Ruby is a true-blooded media practitioner and a journalist by profession.
She served her early years as a lifestyle writer for a leading magazine and a couple of corporate engagements to which she learned the ropes of editorial work – and dealing with almost the brightest personalities and celebrities in tinsel town.
She had a very productive stint at the now-defunct AMPR Publicity and Communications, Inc. It was also during this period that she honed her skills in Marketing when she had the opportunity to serve as Committee Member at the prestigious Philippine Marketing Association.
For inquiries, invites, or to send relevant press content, email the author at rubyasoy@yahoo.com.
FB pages: https://www.facebook.com/precious.r.asoyhttps://www.facebook.com/rubyasoyph/
The open floor plan is a practical home design for this art collector. “It’s a plan looking into the future preparing for old age when one cannot go up and climb stairs,” she shared.
When designing a home, choosing an open floor plan is a personal decision. “Some just love the home and it happens to come with this kind of combination – kitchen, living, and dining rooms.”
“Others love the idea of having the rooms open to one another as they are great for entertaining,” according to an online source. Moreover, they want to see what’s happening in one glance.
“On the practical side, it’s a plan looking into the future preparing for old age when one cannot go up and climb stairs,” shared the owner of this exquisite residence, who is an art lover and certified art collector.
The kitchen in this open design is just adjacent to the dining and living areas. They share the same hue with the kitchen fixtures, dining table, and living room furniture.
Spacious and looking spruce kitchen area.
The kitchen area looks fresh, upscale, and neat. It has wide spaces to move around when prepping up meals for the household. It has seating areas around the marble island kitchen.
Their well-maintained living room looks great with a contemporary painting by visual artist Nikulas Lebajo. The atmosphere is welcoming, relaxing, and full of warmth. The painting is well harmonized with the interior of the living room. Moreover, a painting is like a mirror to the soul of the owner. One’s taste, character, and story are illustrated by the painting one chooses for the home.
The living room is adorned with a contemporary painting by visual artist Nikulas Lebajo.The dining area is adjacent to the living room.The billiard room with perfect lighting.The bar area inside the billiard room.A high window with a view.The collectors’ painting collection of Nikulas Lebajo presently displayed at their residence in White Rock in the Greater Vancouver Area, Canada.
Interesting lighting and coordinated look to the kitchen, living room, billiard room, and master’s bedrooms are interesting touches that create a great ambiance and connected spaces.
In these challenging times when everyone is observing social distancing and health protocols, the best we can do is reminisce about the captured moments of our most memorable travels in the past.
Bringing back these memorable moments at the happiest place on earth – Hong Kong Disneyland several years back!
Our stay at the park had given us so much joy – with my daughter Beatrice, my BFF Mitch with daughter Jas, and Nanay Remy. It was like we were transported to fantasy land, and had awakened the child in us.
With so many attractions to see and to try, our whole day trip was truly hectic but we had so much fun! We didn’t get tired of taking mementos of our wonderful time at the resort.
At the Toy Storyland 🙂
One shouldn’t miss the Jungle River Cruise, Rafts to Tarzan’s Treehouse, Hong Kong Disneyland Railroad, Toy Storyland, Sleeping Beauty Castle, Mickey’s PhilharMagic, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, Tomorrowland, Cinderella Carousel, Fantasyland Train Station, Fantasy Gardens, Mad Hatter Tea Cups, It’s Small World, and the Golden Mickey’s for fabulous Disney character performances.
Make sure to wear comfortable attire to explore the Disney resort fully. You have to do a lot of walking, transferring from one attraction, and rides to another. Reserve your energy to still enjoy the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Snow White Grotto, Space Mountain, Stitch Encounter, Orbitron, UFO Zone, Autopia, Buzz Lightyear, Astro Blasters, and more.
After the tiring and thrilling rides, you can satisfy your craving for good food at various restaurants located in the resort. The entire experience was completed with the amazing “Disney in the Stars” fireworks at night.
Indeed, the fantasy comes alive at Hong Kong Disneyland! Plan your visit here with your loved ones during safer times in the post-COVID-19 world.
WAY UP by Xander Pratt is Tier One’s cover song for the first-ever Web 3.0 podcast Two2Three. Filmed in the city of Isabela, Basilan, the self-produced music video is the first of a triad from the Deep South of the Philippines, along with a total of 17 videos under the album FIREFLIES: Follow the Magic. The other original songs entitled Don’t Hold Back and Oxyfire are also available on Spotify and Youtube, as a tribute to the rising tourism and creative industries in what was an oft-forgotten, post-conflict island.
