark's over-mature, aloof elegance. Her postulant/governess, an intriguing combination of gawky seriousness, intensity and quirky enthusiasms is a creative interpretation.
She is the first real Maria I've seen. You gather that the girl is vulnerable, as troubled and as insecure as her charges, the rescuing of whom helps sublimate her unhappiness.
Sams's production is characterised by spectacular staging. There's a reluctance to emphasise the musical's vague anti-Nazi tendency, though Ian Gelder's slightly camp, sometimes gross politician dithers well over the Anschluss and a chronic sexlessness prevails. Sixteen Going On Seventeen is sung and danced as if its teenagers needed lessons in kissing.
Alexander Hanson's von Trapp proves a wooden, aggressively boring widower who romances both Lauren Ward's Baroness and Maria as if his heart was otherwise engaged. Lesley Garrett's Mother Superior sings Climb Ev'ry Mountain with passionate conviction, though otherwise looks and sounds uncomfortable.
Robert Jones's versatile sets sumptuously evoke Austrian hills, von Trapps's Ruritanian mansion and a nunnery. Although Fisher's Maria pleased me, The Sound Of Music sadly leaves me unstirred.
Details are correct at the time of publication - please check with venue before booking.
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What a disappointment! Saw performance (12-12-08) with Captain Von Trapp Understudy performing, and well, all I can say is, a plank of wood could have done better. The rest of the cast were outstanding, particularly Summer Strallen as Maria, but the whole show fell flat because the Captain Von Trapp oosed nothing but dull rigidity. It was painful to watch. And infact, I find it hard to believe this guy is an actor - maybe it's his first job....
- Mairi, Weybridge
Much as we enjoy Leslie Garrett's singing, Margaret Preece seemed to us last Saturday, 29-09-07, to have far more power and richness of tone. She was superb, as were all the cast. A damned good afternoon's entertainment.
- Jean And Keith Jones, Burntwood, Staffordshire
What a wonderful production, altough I voted for Connie, and I think she has a lovely voice I found her performance quite ordinary, and the true star was Lesley Garrett who had the audiance in tears with her version of Climb Every Mountain, I think they may need to get a bigger name now for Maria.
- Ang, Leicester
The Sound of Music will rock your socks off! What an experience. The night i went, it was the night of the Understudies, with Katie Ray taking the role of Liesl and Margaret Preece as Mother Abbess. Although I would have liked to see Lesley Garratt in the Mother Abbess role (please take note that Thursday is her day off), Margaret Preece was just as strong. Katie Ray as the role of Liesl was just magical. She captured the maturity of the character with elegance and charm. It was such an impressive performance, i can only imagine the casting directors finding it hard to decide who would be the main Liesl. But to know they have some one like her waiting in the wings can only mean this show is destined for greatness. Connie is as loveable as ever and the children are all adorable. A wonderful show. I left the Palladiunm smiling and i'm still smiling today.
- Natalie Duvall, Purley
I have just been to see the Sound Of Music and I thought it was brilliant. Connie Fisher was convincing as Maria, her voice is superb and her interpretation of the character was remarkable. This young lady has so much energy and enthusiasm and this was clearly felt by the audience who were with her all the way, through every song and emotion. The children were charming and could win over the most cold hearted among you. I was also most impressed with Lesley Garrett's Mother Superior, what a wonderful voice, actually I have never heard "Climb Every Mountain" sung so well! The scenery was excellent, and very clever to achieve the effects so well, well done to them. If you haven't yet seen this musical than I suggest you book your tickets, you won't be disappointed.
- Meryl Heasman, Sheerness
Connie will knock your socks off!
What a wonderful Maria. A STAR!
Great production, all round feel-good factor. Chirpy kids, serene nuns chorus,songs to lift your heart.Made a dark and miserable November feel so much brighter.Left London with a smile, that's got to be a good thing, no?
- Annette, Cynon Valley, Wales
This is a definitive production which brings a freshness to the show... and Hanson has given us a perfect Von Trapp in a matter of days.
- Gareth James, London, UK
Just go and lose yourself in this wonderful production. The sets, the songs and the wonderful voices of all in the cast. Connie (perhaps to my surprise as I didn't vote for her on the TV series ) carried the role so well you really could believe her emotions were real; Her singing voice a joy. Lesley Garett left me with goose bumps at the end of act one - and the children all seemed to genuinely enjoy their time on stage. Well done to everyone involved in his production - and if you havn't got tickets yet you really are missing out on a superb evenings entertainment.
- Ian Rutland, Exeter
Oh for Pete's Sake, de Jongh! Do you like ANYTHING?
- Russell Bowes, London, UK
It is an absolute joy to read the press today at Connies triumph and to the cynics out there, she pulled it off with bells on, good on her! she is so raw and real and vunerable she is Maria not a parody of Julie Andrews or anyone whose has worn the habit before she wore it made it hers and it fits like a glove. The whole production is wonderful the children, Lesley Garret belting out Climb every mountain made the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
- Karen, Clapham
The wonderful aspect of "How do you solve a Problem Like Maria?" was watching a star born under our very eyes.
Connie Fisher simply has "IT", that indefinable ability to entertain people, sing well, dance, and add her own distinctive take to any song she sings. She is a star who will be around for decades, mark my words!
- Simon Cooper, London, England
I followed the whold show on the BBC and have to say that Connie is perfect to play Maria. She is so right for the role I can't imagine people not supporting her for any other reason than spite or envy. I hope she does well and doesn't fall from grace. No tabloid scandals Pleeease!!
- Kelly, Dulwich
What absolute rot and Mr de Jongh is out of step with everybody in the theatre last night and indeed his fellow critics. It's simply a question of letting yourself be taken by the joy of the piece and if he's not prepared to (and clearly has pre-conceptions) then he should have stayed at home. Even leaving aside the unfortunate circumstances of Alex Hanson's entry into the production his performance is excellent and his detachment is precisely correct until the point at which he finally embraces his children and emotions! And Lesley Garrett is exceptional, both voice and acting. I couldn't detect a moment's discomfort apart from that which is intentional from the point of view of the character. Her dilemma is enormous both for her and Maria and that is what Ms Garrett portrays beautifully.
- Terence French, Cardiff
Conny is so beautiful and talanted, I wish i had half the luck she did. It's a tough job living up to such high expectations but I know she can do it, and surpass them. I am sure in no time that she will have a massive fan base and people will be crying out... Julie who??
- Jennifer, Highbury
There is no way this fraud will ever out shine our sacred Julie! She is a usurper and cant hold a candle to our true Maria. She deserves to be allowed to perform, sacrileve though it is, just so she can display exactly how triumphant the original was. Booooo!!!
- Cinds, London
