Back for another year, The Alexandra's Stage Experience programme never fails to showcase the very best young talent we have in the UK at the moment.
This is a scheme which brings together performers and crew aged between 9 and 24, to produce a full-scale musical under the same conditions a national tour would be under. As the brief says, this needs to be a polished, professional show which can sit on the stage at The Alex next to some of the biggest productions around.
Some of the young people will be seasoned 'Experiencers' and some will be on (or working toward) a musical theatre course or drama school. But for some, it's the love of the genre which brings them to the scheme - but the expectations are high and, as always, the cast did not disappoint.
The Sound Of Music is a story which is known the world over. It see's Maria leave her convent and take up a position looking after the children of a local family, in wartime Austria. Through trials and tribulations, which see her leave, return, get married and escape Nazi Germany, The Sound Of Music is a story of love, finding yourself and a real family spirit.
I so often talk about 'iconic' characters, but I think it's fair to say that Julie Andrews performance in the big-screen version eclipses all other mentions of the word. Andrews is Maria and arguably eclipses the film itself. The score has also produced some of the most well-known songs from a musical ever - in fact it took home 5 Oscars, including best picture and a nomination for Andrews, in 1965.
It's Molly Hopkins who take on the challenge and her performance is, quite literally, spellbinding.
Her stage presence is commanding and when she opens her mouth, her likeness to Andrews is uncanny. She pitches the character at just the right level, so as to bring the charm and wit of the original but without sounding like a Julie Andrews tribute act. Having recently completed an MA in Musical Theatre at the Royal Academy of Music, her talent shines through and I have no doubt she'll be a huge star in the West End incredibly soon.
Similar plaudits go to Cree Henson who portrays Captain Von Trapp. Played by Christopher Plummer on screen, this role is typically for an older man, but Henson's ability to hold his own and take on a commanding patriarchal presence was compelling - and his vocals were sublime. Perfectly complementing Hopkins style, when the two voices came together it was a goosebump moment.
Similarly, Bessy Hingley brings us her take on Liesel, and is an absolute star. Whilst the chemistry of all of the children is a joy to watch, it's Liesel's sub-plot of an ill fated romance that singles the character out slightly. Hingley is another superstar in the making and she hit the mark perfectly this evening.
But it's fair to say that this is very much an ensemble piece with each member of the team more than pulling their weight to deliver a dream of a show. Quite simply, this project doesn't work with a break in the chain and this cast are as solid as they come.
Stage Experience changes lives, but it relies on the commitment, talent and proactive nature of its performers to do that, and I have no doubt we've seen some future Olivier award-winners on stage at The Alex this evening.
The Sound Of Music plays at The Alexandra until 17th August 2024. For more information or to get your tickets, visit atgtickets.com/birmingham.
