Scribbler Paul's scribbles: The Sound of Music

Review by Paul Towers, 27/11/25

The Sound of Music book by Howard Lindsay & Russel Crouse. Music by Richard Rogers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II

Directed by Nikolai Foster

Produced by Curve

At Curve til Saturday 17th January 2026

From the moment that the Preludium started and the Nuns of Nonnberg Abbey slowly emerged from under the stage and out of the wings it was obvious that this production of The Sound of Music would be spectacular.

There were gasps from the audience as the curtain rose to reveal the full splendour of the set. Michael Taylor has created an amazing edifice of a mountainside rearing up from the back of the stage which enables members of the cast to run up and down the mountain. It even has a series of pools with water in. What adds to the spectacle are the birch trees scattered across the landscape. The other main feature of the set is the now traditional spiral staircase. In this case it is wound round a tower of medieval splendour.

The aforementioned nuns are lead by Mother Abbess (Joanna Riding) as she unsuccessfully battles to rein in the exuberance of Maria (Molly Lynch using her native Irish accent to add a further layer to the character’s free spirit).

Sent off to be temporary governess to Captain Von Trapp’s (David Eadon-Young) children Maria quickly allies herself with the youngsters and eventually catches the eye of the widowed Captain, much to the chagrin of his fiancée Elsa Shraeder (Faye Brooks).

Eventually Maria and the Captain are married and Elsa retreats to Vienna.

As the storm clouds of Nazism gather (cleverly illustrated by Hitler’s soldiers gathering along the skyline on the mountain) there is confusion in the household as to the best course of action. Max Detweiler (Minal Patel) the Captain’s best friend, champions acquiescence even if he doesn’t agree with the policies, while Von Trapp insists on escaping with his family to safety. Thus the scene is set for the family to travel over the Alps to safety.

The success of this show rests on the children and Nikolai Foster has got three teams of youngsters playing the various children to great effect.

A large ensemble of actor/dancers along with two teams of the Community Company ensure the stage is full to overflowing and the live orchestra of 11 provides a full sound to the score.

The Sound of Music runs til Saturday 17 th January 2026

Pics: Marc Brenner