All photos by Chantelle D’mello
Iconic Broadway musical The Sound of Music, based on the memoir of a real-life Maria von Trapp, opened last night at the Qatar National Convention Center.
Set in Salzburg, Austria, the 150-minute show, which first premiered in 1959, six years before the Academy Award-winning film featuring Julie Andrews opened in theaters, was the last musical created by acclaimed duo Rodgers and Hammerstein.
It follows the life of Maria Rainer, played by Lucy Hunter-James, a young nun-in-training who is sent by her abbey to the Von Trapp house where she serves as the family’s governess.
Having spent years in the care of nannies after losing their mother, the seven Von Trapp children, ages four to 16 years old, at first plot to chase Rainer from their house, but find themselves falling in love with her grace and charm.
Over the course of the movie, their strict father also falls for Rainer, but Hitler’s Abschluss, the annexation of Austria into Nazi Germany, threatens to pull their family apart.
The rest of the cast features Paul Robinson as Captain Von Trapp, and Sarah Galbraith as Elsa Schraeder, and Anna Lawrence, Isobelle Molloy, Jaydon Vijn, Tooey Morris, Imogen Gurney, Madeline Banbury, and Mia Long as the seven Von Trapp children.
Accompanied by a live orchestra, they perform some of the movie’s most beloved hits, including My Favorite Things, Sixteen Going on Seventeen, Edelweiss, the Sound of Music, and of course, Do-Re-Mi.
Tickets are still on sale for weekend shows and range in price from QR 250 to QR1200/person. They can be bought at Virgin Megastores at the Pearl, in Villaggio and Landmark malls or online here.
There will be a performance at 7pm tonight, and 2pm and 7pm shows on Friday and Saturday. Children under the age of two years old are not allowed at the venue.
Thoughts?
The Show is sensational..The Cast, the set, the singing was a real treat for Doha .Must see
This is a post modern morality tale of how a righteous young girl covers her hair but then abandons her religion and then uncovers. She then leads children away from the right path and violates the country’s laws and then lives in exile with her unmarried lover in eternal shame having been shunned her family, her religion and society.
An example to all in the Middle East not to be seduced by evil western ways
that sounds like half the shows we see in ramadan
Hahaha! MIMH, you have a gift for hilarity!
If only the seats were reasonably priced. 250qr for the nosebleed section is crazy. If you actually want to see it without binoculars, you have to fork over at least 650 a person. It’s a shame as these productions could have been sold out if they made them more affordable. I could easily afford 650 a ticket, but I would never do it. I’d rather save the money and watch the DVD.
Freedom of choice. Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the concept, Fluffypants, then enjoy your DVD. I’m opting to see the stage show because I enjoy live performances and appreciate the time, effort and talent that goes into the production. If it were say Beyoncé or One Direction, putting on a free concert, I’d opt to stay home because screaming crowds are not my cup of tea. To each their own.
The point is not getting ripped off for something you know is considerably cheaper anywhere else in the world. Here’s a link for Jersey Boys, 400qr for 12th row from the stage. http://officiallondontheatre.seetickets.com/event/jersey-boys/piccadilly-theatre-london/791526
I have been to plenty of plays in NY and other cities. I, too enjoy the live performances but I also don’t like being taken advantage of.
I agree with Misty Blue. The prices you pay to see something live are more. I will see the show this weekend and I am paying on par or less then what I would pay at home for a regional production, and less than my husband and I paid in London to see Jersey Boys – natch! You are paying real live triple threats to do what they do in person with a live orchestra. A DVD never matches the experience of live theatre. And having worked for a theatre company there is nothing so expensive to stage as a musical. If it is not your thing, then it is not. There will be no value. But if it is…it is sublime.
If Julie Andrews can’t come over, I am not going.
Can’t wait for Saturday to catch the show but agree with fluffypanties the tickets should have been reasonable – with visiting family this is costing me a fortune!!! Again Qatar gets few shows – so once in a while, why not
I saw the show last night and it was brilliant! The cast and orchestra were amazing! Believe me it is absolutely worth it for such a production.
I know this is out of topic but QR 250 – QR 1200 per person and yet many debate and disagree to paying a maid..driver … construction worker and etc a higher salary. Qatar .. you make it very hard to defend you.
Superb performance, ghastly audience. Fair enough, it is a family show and I went to see it at 2 pm instead of opting for an evening performance, but lots of children were loud and/or crying, many probably too young for the show anyway – of course, I blame their parents. By far the worst part of it all was the noise caused by large brown bags of food that grown-ups (not children!) were bringing in even with the show in full swing. Oh, and the fizzy drinks cans being opened to accompany snacks, popcorn and the like. Was it supposed to be a picnic?
What is it with shows (lectures, exhibitions, concerts, etc.) and food here? Do we have to stuff our stomachs before, or even during, a cultural event to appreciate it?? Honestly…
Incidentally, Doha News – the 1938 annexation of Austria is called Anschluss, not Abschluss.