International artist, performer, designer, and creative director Xander Pratt, who was named Artist of the Year by the International Youth Center, has chosen the Philippines as the central hub of his Asia Tour. A series of Afro-Asia exhibits, shows, and pop-ups have been organized by AsiaTV studios, with Earthsavers UNESCO artist for peace. Aside from the Philippines, his tour will also visit Singapore, Malaysia, Korea, and Hong Kong, among others.
Having traveled the world to deliver a message of art as a vessel of personal and collective freedom, Pratt, who is based in the Kingdom of Morocco, is also a life coach for young people and the young at heart. A recent member of the International Theatre Institute, he spent the first part of this year writing about the only Black-produced Hollywood superhero, compliments of Mayor Djalia Hataman of Isabela, Basilan. Africa, like Asia and the rest of the Global South, is the oldest inhabited continent on Earth and home to the youngest populations, making a noteworthy case for Asia-Africa connectivity. Truly, the heart of diplomacy and business lies in art as a universal language.
The all-star cast, Alice Reyes Dance Philippines’ dancers, and the Philippine Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by National Artist for Music Ryan Cayabyab, presented Contra Mundum, a star-studded concert version of Ang Larawan: The Musical, held at the Manila Metropolitan Theatre last May 6, 2023.
The National Commission for Culture and the Arts (NCCA), Manila Metropolitan Theatre, and Culturtain Musicat have offered a one-night-only Saturday performance of the three-act musical to celebrate the 50th-anniversary of the Order of the National Artists of the Philippines and National Heritage Month. It was also streamed for free on MET’s official Facebook page.
The country’s best artists from the film, music, and theatre industry united on stage to perform the greatest Filipino stage musical ever made. The stellar cast includes Celeste Legaspi, Bituin Escalante, Dulce, Aicelle Santos, Audie Gemora, Mitch Valdez, Karylle Tatlonghari, Hajji Alejandro, Kakai Bautista, Mikki Bradshaw-Volante, Kakki Teodoro, Nyoy Volante, Menchu Lauchengo-Yulo, Agot Isidro, Bodjie Pascua, Jericho Rosales, Sandino Martin, Markki Stroem, Nanette Inventor, Jojit Lorenzo, Jaime Fabregas, Nonoy Froilan, Paulo Avelino, Roeder Camañag, Ricky Davao, Rachel Alejandro, and Bea Alonzo.
The musical was based on the National Artist for Literature Nick Joaquin’s stage play, A Portrait of the Artist as Filipino. It tells about two spinster sisters who are barely making ends meet despite having the ability to sell the symbolic and valuable last painting that their sick father made.
The musical play was staged several times by different theatre companies through the years, starting with its non-musical and original script presented with its English text in 1955, and it became more popular for its Tagalog musical adaptation in 1997, translated and lyrics by Rolando S. Tinio, and music by Ryan Cayabyab. The musical was even made into a film in 2017, directed by Loy Arcenas, which is an entry to the 43rd Metro Manila Film Festival that won the Best Picture award.
In Contra Mundum, the producers put a great effort to bring a top-notch stage musical, which is a pure Filipino masterpiece and a precious gem in literature, music, and arts. The concert version was brought to life with Chris Millado’s direction.
The concert had different actors who portrayed some roles in each act, showcasing different approaches to the lead characters of Candida and Paula, as well as Tony Javier and Bitoy Camacho.
Winter David’s minimalist set design and Barbie Tan-Tiongco’s wonderful lighting design complement all mise-en-scènes that were on point, making the entire show complete perfection with Joyce Garcia’s projection design. National Artist Badong Bernal, with well-known costume designers Gino Gonzales and Francis Libiran did a great job of making all the artists’ costumes fit their character’s bone structure and be realistic based on the story set in the 1940s.
Ang Larawan: The Musical is truly a must-see for everyone, especially millennials as if it is both entertaining and enlightening. Never boring, it is a spectacular musical for its wonderful music score, a high-spirited conga number led by Elsa Montes (Bea Alonzo), and inspired performances by the talented cast. It is also enlightening and informative, giving us a glimpse of Old Manila through the play’s dialogues, scenes, and songs. It shows a part of our history through a fictional tale of an impoverished family, specifically the spinster sisters, who are trying to desperately hold on to and fight for what is left behind – the painting, the house, their values – in the face of materialism, the changing times and the looming second World War.
