****

This is not a conventional review. Everyone knows the story, most have seen the film. There is an acting cast of upwards of  forty including rotation and a band of several. Director Emily Armstrong has had to morph into Ridley Scott to deal with this enormous cast and crew. I couldn’t possibly name check everyone.

Does she succeed? Yes she does.

As with Annie, Oliver, and the King and I, a large cast of children helps enormously with ticket sales, tonight  the House  was sold out. Yet although a commercial banker, artistically it is a bit of a minefield. The film has mountains and numerous locations, an amateur production does not. But what is present is a catalogue of some of the  best and most loved songs in musical theatre. Armstrong ensures she wrings  every ounce of magic from them. The stage set team opt for a surreal impressionist backdrop.

More challenging is the central theme of the rise of the Far Right, a phenomena emerging in the Uk with reform , and in Europe. The message that acquiescence is not the answer is not dodged. Swastikas fly ominously

Pivotal to the show’s success is the casting of Amy Davies as Maria who channels her inner Julie Andrews to the maximum, but in a 2025 way. Fey, demure, frustrated, unfulfilled, lustful;  all of those emotions are  neatly deployed.

Opposite her  Paul Westood  is a pleasing Captain Von Trapp, initially stiff, then lovelorn.

Star of the supporting cast is Liz Berriman as the Mother Abbess. The first half, on the warmest evening of the year, was a remarkable 95 minutes. Using the railway, it is possible to climb Mount Snowdon in half that time and the Germans would surely have made Paris, Stalingrad  and Warsaw in that time too. Yet just as the heat and time were starting to overwhelm, Liz steps up and gloriously exhorts us to “Climb Every Mountain” and we made it to the interval! And everything is alright.

My other favourite supporting cast actor was, Nick Snowdon  as Quisling Max Detweiler who almost evoked the biggest  laugh of the night when a slip of the tongue meant that he announced that Von Trapp was joining the Royal rather than German navy! The much shorter, 50 minute second half whizzed by. I can be a miserable curmudgeon, but even I had a tear in my eye when the children sang ” So long
Farewell Aufwiedersehn Goodnight”

All in all a hugely enjoyable evening with the band miraculously playing from the cafeteria through lack of space yet still sounding great. The Von Trapps will continue to avoid the Nazis until Saturday  28^th June.