SINGAPORE : The Esplanade will come alive with 'The Sound of
Music' when the popular Broadway classic hits Singapore's shores
this April.
And it will even feature the original cast who had dazzled
thousands worldwide.
For those who have watched the movie, they will probably be
thinking about Julie Andrews and lush green fields just about
now.
But the cast of the musical wants audience to bid farewell to these
timeless scenes and approach the stage production with an open
mind.
Actress Jennifer Semrick, who has been playing the role of Maria
Rainer for four years, said the "live" performance promised more
songs and a broader spectrum of experiences, compared to what is on
the big screen.
"It was changed a great deal for the movie, they could actually do
these beautiful sequences with mountains and edit, edit, edit. They
actually cut at least two songs, technically they cut three songs
and changed one, and then they sort of re-piece it together, and
put some of it out of order," she said.
The content may vary but it is still as popular.
The musical ran for over 1,400 days on Broadway, and it is packing
in the audiences on its current tour in China and Taiwan, despite a
language barrier.
Ms Semrick said: "We were so nervous. As actors we did not know
what to expect, the first thing that stuck out was they sang along,
they never did that in America!"
The award winning production will open in Japan, Korea and Malaysia
before stopping in Singapore between April 8 and April 30.
To appeal to a wider range of audience, 'The Sound of Music' will
feature Chinese subtitles at the Esplanade.
The organisers are also looking for Singapore's very own Von Trapp
family in a nationwide Sound of Music singing contest.
So, if you know your "do-re-mis" and if the judges count your
performance among their favourite things, you might just win a trip
to Austria, or tickets to the musical and its merchandise. -
CNA