Two Bits – A truly wonderful performance

I was about 14 or 15 when The Sound Of Music was released and it took ‘Maritzburg by storm. It ran and ran at the 20th Century, one of the two bughouses in town, and the queues went right up the street. I have no doubt that was repeated over and over all through the English-speaking world, in towns and villages everywhere.
Some people were obsessed with it, seeing it dozens of times. I saw it once and thoroughly enjoyed it, but no more. The music was all over the radio anyway, and even today my whole generation will recognise nearly all of the songs – and even know some of them by heart, like The Lonely Goatherd and The Hills are Alive . . .
The lead was played by Julie Andrews, a star already because of her lead part in Mary Poppins (and who doesn’t remember A Spoonful of Sugar?) so to most kids she was Christmas all rolled up in one.
A nice memory, but even so I confess to having sighed a little when Rose told me we were going with friends to Durban on Sunday afternoon to see The Sound of Music at the Playhouse. I wondered how I was going to endure this!
Well, first off, the place was packed! From people way older than me, which is pretty old, to herds of tiny tots. Some of the audience were in shorts and slops, like me, and some were even dressed up.
I was blown away. The singing and acting by everyone, from Mother Superior to the children, was brilliant and Maria was even better. I’ll confess something here: I was so impressed and happy for the cast at the quality of the show, their singing especially, that I found myself wiping away a tear or two. The Playhouse has obviously spent a whole bundle on the latest technology. The backdrops are LEDs, so the whole background can be changed at a push of a button – no more laboriously painted screens – and what they can do with it has to be seen to be believed.
The concert orchestra was flawless. I do enjoy watching a live orchestra, seeing how the different parts work together. While the string section saws away all the time, the brass section a little less so and I had my eye on the fellow playing the tuba, wondering how much work he’d have to put in on this Sunday afternoon. Mr Tuba was only called on now and then. He’d play a “pom, pom,” then put down his instrument and walk out for five minutes. Take a smoke break maybe? I wondered if he was paid the same as the violinists? One thinks about these things, watching a live show.
The standing ovation was well deserved. The show runs ‘til the end of the month and if you have a chance, you simply must go and see it.
People will tell you about the shows they’ve seen in New York or London and how wonderful they are compared to here. I’ve seen shows and plays all over the world and there is nothing to be embarrassed about local productions. I’d even say most are as good, if not better, than anything you’ll see in Broadway. Cheaper, too.
Hey, but the roads and beaches are packed! I so nearly hit two children who ran right in front of my car at Thompson’s Bay, then this morning I again nearly took out some overweight fellow running in the road when I swerved for a pothole. I think I saw some strange signs of Jo’burg greetings in the rearview mirror, but I had the music turned up loud so I missed what he had to say.
A word of caution, people – there are booze busses everywhere! If anyone is stupid enough to drive after drinking, don’t be surprised if you’re looking at the inside of the Umhlali jail cells for Christmas. That said, do enjoy your holidays.
This will be our last paper of the year. We’re shutting shop here this week and re-opening on January 3. A very Happy Christmas everyone, and all the very best for 2017. May the turmoil of 2016 be far behind us so that we can look forward to a bright new year!
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