Deconstructing "The Sound of Music"....

My wife is directing the local musical, they're doing the Sound of Music.

Now, singy-songs aside, this is a pretty serious story -- the Anschluss, the German "annexation" of Austria. Story of dissent, invasion, values, homeland, etc.

How the heck can you get THAT part across? I'm doing a litte piece in the program ("About the 'Anschluss'") to help put some of it in perspective, since frankly I think it's worth thinking (at least abstractly) about occupying armies in this day and age. :eyes:

Anyone have any thoughts? Or should I just shut up and Doh - A - Deer?

(sung to "My Favorite Things")

Calico kitties and uncovered titties

Abortion clinics in large northern cities

Flagrant butt pirates all wearing cock rings

These are John Ashcroft's least favorite things

Boys in white dresses with blue satin sashes

Leather clad hookers offering ten lashes

All the dogs howling when he starts to sing

These are John Ashcroft's least favorite things

When the law bites

When the press stings

When he's feeling sad

John simply remembers his least favorite things

And then we all feeeeeeeel soooooooooo baaaaaaaad.

(first verse by Peter D. at People's Forum, rest by me)

the von Trapps are a real family who did escape.

The Sound of Music, while a wonderful entertainment, does Disney-fy their story a bit.

Sidebar: The production here in Raleigh this week features the von Trapp grandchildren. :D

Their story from their POV:

http://www.trappfamily.com/history.html

Gorgeous place.

Both drivers reported that the Von Trapps simply bought train tickets and left Austria. And think about it: if you crossed the mountains in Salzburg, you'd end up in Nazi Germany (out of the frying pan and into the fire . . .).

And in Maria Von Trapp's autobiography, she recounted that the Captain asked her to marry him, she didn't know what to do, and she asked her bishop who told her to go for it. When she returned to tell the Captain what her bishop said , she answered with a quivering, "He says I have to m-m-m-marry you!" What a love story.

The worst part of the story about the real life Von Trapp family is that the children turned against each other after Maria died. Probably arguing over inheritance issues. Or children vs. step children.

Watching the movie reminds you about how much Hollywood lies.

....which, I beleive, Baron Von Trapp was a captain in.

That would be an interesting lesson in historical geography.

gee, I wonder if thats online anywhere. They did satiric take-offs on the songs in the movie....

.

"The Sound of Money". Can't put on the show without someone handing you a xerox of that one. :)

(edited to add: )

Actually, the Austrian Navy is pretty interesting; for example, since "...Italy had declared war on Austro-Hungary but not Germany, the German boats operated under the Austrian ensign and were temporarily commissioned into the Austrian Navy. Once Germany and Italy had gone to war in August 1916, German U-boats operated under their own flag."

begin (and/or have act/scene footage intervals) showing film footage which captures the Nazi take-over -- the local library??? just a dark stage ... and black and white video showing -- and, in contrast, the hills are alive with innocent von Trapp children ...

brainstorming aside .....

do a few scenes from Cabaret, mon Herr?

after making new clothes, the von Trapps visit Sally Bowles :)