Contra Mundum, the musical play’s concert version, is truly a tour de force in the Philippine Theatre that pays tribute to our very own art and culture. It is both a literal (the actual painting) and figurative (the Filipino artist) depiction of the Filipino artist. It is a sad commentary about starving artists who write or paint for their personal satisfaction. Their art gives them food for the soul but there is that sad realization that they also need to earn to put food on the table.
The award-winning film adaptation of the musical is now available for streaming on Netflix. It can also be streamed on iWantTFC.
The Philippines is ready for a fresh start as the Department of Tourism (DOT) finally unveils the new tourism slogan: “Love The Philippines,” a testament to how this country calls out to anyone who has a thrill for adventure, captivating beauty, and the embrace of a newfound home.
After 11 years of sporting the iconic “It’s More Fun in the Philippines,” the new slogan was unveiled at DOT’s 50th Anniversary Celebration at the Manila Hotel. Tourism Secretary Christina Frasco emphasizes that this slogan is also a “call to action” towards Filipinos and international citizens alike to discover and explore the Philippines with the numerous things it has to offer.
Despite being a slogan, this change has brought new heights and challenges for the country’s tourism department. While the country has countless destinations lined up for travelers, there are plenty of places left undiscovered yet well-maintained by the locals. The DOT also hopes that this new slogan will bring attention to other places that are not particularly highlighted in past tourism campaigns.
They also wanted to showcase a more Filipino brand– and the “Love The Philippines” slogan encapsulates what it takes to become a country full of love, natural wonders, an enticing history, and our unique cultural footprint.
In the modern era, travelers have begun to change their preferences and the experiences that they seek whenever they go out of their comfort zone. Most people look for more scenic yet calm destinations while others tend to go to the undiscovered sites and take their exploration to new heights. As these preferences evolve, the DOT also adjusts to recent travel trends.
This branding, if effective, will showcase the Philippines’ hidden beauty and the love within its people. Marie Adriano, the brand and strategic planner from the marketing firm Doyle, Dane, and Bernbach (DDB) Philippines, explained that there is a positive association to travelers when it comes to the word love– a longing and caring feeling, one laced with newfound affection.
However, recent controversies surrounding the usage of stock footage in the slogan’s promotional video campaign drew flak from the netizens. The video contained footage shot from various countries such as Brazil, Indonesia, Switzerland, and the United Arab Emirates, as per the Agence France-Presse’s fact-checking arm.
The DOT’s creative arm, DBB, has spoken up about the stock footage issue, saying that it is a “standard practice in the industry.” They defended the usage, for the video’s intention is to be a “mood video” to attract and excite internal stakeholders for their tourism campaign. The whole campaign, including the slogan, utilized a ₱49M fund in total. Due to this controversy, the contract between DBB and DOT has been terminated, seeking accountability for the issue.
These developments have drawn mixed reactions from netizens, especially regarding the credibility of the DOT, the authenticity of the slogan, and its effects on the dwindling tourism in the country. This slogan is also created to honor the Filipinos, for their hospitality and love have bound the Philippines and continuously embraced citizens from all over the world with their big hearts. It is only right that its creation should be as genuine as its intention.
Don’t miss the opportunity to witness this transformative exhibition, on display until July 8, 2023, at the Imahica Art Gallery.
In a bold and inspiring move, a groundbreaking exhibition is challenging traditional notions of fatherhood and redefining the role of fathers in our society. “Inheritance: Tracing Lineage & Inspiration” is an extraordinary display that seeks to dismantle preconceived notions and celebrate the diversity and depth of the paternal experience through experiencing the artworks of Pandy Aviado, Diana Aviado, Fil Delacruz, Janos Delacruz, Roy Espinosa, Pauline Allison Espinosa, Nikulas Lebajo, Beatrice Lebajo, Fernando Sena, Tintin Sena, and Oddin Sena.
This thought-provoking event serves as a platform to explore the multifaceted nature of fatherhood. Through diverse artistic expressions, the exhibition showcases the unique journeys, perspectives, and narratives of fathers from all walks of life. It aims to break down stereotypes and highlight fathers’ immense impact on their children’s lives.
