Reviews

Sarah
I'd just like to point out to all the people complaining that they "changed the story of the film", the play actually came first!

Alice
I saw the show last december, as I flew over from Germany I didn't know about Connie Fisher, so I wasn't at all disappointed to see Sophie B. as Maria. She was great - as was the whole show. It's an oldfahioned musical. So don't expect anything too modern. I loved the new songs, by the way. One of the boys went missing during the play, I think he was ill, and the rest covered very well for him. loved it, wish we had something like it in Germany. In German, the songs are )-:

Annie
I've just seen aofie perform the show today (26th dec 07). She did very well but overall there was a certain cardboard cutout feel to parts of the show. Lesley Garrett outshone everyone with her voice. However, it lacked the magic of the film and this in part was down to the captain's rather wooden acting and lack of warmth and in part down to the unnecessary addition of some very lacklustre tunes. I have to agree with the comments of Barbara hughes. Apart from the comment about Rolf. I thought his "I am sixteen" rendition was very good tonight and he did not come across as a clown. The changes to the story line bothered me. Some people behind me were complaining that they should have changed it even more, but I think why change the perfection of the film. One oddity I noticed - I assume they leave out the "hitler" in the "heil hitler" salutes to prevent kids immitating this at school or something? As they did this several times it just made it sound like they were getting the hiccups or indigestion each time by saying "heil ick" or something similar. Strange that they did this but then went overboard on the massive swastika banners and scary stormtroopers during the singing festival scene at the end.

Barbara Hughes
Saw the show 14 December 2007. Enjoyable but disappointing in many ways. Aoife sang and acted the part well, but up in the circle it was not always easy to catch what she was saying. Von Trapp was wooden and uninspiring. The children, whom I had expected to be charmed by, were like a random selection of schoolchildren with no family feel about them at all. I disliked the new songs, so unmusical compared to the original score, and the sets were unmemorable. The show was saved by the outstanding performance of the Mother Abbess, and the nuns revived happy memories of the film. Rolf was a clown, totally unlike the serious young man he was supposed to portray. As I said earlier, it was enjoyable, but I wouldn't want to see the show again, in fact I plan to watch the film again soon to revive my love of this classic tale!

John A Francis
Far, a long long way to run. And that's exactly what I would recommend you do from this dire production. As a regular West End theatre goer of some 30 years I can honestly say this show left me totally cold. I suggested to my partner we leave during the interval. They persuaded me that things might improve in the second half. Believe me, they don't. Save your money and buy the DVD or wait until Christmas when the film will no doubt be shown.You need someone older and wiser telling you what to do. I just have!

Georgie
I've seen the show several times now and what a dramatic difference there is between Connie's voice on opening night and now. Whatever damage was done has left lasting effect, apparently leaving her unable to belt out the tunes. Sophie Bould is fantastic as Liesl and Not CHAV like at all (ridiculous!) I also saw her as Maria and thought she was far more convincing than Connie with an amazing, effortless voice.

Catherine
Having seen many SoM productions I thought this was by far the best. Aoife was brilliant as Maria (Andrew made a big mistake letting her go from the tv show!) and it must be hard being compared with Connie. Margaret Preece's Climb Every Mtn was amazing and the Baroness, played by Lauren Ward, was excellent. On the downside Liesl seemed a bit too old for the part and her voice was a bit 'stage school'. A lot of people were annoyed by the smoking in 'I am sixteen going on seventeen' - bring back the proper dance sequence for that scene! The set was amazing and the orchestra was fantastic. Would go and see it again...

Blair
For a London show slated as a blockbuster and produced by Andrew Lloyd Webber it was definitely below par. The sets were unadventurous (the disc didn't work for me), extra songs added to aid the story were very poor, Maria (Connie Fisher) was good but illustrates how amazing Julie Andrews was and the whole performance had the feeling of being rushed with stuff omitted to fit it all in to the time. It had the feel of a school play about it.

Conor
This show was simply amazing! I flew over from Ireland and saw three shows in one weekend - Wicked, Billy Eliott and SoM. Without any doubt the Sound of Music was the best show I've ever seen. Connie Fisher was amazing and Lesley Garrett just left me speechless. It really was fantastic! I couldn't find one fault with it.

Clare Hudson
Huge disappointment. Cast were all OK - can at least sing! - Lesley Garrett superb.However - WHY change things for the stageplay. The Captain cancelled his engagement because of his feelings for Maria - not because of the Baronness being a "me, me me" girl" (and what was that song about - ugh!). If the film has worked so well for so long, then why change it. It spoilt it completely for me. If it isn't broken - don't fix it! What a shame, I'll not recommend this to any SoM fans that I know.

