Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds

By Jill Sperling

The Sound of Music

WCT bringing the joy of The Sound of Music to the stage

Nov 19, 2019 | 5:20 PM

KAMLOOPS — The hills will come alive in Kamloops later this month when Western Canada Theatre presents The Sound of Music.

The Rodgers and Hammerstein classic is set in Austria in the 1930s, amid the political turmoil of the Nazi uprising.

The Sound of Music is a favourite among musical lovers, with its classic, catchy tunes and timeless love story.

“People bring all their own nostalgia and experience to seeing something like this,” said Kaylee Harwood, who plays Maria. “They have the familiar songs that they might know, but they get to see it through this interpretation, which is different, just because we are different. We’re different people telling this story.”

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Maria was a role made famous by Julie Andrews in the 1965 film adaptation.

Because the character was based on a real person, Harwood has been able to do research into her life.

“I found that really informative, to read in her own words what she was hoping for at the abbey, and what hopes and desires she had and how committed she was to her faith and pursuing her life as a nun,” she said. “But, she just didn’t fit in, and so by an amazing twist of fate Mother Abbess sent her to the Von Trapp’s, and the rest is literally history.”

In her new assignment, Maria meets Capt. George Von Trapp, played by Kamloops-raised Jay Hindle.

Image Credit: CFJC Today / Kent Simmonds

“It’s a story about hills, and the Kamloops hills and looking out during breaks in rehearsal it brings back a lot of familiarity and love,” Hindle said. “Captain Von Trapp speaks about the hills being his friends, and I feel that way, I know these hills intimately.”

Six of the seven Von Trapp children are being portrayed by young Kamloops performers.

“I’m happy that we’re able to showcase local talent,” Hindle said.

While many people are familiar with the film, director James MacDonald says the stage production will differ slightly.

“You kind of get the best of everything from the movie,” MacDonald said, “everything you recall, all the great songs, all the great characters, and then it has a few twists and surprises that might be a little different than what people might remember from the movie version. It’s a little more political, it’s got a little more political charge to it.”

Despite some of the differences, the overall feeling of the show remains the same.

“It’s a really important story that I think will just bring joy to people and remind them of something that has a special place in their hearts,” Harwood said.”

The Sound of Music will show at the Sagebrush Theatre between Nov. 28 and Dec. 10.