"Doe, a deer, a female deer. Ray..."

Just admit it, you burst into song the minute you saw this post! (At least in your head!)
I LOVE The Sound of Music. I think I know every word to every song.

Last week, one of my Activity Day girls was in the musical, with the La Forge Theater. I was so impressed. Really great show with amazing costumes and props and scenery....all from a non-profit, volunteer organization. I had no idea, but will definitely be going to more of their productions.
Lauryn played the part of Marta, the second youngest of the Von Trapp children. She did fabulous! Her most famous line, "I'm Marta and I'm going to be seven on Tuesday, and I'd like a pink parasol."

Ellie, Daniela, Anika, and Zoe came to the show. As well as moms Lisa and Arianne and Dani's sisters and grandpa. We missed our girls that couldn't come, and were sorry Zoe had to go home before intermission because she got super sick. The girls really enjoyed the show and followed the story and paid attention.
Another ward member, Valerie T., was a nun in the production. Her voice was a serious part of those singing nuns. (Far right nun.)

I've always loved the movie with Julie Andrews. Who wouldn't want to go "roaming about Salzburg in nothing but some old drapes!"??? And running up beautiful Austrian mountainsides singing!!

But as far as my first introduction to the story...."Let's start at the very beginning. A very good place to start!"
The place I first heard the musical, the songs, and the story...was when my sister, Shari, played the part of Maria in her high school production. I'm not positive what year it was, but I think I was six years old. (Just like Marta....no wonder that line always stood out to me!) I think my mom let me come to the show several times that week. I remember really wishing I was one of the kids in the show. I loved all the scenes with Maria (Shari) and the kids. But those other adult scenes and nun scenes seem to last forever when you are six. Here are a few pics of Shari in The Sound of Music!


This is almost the final scene, after the concert, when Rolf finds them hiding. Then they start to "climb every mountain" to escape to Switzerland. As a little girl, the first night I saw the show I was so confused. I cried thinking the police were really after Shari and this "family" and that she was really leaving to escape over a mountain. They had "police" coming up the aisles of the audience, blowing whistles, causing chaos. And then....Shari, who was also somehow Maria, started to hike up some bleachers turned into a hillside!! I'm not sure exactly how I thought that backdrop would turn into a real mountain, but I did! Thank goodness she came out for the curtain call!! Whew!

Guess what I'm loving the most about The Sound of Music currently? My Ellie girl LOVES watching the movie too!! I think maybe she can relate to the strong-willed Maria, with big dreams.......and maybe I can relate to a "mother" who sings......"How do you solve a problem like Elleah? How do you catch a cloud and pin it down? Many a thing you know you'd like to tell her. Many a thing she ought to understand. But how do you make her stay, and listen to all you say? How do keep a wave upon the sand? How do you solve a problem like Elleah? How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?" I don't imagine Ellie will be a nun, or a governess for seven children. But she will be amazing and leave her own mark on this world, just like Maria!