If you live in Mumbai, the promotions for the live show of The Sound of Music in the new NMACC auditorium in Bandra-Kurla Complex have been inescapable — from posters to IPL breaks between overs. And since (i) the movie is one of my favourites ever, (ii) live performances of any kind are always a welcome break from reading CS papers from decades past and (iii) I have a blog to keep alive, I absolutely had to go. Everyone knows that musicals are expensive — this one was performed by a Broadway cast — but, for the three reasons above, I was okay with what I shelled out for a nearly-centred balcony seat.
Approaching, you see the imposing facade. I wonder what was pulled down to make room for this in a strategic location in BKC. The gate and security are like any other hall, but then you enter what seems like a gilded, glittery version of T2 of Mumbai Airport. There's certainly a refinement that, say, Shanmukhananda Hall lacks.
There are art pieces all along the corridor, and also some event-specific photo locations.
The lobby-like area has candy stalls, a place for children to play and lots of seating space. You can see the fountain outside — it isn't running all the time, only in the night show at 8 pm and possibly some other times (it was during the interval).
The hall is more circular than my usual points of reference - Music Academy, Sir Mutha Concert Hall and certainly Narada Gana Sabha. As a result, at least on the balcony, no one could feel horizontally very far from the stage, though I can't speak for how good the view is from the corners. It's also planned with lots of aisles so you don't have to cross too many people's knees to get to your seat. (MA really fails here, and my brother loves making us get past everyone and sit in the centre too!) Sound was very good, I had no complaints.
In case you didn't know, the musical of The Sound of Music predates the film. Some songs occur in slightly different places, and some are there that aren't in the film at all. So it was definitely a more interesting watch than a frame-by-frame copy (but my favourite scene, the puppet show, sadly wasn't there). There is also a change or two to the story! Rolf, who betrays the family in the film, is redeemed here as he refuses to reveal their hideout to the Nazis.
This was my first time watching this kind of musical. It was quite amazing how smoothly they changed props and backdrops, wheeling benches and staircases in and out. The von Trapp children were delightful. Maria's character is more breezy and cheerful than in the movie, and the actress brought it out pretty well. I felt the actor playing Baron von Trapp had a bit of animated American-ness that didn't fit with the measured regal nature of a European military nobleman. But it was always going to be hard to match up to Christopher Plummer.
The one who stole the audiences' hearts was, however, the Mother Superior of the church. The character's songs are quite operatic, and the actress' powerful voice did them justice and was also well appreciated by Indian ears.
There was a pretty nice, if pricey, range of refreshments during the interval. Despite the many counters, lines became long quite fast, so that is another thing the new establishment has to figure out. Otherwise, for an occasional indulgence, I had a nice time. And definitely enough pleasant earworms for the next few days.
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