My roommate and I recently had the wonderful pleasure of attending the annual "Sound of Music Sing-A-Long" at the Hollywood Bowl. Oh my goodness... So. Much. Fun.
Here's the scene: 18,000 enthusiastic superfans (mixed with a few neutral fans, like myself, who enjoyed the movie as a child but haven't seen it in over a decade) in the amazing outdoor amphitheater that is the Hollywood Bowl. First of all, that venue is incredible no matter what you're seeing- gorgeous setting and you can bring in your own picnic and alcohol. Basically, the best ever. If you ever get the opportunity to go to a show there, do ittt. Second of all- have you ever watched a movie with 18,000 people?! That in itself was a crazy/cool experience. That's almost the population of my hometown! And the majority of those 18K people were in legit costumes. We're not just talking the standard "Swiss mountain boy/girl" costumes (although there was a delightful plethora of those); we're talking truly creative costumes: the cuckoo clock from the song "So Long, Farewell," "snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes," "brown paper packages tied up with string," and pretty much every other item mentioned in the song "My Favorite Things," etc.
To heighten the palpable excitement, the sing-a-long was introduced by the actors/actresses who played the Von Trapp children in the movie! (Yes, they're still alive and well.) After that memorable intro, the main event started...as Maria ran over that gorgeous green hill, Mckenzie and I joined with the 18,000 people around us and threw our inhibitions to the wayside (another great reason for allowing patrons to BYOB) and sang at the top of our lungs... "The hills are alive with the sound of music...!" It was absolutely hilarious. The crowd participation did not stop with singing every lyric to every song. No sir. Every time something good happened (like Capt. Von Trapp and Maria looking at each other) the crowd cheered. Every time the bitchy baroness or a nasty Nazi came on screen, the crowd booed and hissed. Everyone even got a little goody bag of props to aide in our crowd participation- the best item being a little firecracker/noisemaker thing that people set off at key moments like the Captain and Maria's first kiss and when the Nazi guy pulls out his gun.
I can honestly say this was one of the most FUN movie-going experiences I've ever had. Two thumbs up for suuure. If you can't make it to a sing-a-long with 18,000 people, I highly recommend just watching this old classic again and making your own little sing-a-long in the comfort of your home...I had forgotten how wonderful it is!
To heighten the palpable excitement, the sing-a-long was introduced by the actors/actresses who played the Von Trapp children in the movie! (Yes, they're still alive and well.) After that memorable intro, the main event started...as Maria ran over that gorgeous green hill, Mckenzie and I joined with the 18,000 people around us and threw our inhibitions to the wayside (another great reason for allowing patrons to BYOB) and sang at the top of our lungs... "The hills are alive with the sound of music...!" It was absolutely hilarious. The crowd participation did not stop with singing every lyric to every song. No sir. Every time something good happened (like Capt. Von Trapp and Maria looking at each other) the crowd cheered. Every time the bitchy baroness or a nasty Nazi came on screen, the crowd booed and hissed. Everyone even got a little goody bag of props to aide in our crowd participation- the best item being a little firecracker/noisemaker thing that people set off at key moments like the Captain and Maria's first kiss and when the Nazi guy pulls out his gun.
I can honestly say this was one of the most FUN movie-going experiences I've ever had. Two thumbs up for suuure. If you can't make it to a sing-a-long with 18,000 people, I highly recommend just watching this old classic again and making your own little sing-a-long in the comfort of your home...I had forgotten how wonderful it is!
I leave you with one of my favorite scenes... enjoy darlings!
So long, farewell...
Annie.
I want to do something like this. Let me know when there is another opportunity and perhaps I will look into a trip....
ReplyDeleteYou haven't seen the Sound of Music in a decade? I FEEL LIKE I DON'T EVEN KNOW YOU. If you had warned me about this event, I WOULD have come to it... kind of like the time I went to Salzburg, Austria just to go on the Sound of Music tour.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a very good possibility for next year's mother and child reunion. Mary, see if Diane would be interested. Annie, find out when the next Sound of Music sing-along happens. I can get excited about this.
ReplyDelete