Carole
What a disappointment! I saw the show last night (2nd April) The understudy taking the part of Maria was adequate no more. Lesley Garrett was dire - totally wrong for the role and far to operatic.

Lizz
Sorry but cant agree with you all. After paying over £400 to take my family and parents to see SoM - we were all disapointed, apart from my 5 year old. Hats off to Connie Fisher who was obviously still getting over her illness - her voice wasn't at its strongest but she played the part with great resource and naturalness. Apart from that, I found the rest of the cast completely lack-lustre. The captain made no impact on me at all. And please would someone tell Sophie Bould to stop trying to act like a teenager in 2007. She and Rolf were like a couple of 'chavs' Sorry, but after seeing some amazing, fantastic West End musicals and coming out of the theatre on a high, this version of SoM left me cold.

Cierra
Flew in over the holidays from Alaska to see the show and it was brilliant! Connie was beaming and Lesley was on top as usual. Well done to all the cast and crew!

Cynthia
What a wonderful show. Connie and Lesley were so fantastic it made the hair on my arms stand up. To finish our night off, we waited and got their autographs. May Connie go on to have all the success she deserves. Thankyou all for making our treat to London so fabulous.

Lyn
We saw the show on the 11 November and it was the next best thing to sliced bread - wonderful

millie whittaker
I thought you were really good! Connie, I wanted you to win in "how do you solve a problem like Maria! And Lesley, I wanted you to win in "Strictly Come Dancing"! I thought the show was excellent!! I went on the 5th January. I really enjoyed it! WELL DONE!!

Fiona
I went to see it on the 2nd night. I loved it. By the finale I was in tears. Connie did a fantastic job. The children were very professional aswell and the last-minute Captain was very good aswell although he seemed a bit too nice. The best show I've ever seen.

Georgie
I went to see the show last night and thought it was very good. Connie fisher has done exeptionally well to slot in to the role with so little time and a new leading man. Her acting lets her down slightly at times but all in all a strong and impressive performance. What really shone the most for me was Lesley Garratt and her rendition of the first act's closing song, "Climb Ev'ry Mountain", it is the first performance I have ever witnessed that has knocked me speechless. As she hit the last note superbly, many audience members stood up immediately with rousing applause. All in all I thought the show was of a very high standard and I would recommend it (especially to families). It is worth the ticket and travel cost to hear Lesley Garrett's performance alone!!

Lesley
Saw the show just before Christmas. Brilliant!

Zoe
Mmmmmmmmm, well I thought the children were wonderful, Alexander Hanson was very good for having little under a week to learn the part and Miss Connie Fisher can't half belt them out............but and its a big but, will someone please, please teach the women how to act and how not to walk like a duck. Wierd set as well and they do like to get Lesley Garret on stage at every given point I think she sang every song in the whole show. But if everyone loves then I must be alone in the world.

kim
What a fantastic show Connie was brilliant, as I knew she would of been... I will definately go again...

diane
Wonderful show Connie was suberb....better than Julie Andrews...Connie is a superstar already...Alexander Hanson so much better in the second half..go see it people!

George Scott
Itwas magificant--a super family show I will go again and again if I could afford it!!!

Michael Belcher
I was lucky enough to see the NSPCC charity preview of The Sound of Music on Monday night. It was an evening I shall never forget. Some of the best songs in musical theatre performed by an inspired cast and orchestra provided an emotion filled entertainment that left us wanting more. The only thing missing was a box of tissues to accompany the complimentary bottle of water and programme on our seats, as there was hardly a dry eye in the house by the interval. Lesley Garrett shone as the Mother Abbess and Alexander Hanson was as solid as a rock playing Captain von Trapp (what a professional in view of his last minute call up). The children, too numerous to mention, were so good one felt one wanted to take them all home. And finally, Connie Fisher as Maria fulfilled the expectations of everyone who saw her win the part on television. I suspect Captain von Trapp was not the only one to lose his heart on Monday evening. Musical theatre has a new star and the standing ovation at the end was no less than she and all involved in this magical production deserved. I said to one of the nuns who were collecting for the NSPCC as we left that it was the best show I had ever seen. I meant it.

Paul Czonka
It was a brilliant idea to remodel the show for a new audience and what luck to find the gorgeous Ms Fisher! Have booked seats as a Xmas treat for family and on the strength of all Ive heard can't wait to be there. Good luck Connie and cast!