Imagine That Production’s The Sound of Music ran for five performances at Haslemere Hall this Summer (2025) under the direction of Philip O’Brien with his wife Amanda O’Brien working behind the scenes as company manager. You may remember that we wrote about this musical group here. It’s a CIC powered by volunteers, including parent chaperones for rehearsals and Haslemere Hall volunteers for all their shows.

This is Haslemere attended the final performance of The Sound of Music and enjoyed every aspect of the production. The stage of the Haslemere Hall was transformed into Salzburg in 1938. The musical opened in The Nonnberg Abbey represented on the stage with high metal railings, a backdrop of projected stained-glass windows and the nuns in prayer with their haunting plainchant.

Maria is nowhere to be found.

The Mother Abbess (played by Chloe Johnson Jones), after discussion with Sister Berthe (who has no time for Maria’s nonsense), Sister Margaretta (who sees the good in Maria) and Sister Sophia (who doesn’t know what to do with a problem like Maria), instructs Maria to leave the convent to work as a governess for Captain Georg Von Trapp (played by Alan Thornhill) and his seven children. Off she goes, with her battered suitcase and guitar wearing her only dress and arrives on a new set, the grand home of The Von Trapp Family. Here the setting is a large drawing room with their large garden projected onto the back of the stage.

Maria, played by Holly Humberstone a music undergraduate at Trinity Laban, meets her seven young charges and dismisses the Von Trapp discipline-by-whistle, replacing it with the most gorgeous rendition of Do-Ray-Mi and our introduction to the revolving stage, a first in Haslemere Hall. The singing and acting were beautiful with the children in their regimental sailor suits.

The songs and story are familiar to us all and it was wonderful to hear songs we love performed by these talented local performers. Baroness Elberfeld’s shrill fake laugh was perfect and the audience was suitably annoyed by her. Captain Georg Von Trapp’s seriousness perfectly contrasted Ricky Dyer as Max Detweiler the enterprising music promoter. The latter’s performance was exuberant and funny. Towards the end of the musical, in the search for the Von Trapp family after their final concert, Nazi officers came right into the audience and we’d not prepared for torches shining in our faces! That! After we’d already endured the frightening and intimidating portrayal of Herr Zeller performed John Deacon.

As the musical progresses, there are multiple outfit and scene changes and it all moves at a good pace with great theatrical techniques. And we just loved the ending when we see the Von Trapp family escaping over the Austrian mountains into Switzerland. This scene was projected onto the stage and filmed on the South Downs. Clever and funny.

The applause was rapturous and it was wonderful that, after the cast had taken a bow, the support crew also came up on stage and we all joined in an impromptu rendition of Sixteen Going On Seventeen.

Once again, this has been another excellent production from Imagine That Productions. However, do not just take our word for it. Here are some online reviews we spotted:

Brilliant show. Well done all. VC

Thoroughly enjoyed the musical. Outstanding singing by all but especially Maria. MO

Just seen this utterly brilliant show. If you can get to see it tomorrow, I cannot recommend too highly. Huge congratulations to Philip O'Brien, Amanda O'Brien, and all at Imagine That Productions. SS

It's performed by a highly accomplished cast of actors with the most beautiful voices, recreating iconic and familiar numbers with freshness and feeling. Holly Humberstone is a wonder as Maria at the heart of the show and is often surrounded by a pack of the most charming children - the von Trapp family ... Great performances from all the kids, especially their vocals! … The show zips along from set piece to set piece, with inspired and interesting set design and landing its emotional gut punches; particularly in its final movements. Powerful stuff. We Love Theatre: Haslemere

So proud of Ethan and all his fellow von Trapp children (Scarlet, Myla, Eve, Georgina, Oscar and Lola) for performing so brilliantly in The Sound of Music these last three days. An amazing achievement after two intense weeks of rehearsal. Congratulations to all the cast and thank you to everyone Philip, Amanda & everyone at Imagine That Productions. This was such a wonderful experience for Ethan! Bravi tutti! TD (Father of Ethan)