The reviewer in the Press on the 6th April 1970 praised the production of the Sound of Music at the Majestic Theatre in Christchurch which had opened on Saturday 4th April 1970. They said that it stood up well in comparison with the film version and an Australian stage production of a few years previously.
It states ‘Mr Walter Pym, the producer, must be congratulated for smooth flow, effective timing, authentic atmosphere and for the natural assumption of character by all members of his cast’. They felt that the orchestra had done a good job although occasionally they were too loud for the singers. June Robinson, who played the part of the Mother Abbess was singled out for particular praise. The supporting roles receive praise too, including those who played the children, noting that the girl who played Gretl ‘practically stole the show’.
Diana Parsons, who played Maria had performed in the “Pirates of Penzance and “Amahl and the Night Visitors”. One article on the PapersPast website notes that the role of Mother Abbess is difficult. Many of those who played the children had performed in the J. C. Williamson production of “Oliver”.
On the 1st April 1940 the Press notes that the show of “The Sound of Music” is the most lavish production that the Christchurch Operatic Society- had ever produced.
The Press dated 4th April has an interesting article about the costumes for the nuns. The sisters at the Ferry Road convent loaned head-dresses, rosaries and crucifixes and they had helped to starch the veils. Also the sisters loaned an alter crucifix and some candles to the production. June Robinson had learnt piano at the Addington Convent where the Sisters of our Lady of the Missions taught. Those who were playing the nuns visited the Sacred Heart Convent to be ‘coached in correct posture and movement while wearing the habit of order’.
Programme cover for a November 1996 North Shore Music Council production.
In the notes in this programme it discusses the fact that a German film was made based on the von Trapp story. Paramount Films considered remaking the film with Audrey Hepburn in the lead role however this idea lapsed. A little while later Mary Martin was asked to consider taking the role of Maria to which she agreed to. They had to gain permission from Maria von Trapp (she was in New Guinea establishing missions) and the seven von Trapp children who were living in different parts of the world.
Rodgers and Hammerstein wished to write the score however at the time they were involved with another show and it wasn’t until about a year later that they were available to work on it. The score was written in six months, a short time apparently by their usual standards.
The production was opened in New York on November 16th 1959, running for nearly four years. Oscar Hammerstein died in 1960, a year after ‘The Sound of Music’ had opened. The film version is one of the most successful films of all time.
Programme cover for Hamilton Operatic Society’s production of ‘The Sound of Music’ from the 25th August to 1st September 1994.
Programme Sound of Music, His Majesty’s Theatre Auckland August 1963
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