This year Ella's class, which contains arguably our school's most talented and seasoned actors, takes their final bows. Because this class has been SO well represented in drama and has had a large part in building our program to the amazing thing it is today, our director wanted to give them a gift. She said, "Every high schooler in drama should have the chance to perform in The Sound of Music." This was Mrs. M.'s first play and one she holds dear to her heart. She wanted to direct her beloved seniors in it before they graduated. Ten of the cast members were seniors, all of them friends Ella has grown close to in the many productions she's shared with them over the years and all of them crazy gifted.
But, don't think Little Sister took a back seat to Ella's senior spotlight! Delia, for the first time, landed the exact part she auditioned for and dreamed about-- Louisa von Trapp! She just loved being a member of the family and finally getting her own lead role! The family is the heart of this story, so most of the pictures are of her. She only had a few minutes when she was not on stage with her siblings!
The show opens in a BIG way with our jaw-droppingly talented nun chorus singing their Latin and "Alleluia" prelude. They spread out around the auditorium, standing up and down the aisles, so the surround sound was just magnificent!
(The show is so familiar, I'm not going to spend lots of time recapping and posting pictures of every part. We all know the nuns have a problem with Maria and we know she's sent away to be a governess...) When she meets the von Trapp children, they are not so sweet. Mischievous Louisa tries to trick Maria into thinking she is her sister.
When Maria tries to teach them to sing, they are skeptical.
But, they are won over by her kindness and music lessons about tea with jam and bread.
The kids grow to trust Maria enough to make a late night visit to her room when they get scared.
Musical shenanigans ensue!
Liesl also kisses Rolf while singing about how aging works and Maria's curtains give her fashion inspiration.
Their strict Captain Dad does not love that his kids have been running around wearing curtain clothes, no matter how much fun they are having with their new governess.
A beautiful song wins him over as his heart is blessed with the sound of music and memories.
The children meet the glamorous Elsa. Louisa tries to tell her that she's Marta in a scene that gets a laugh.
And then it's time to party! Ella gets to swap out her nun habit for a ballgown as she waltzes at the party with a special guest-- Ben returning to the stage for this little appearance!
The children sing goodbye to the party guests with lyrics and choreography featuring coo coo clocks, super high notes, champagne requests, and ballet moves. (Note the girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes! :)
"Goodbyyyyyyyeeee..."
But then things take a sad turn when their beloved Maria has the Fear of Love put into her and she runs back to abbey.
Having received some encouragement from Mother Abbess in the form of a song about mountain climbing, though, she returns! And yay! A wedding, after a kissing scene that had everyone squealing!
Lots of changes for the von Trapps when they return from their honeymoon-- the Nazis are drafting the Captain and the children are singing in a festival.
For this scene, Ella throws off the habit once again and slides on the swastika as she changes into one of the Nazi guards at the concert. The von Trapp Family Singers win the festival and use the opportunity to escape to the abbey, where they confront Rolf and are rescued by their sisters.
Mother Abbess and the nuns remind them that if they lift their eyes to the hills, their help comes from the Lord and the family bravely crosses the Alps on foot, marching out through the auditorium aisle.
And then we swallow the lump in our throat. Is it this powerful, familiar, inspiring, true story that triggers the tears? Or is it watching my Delia absolutely shine on stage and exude the joy of doing the thing she most loves to do? Or is it seeing Ella highlighted in the program and take the very last bow of the night being the senior with the longest drama resume; remembering the FOURTEEN plays she has been a part of and how each one molded her character, offstage even more than on, giving her challenges to conquer, leadership skills to develop, new friends, and opportunities to use her gifts to glorify God? It's all these things combined, I believe. My heart was blessed with this one and my Drama Mama pride soared as high as the mountains sung about!
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