The Bosco Theatre is a new tent beside the Yarra at Federation Square, you might want to wear something warm. It’s a good, large, yet nicely intimate space for the Sound of Music Drag Show, performed by 6 Drag artists with enormous joy but without a hint of the reverence to the film given for example by Charles Ross in his One Man Star Wars. The girls stay fairly faithful to the film up until the point that Maria enters the Von Trap house, which is not surprising, because they have only enough performers to represent four of the children.
The stoned Baroness turns up early and the plot gets fairly chaotic. Not only do the girls mime to the songs from the film but also the dialogue which had been naughtily mixed to suggest that The Baroness is having it off with Maria behind the Captain’s back amongst other things. There was quite a lot raunching up of the plot, doctored dialogue and remixed songs, as well as a few songs from elsewhere just thrown in for fun. When the Nazis entered Austria (which is cleverly described in the style of a radio traffic and weather report) it was to the dance number of Springtime for Hitler and then some music from Cabaret. Yes, it was a tribute to all the Nazi musicals!
Though some of the choreography was a bit lame, there were moments of brilliance, especially “How do you Solve a Problem like Maria”, which was done with the performers holding torches and creating effects with them on a darkened stage. With the final line “How do you hold a moon beam in your hands” they put their hands in the beams of the torches and then drew down their hands til they covered the torches, putting the stage in darkness, it was beautiful.
The fabulous finale was a postscript where it is explained that the Von Trapp family went on to have a reunion show in Vegas, (not unlike a cheesy Brady Bunch reunion special) and they finish with a big disco mix of “Do Re Mi”. The show explodes with colourful interpretations of the costumes, silly props, bright backdrops and some good fart jokes. I was particularly amused that though they played male characters such as the Captain, they kept the padded bras, heels and make up on, so they were men in drag playing male characters. This cabaret show is a fun night out, so, put your sparkliest frock on and sing along to The Sound of Music Drag Show.
“The Sound of Music Drag Show” plays from Tues to Sunday until the 15th of April. Booking details can be found at “Sound of Music Drag Show”:http://www.comedyfestival.com.au/season/2007/show/129/