Manila is Alive with "The Sound of Music"

Kath C. Eustaquio-Derla January 18, 2015 0

Review by Katherine Eustaquio
Published in Balikbayan Magazine



Resorts World Manila’s world-class cast is composed of internationally-acclaimed theatre veterans, starting with Joanna Ampil, who played the lead role of Maria Rainer, and “King of Philippine Theatre” Audie Gemora, both of whom performed during the December 23, 2011 run.

Having to portray an iconic character like Maria Rainer could be a grueling task even for theatre veterans like Ampil, especially since every generation has its own version of the icon, like Julie Andrews in the 1965 film version of The Sound of Music.  Ampil’s performance justified every single decision that landed her the lead role.  On the other hand, Gemora’s portrayal of Captain Georg von Trapp is, more or less, a total reenactment of Christopher Plummer’s performance in the 1965 film.  Gemora succeeded in showing how joy, pain, and helplessness can sip through the carefully structured face of a very stern character like Captain von Trapp.



Designing the costumes for a play that has become synonymous with every generation’s childhood could be as simple as it is challenging.  After all, we are talking about a play that has stood the test of time.  Remarkably enough, costume designer Francis Libiran did great justice to the familiar costumes we all know by heart—Maria’s postulant garb and the von Trapp children’s uniforms.  Perhaps, the most intriguing and absolutely astonishing part of the production set is that use of modern video technology, particularly the theatre’s LED wall which is the biggest one in Asian theaters.

In most The Sound of Music productions, we are first welcomed with the sights of the rolling hills and snow-capped mountains of Austria.  Video Producer Paul Soriano’s recreation of Austia in 1938 proved to be one of the factors that led to the success of this production.  You can actually feel that you are inside the Nonnberg Abbey with a real fountain sprouting real water, or walking the streets of Austria with other settlers, or enjoying an afternoon tea at the von Trapp mansion with real birds flying high above the characters’ heads.  Moreover, the “real” stained glass window with “real” sunlight streaming through it during Georg and Maria’s wedding proves to be a breathtaking sight, never mind that it is not the finale.  Each set opens with an even more elaborate production design than the previous one, luring the audience back to the consciousness of their childhood with songs that we all know by heart.

Ampil and Gemora are joined by a myriad of young theatre performers like Tanya Manalang (Liesl), Paolo Ocampo (Friedrich), Danielle Sianghio (Louisa), Justine Sian (Kurt), Annika Allado (Brigitta), Thea Zamesa (Marta), and Alexa Villaroel (Gretl) who played the roles of the von Trapp children.  Other notable performances were delivered by Pinky Amador for the role of Elsa Shraeder, Viking Valasote for the role of Franz the butler, and the ever hilarious Debraliz Valasote for the small but outstanding role of Frau Schmidt, the housekeeper.

With such a stellar cast and production group, it’s no wonder Director Roxanne Lapus received Aliw’s Hall of Fame award for her work in The Sound of Music.  Revisit your childhood past with the wonderful songs and performances from this award-winning and much loved play that will run until February  12, 2012 at the Newport Performing Arts Theater in Resorts World Manila.