Maria's in league of her ownIN THE 1994-95 football season, Blackburn Rovers drafted in a couple of star strikers. My loyalties were divided. Should I support the team as I.had always done or should I boycott them because it felt like a different team? In the end I chose to stay with them and celebrate their victory. What has that got to do with Accrington Theatre Group's production of The Sound of Music, you might ask? Well, a similar situation has arisen here and they have brought in a star player. And oh, what a star player she is. Shearer might have scored a few goals but Gina Cole as Maria is definitely in a league of her own.
I can honestly say that I have never seen the film, so I had no preconceptions about Julie Andrews' interpretation of Maria. I do not know if Ms Cole was copying Ms Andrews' performance or not, perhaps someone can let me know. All I do know is that Maria was definitely meant to be played the way Ms Cole played it. As for her singing, just one word, angelic. W As I-appear to be the only person in the world who has not seen the film, I will not waste space explaining the entire plot. If you have seen the film you'll know it anyway and if you haven't, well, it's surprisingly interesting for a musical. Starting with all the hallmarks of a simple love story, it takes an unexpected and political twist, no doubt entirely influenced by the mood of the time in which it was written. So it's all well and good having a star player but what of the rest of the team? They have to be strong and supportive without over-shadowing. Fortunately, the rest of the cast were all capable players. I apologise now if I miss out anyone's name, it is not because they do not merit mention but simply because there isn't enough space to list everyone. All seven children were wonderful. Where does talent and maturity come from at such young ages? Liesl, played by Kerry White, was particularly good, although I would hesitate to group her in with the children. She is dearly a young woman who could be an asset to the society in future years.
Roger Lloyd Jones was Captain Georg Von Trapp, the uptight father who softens as the show progresses. He had possibly the most dramatic role in the piece, moving from stem and forbidding to likeable and warm, which he did smoothly. Not the strongest of singers, but his acting more than made up for it. Sue Moretta (Mother Abbess) is always a pleasure to watch and along with Lynne Terry (Sister Margaretta), Sally Hindle (Sister Berthe) and Dawn-Marie Power (Sister Sophia) led a very strong nuns' chorus. In fact, all of the large chorus numbers were good but the singing and arrangement of the nuns' songs were exceptional. I liked the staging of this production and the inventive use of the floor. The lighting was effective and the sound quality better than I have heard it at Oswaldtwistle Civic Theatre for a long time. Director Howard G Raw has produced a show that was on target from start to finish. I have reviewed other shows by this society in the past and I have been criticised for being less than complimentary. All I can say in my defence is that I have always tried to be absolutely honest. So you can trust me when I say to you: "Go and see this show, it is one that you should not miss.'.' GAYLE KNIGHT Accrington Observer Review - November 15, 2002 |
