Classic remake of 'Sound of Music'

One of the timeless classics, Sound of Music took an Indianised form with theatre director Raell Padamsee’s production early this year. It went on to complete 10 shows and is now gearing up for another 10. Directed by Advait Hazarat, and with technical direction by Alyque Padamsee, the musical has about 100 production people on board and is the result of an integrated performance, involving mainstream kids and those from eight NGOs. There were also auditions done to give city kids a chance to perform on this professional platform.

Raell says, “It’s pretty much the same team performing it. We got a good response last time; it was a wonderful experience. We even got a petition from people requesting us to stage the play in the suburbs, hence our decision to start the line of shows from the suburbs first.” She adds that the musical provides an activity for the entire family to indulge in. “Other than malls and movies, parents don’t have too many options when it comes to taking their kids out. This is something everybody would enjoy and we’ve seen it happen in our earlier shows, where an eight-year-old and an 80-year-old sat together and sang along,” Raell recalls.

True to the Broadway style, there will be stupendous sets, dramatic costumes, technical wizardry and true-to-script renditions. There is live music and dance on stage in keeping with the original. “Instead of writing a new play, we wanted kids of this generation to be part of the timelessness of the music we’ve grown up listening to,” says Raell. The musical will have a limited run though. And Raell chose this time of the year because the kids performing have just returned from vacation.

She is amazed by the dedication of the kids, as she points out, “One of them had high fever and we sent him home. His parent called to inform he had malaria. But he was adamant and wanted to perform. So we gave in and had a doctor on call at the theatre. To display this kind of professionalism at this age is simply commendable.”