The stage is set for one of the entertainment highlights of the year as Boyle Musical Society’s production of ‘The Sound of Music’ opens tonight (Wednesday 20th) in St. Joseph’s Hall in Boyle.
The sold-out show continues until Saturday with nightly performances at 8pm and a special matinée performance on Saturday at 2:30pm.
(By Brendan McGee)
In the twelve weeks since rehearsals began, the cast, committee, crew and production team have spent every moment ensuring that this will be an outstanding and memorable show!
The story of ‘The Sound of Music’ is well known and its stage adaptation with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse made it an instant classic.
Songs from the show include ‘Edelweiss’, ‘My Favourite Things’, ‘Climb Every Mountain’, ‘Sixteen Going on Seventeen’, ‘So Long – Farewell’, and of course ‘The Sound of Music’.
Set in Austria during the late 1930s, it tells the story of Maria, a young postulant at Nonnberg Abbey. Maria (played by Lizi Hannon) is unsure of her vocation as a nun and tries to explain herself to the Mother Abbess (Josephine Carroll), who arranges for her to take up a position as governess to the seven children of the widowed former naval officer Captain Georg von Trapp (Tom Nolan).
Here, Maria learns that the captain requires military discipline from his children and expects the same from her. Maria’s warmth and kindness quickly win the children’s affection, particularly the eldest girl Liesl (Rachel Bolger) who has fallen in love with a local telegram boy, Rolf (Oisin Dowling).
Later the captain leaves for Vienna, returning with Baroness Elsa Schraeder (Fiona Madden), whom he intends to marry. Maria teaches the children a song with which to greet the baroness. When the captain and baroness return with their friend Max Detweiler (Diarmuid Beirne), they catch Maria and the children in the lake behind the house. The captain, displeased, dismisses Maria, but when he hears the children singing for the baroness, he changes his mind. Max suggests that he enter the children in the upcoming Salzburg Festival, but the captain refuses, agreeing to host a ball instead. However, when the baroness sees the captain dancing with Maria, she realises that they have feelings for each other. She tells Maria that she thinks that Maria is in love with the captain. Horrified, Maria packs and returns to the abbey.
The children are miserable without Maria but at the abbey, the Mother Abbess tells her that she cannot hide from her feelings and must return to the von Trapps. After her return, the baroness and the captain break off their engagement, when the captain admits his love for Maria. They marry in the abbey church.
Austria is annexed by Nazi Germany while they are on their honeymoon. While Max is rehearsing the children for the Salzburg Festival, a telegram arrives to inform the captain that he is to report for duty in the German navy the following day. The captain and Maria decide that the family must leave Austria that night. However, Nazi troops led by Herr Zeller (Gordon Ryan) catch them pushing their car away from the house. The captain tells them that they are on their way to perform in the Salzburg Festival, and the Nazis escort them there. After the family performs, they escape to the abbey. The Nazis follow them there, and they hide among the catacombs. Rolf, who is with the Nazi troops, spots them. Will he inform his superiors or will he let them go?
The answer to that question, along with many more will be revealed when ‘The Sound of Music’ opens on Wednesday night.
The cast of 60, one of the biggest in the history of BMS, includes many principal players and we would particularly like to welcome the young people who will play the seven von Trapp children. Joining Rachel Bolger as Liesl von Trapp are Jake Reilly (Friedrich), Grace Hourican (Louisa), Rian Wynne (Kurt), Elena Greene (Brigitta), Tess McDermott (Marta) and Emma Doherty (Gretl).
Supporting principals are Rebecca Wynne and Gordon Ryan as Frau and Herr Zeller, while John Reynolds and Deborah Kehoe will take on the roles of Baron and Baroness Elberfeld. Stephen Tighe will play Admiral von Schreiber and his son Jacob Tighe will play the part of Franz. Taking on the roles of Sisters Berthe, Margaretta and Sophia are Emily Rooney, Ceara Conlon and Deirdre Feeney while AoifeTighe will play the part of Frau Schmidt.
We are of course delighted to have our hardworking, talented and dedicated production team of director Vivienne Moran, musical director Anne Kielty and for the first time, choreographer Victoria Walker with us for what will undoubtedly be one of the entertainment highlights of the year in Boyle.
Don’t forget that we will have a massive nightly draw with prizes kindly sponsored by local businesses. Please remember to bring some cash on the night for the raffle and for the shop because we cannot accept card payments for either.
For further information please visit www.boylemusicalsociety.com or follow Boyle Musical Society on Facebook and Instagram.
Cast members photographed by Benny Morgan: Front row: Kate Connelly, Danica Lavin, Jenny Wallace, Ailín Holland. Back row: Gavin Ward, Paul Dowling, Stephen Tighe, Leon Quinn, Patti O’Keeffe.
