By Samantha Apfel and Elizabeth Gjersvik; photos by Raina Robinson
The Sound of Music, the first 7th-12th grade musical since 2007’s Pippin, opened on Thursday, February 10th, 2011, to a packed house. But if you had checked the Hewitt stage that night in the Charlotte Comfort Auditorium, you would have found it empty. Why? Because for the first time in Hewitt’s history of dramatic productions, a show went up at the Sylvia and Danny Kaye Playhouse.
This professional stage, located at nearby Hunter college, seats a maximum of 624 people. Setting a record for attendance, Hewitt sold out both nights. The cast was comprised of over 50 Hewitt students, with a small lower school contingent playing the parts of the von Trapp family children. The cast also included two seniors from The Browning School, Maximilian John Saint-Preux and Matt Geline. Ms. Kirsten Lindberg directed the show and she was delighted by the large turnout at the new venue.
Junior Casidy Campbell, who portrayed Mother Abbess, or “MoAbs,” as she was affectionately called by the cast, stated that “doing this play was an exciting experience, from back stage to performing on stage. It was definitely fun getting into the character of Mother Abbess.”
Pauline Cronin ’13 brought the house down with her lively interpretation of the classic role of Maria, a role immortalized on film by Julie Andrews. Pauline beautifully hit all the high notes and her keen sense of humor captured the spirit of the play’s timeless heroine who falls in love with a most unlikely man.
Senior Carly Konsker, who saw the play on Friday night,
agreed: “It was absolutely amazing. I loved seeing my peers on such an impressive stage.” From the lights to the music to the acting and singing, this production was a great triumph for the Hewitt theatrical community. We hope to see future Hewitt productions at this new home away from home.