Over the last three months I was fortunate to be involved in the cast for the Porirua Little Theatre production of the Sound of Music. Opening night was 28th of October, which also happened to by my 50th birthday. The season ran for 16 shows over 3 weeks. It’s hard to describe the experience as it was quite overwhelming being part of a large story of hope, faith, and love – and watching the audience encounter the mystery of the story coming to life.
It was also a great privilege to share the stage with my son Isaac, who played Rolf. He taught me everything I needed to know to get by with my three minor ensemble roles and face my fears of stage fright.
The Sound of Music made its debut in 1965. For over 60 years, it has entertained us with the heart-warming story of novice nun Maria and how she changes not just her own life but the lives of the Von Trapp family as well.
Originally, a musical stage play by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II based on a true story, the movie depicts life in the late 1930s in Austria shortly before the Anschluss. The songs drive the plot and help convey a number of emotions, beliefs and desires. The story also has many themes including love, hope, faith, loyalty and patriotism.
One aspect explored in the film (and original stage play) is the concept of Christian faith. At the beginning of the story, Maria is studying to be a nun at a convent in Salzburg. There a number of references to Maria’s faith made throughout the story.
The Will of God
The first theme of Christianity explored in the story is the will of God. God’s will or in other terms His plan for our lives is something all Christians strive to find. Before we try to find what his will for us is, we have to understand what His will is. One verse that perfectly sums up this is found in Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
In The Sound of Music, the question of God’s will for Maria’s life comes up when the other nuns tell the Mother Abbess that Maria is not suited to Abbey life (through the song “Maria”). Maria is summoned to discuss her situation with Mother Abbess and when asked a question by Mother Abbess, Maria responds accordingly…
To find out what is the will of God and to do it wholeheartedly — Maria
The above response is something all people contemplate at some point. Finding out what God’s will for your life is a hard task. We may already have an idea of what we think it is, just like Maria who believed that she meant to live out her life in the Abbey as a nun serving God. However, when her concept of what God’s will for her life is challenged she immediately tries to resist any suggestions that it could be wrong. She goes into denial mode and tries to get Mother Abbess to change her mind. Mother Abbess is steadfast in her resolve and when she explains the reasons why she needs to leave the Abbey for a short time, Maria reluctantly agrees.
The same thing can happen to us when faced with the possibility that what we thought was God’s will for our life may not be what God really wants for us. We have to pray and seek God to find out what it is, even when the answer may be something quite unexpected.
Climb Every Mountain
When faced with something totally unexpected, Maria chooses to run away and go back to the Abbey. She is afraid of what she is feeling and of an unknown future. The Abbey represents to her a known future and is a safe place where she doesn’t have to feel and deal with life’s problems.
Realising that there is a problem, Mother Abbess summons Maria. Maria eventually explains what has happened and Mother Abbess advises that staying in the Abbey will not solve the situation. Maria has a mountain that she has to overcome in order to be the person God wants her to be.
These walls were not built to shut out problems. You have to face them. You have to live the life you were born to live — Mother Abbess
Facing problems is all part and parcel of being human. As Mother Abbess tells Maria via song (Climb Every Mountain) that we have to go forward and climb those mountains that arise and find the shallow water crossings that will make the path to our dreams more easily accessible. Maria has to confront her feelings in order to live the life she was born to live.
Maria had to find the strength and courage to go back to the Von Trapp family home and deal with her problems. She soon realised that the mountain she thought was there was only a small hill.
I’d like to leave you with these words sung by the Revered Mother from The Sound of Music. This is the final song in the musical that we all got to sing together for 16 performances. The last two verses sum up the whole story of the Sound of Music – a story of faith, hope and love.
A dream that will need
All the love you can give
Every day of your life, for as long as you live
Climb every mountain
Ford every stream
Follow every rainbow
Until you find your dream
Photo credit: Porirua Little Theatre
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