Beatrice Lebajo and her artworks
“Inheritance: Tracing Lineage & Inspiration” challenges the traditional image of fathers as sole providers and disciplinarians. Instead, it embraces the complexity of fatherhood by showcasing tender moments of nurturing, emotional vulnerability, and deep connection between fathers and their children. The artworks on display offer a glimpse into the rich tapestry of experiences that fathers bring to their roles, dispelling misconceptions and fostering understanding.
Through visual art, this exhibition invites visitors to engage with the stories of fathers who have defied societal norms and forged their own paths. It encourages us to question and reassess our assumptions, celebrating the diversity of fatherhood experiences and the power of acceptance and inclusivity.
Nikulas Lebajo Water on Bowl
Roy Espinosa Eternity series 15
“Inheritance: Tracing Lineage & Inspiration” goes beyond celebrating individual fathers; it aims to provoke meaningful conversations and inspire societal change. By challenging traditional roles and expectations, the exhibition invites us to envision a future where fathers are recognized as active participants in their children’s lives, capable of nurturing and emotional support.
Don’t miss the opportunity to witness this transformative exhibition, on display from June 17 to July 8, 2023, at the Imahica Art Gallery. Step into a world where stereotypes are shattered, and the true essence of fatherhood is celebrated. Join us in embracing the richness and diversity of paternal experiences and championing a more inclusive and progressive society. For more information, please contact 0917 894 5646. Together, let us redefine fatherhood through the power of art.
Ed Sheeran has released his new single ‘Eyes Closed’ alongside the official video (watch here).
Ed originally wrote ‘Eyes Closed’ a few years back. Starting as a break-up song, the lyrics took on a whole new meaning after Ed suffered a heartbreaking loss, which led him to revisit and reimagine the original version of the track for ‘-ʼ. One of the most pop-leaning sonics on his highly anticipated new record, ‘Eyes Closed’ captures the essence of love and loss, which is also reflected in the official video. Directed by Mia Barnes, we see Ed on a night out being followed by a blue monster – serving as a metaphor for grief, Ed is unable to shake it, wherever he goes, reminding him of the void that’s left in his life.
Speaking of the new song and the video, Ed says, “This song is about losing someone, feeling like every time you go out and you expect to just bump into them, and everything just reminds you of them and the things you did together. You sorta have to take yourself out of reality sometimes to numb the pain of loss, but certain things just bring you right back into it.
When I was thinking of concepts for the Eyes Closed music video, I wanted to make a video inspired by movies like Harvey, where the main character has an imaginary friend who’s a giant rabbit that no one can see. There’s also a book I read to my daughters where sadness is encapsulated by an imaginary creature. Often sadness is something that follows you around, engulfing the rooms you’re in, and you can feel and see it, but no one else around you can. So I decided to create my own big blue monster for the video. He gets bigger and bigger as the video goes on, til he takes up whole rooms, and is all I can see, just like sadness.”
Announced earlier this week, his all-new, four-part documentary “Ed Sheeran: The Sum of It All” will air on Disney+ from 3 May 2023. Blending never-before-seen personal archives, interviews, and performances, the intimate documentary explores how his personal experiences have shaped him to become the artist he is today.
The quaint town of Sampaloc is known for its impressive array of “buri” products, the source of livelihood of the amiable people of this 5th class municipality in the province of Quezon.
“Buri,” a large palm tree noted for its strong leaves that can be made into various products like bags and other native accessories. The houses are adorned with different buri products during the Bulihan Festival.
Assorted products made of buri and some native delicacies.
This writer has witnessed this festival in years past – during the 4th Bulihan Festival. The highlights of the festival were the costume parade and the showcase of native dishes, as only “Sampalukins” (how residents are called in Sampaloc) can uniquely prepare and do.
“Palos” Cooking Contest
One of the awaited activities of the festival was the native “Palos Cooking Contest.” “Palos,” is Sampaloc’s term for native eel, which is caught in the Maapon River. It’s often brought by Sampalukins as a present to somebody being asked for a favor. The “madulas” is associated with a saying that if it is given as a gift to the person being asked for a favor, the request will be easily granted.
This exciting and one-of-a-kind cooking contest was participated by representatives from the 14 Barangays through the town’s Rural Improvement Club.
The cooking skills and creativity of the “Sampalukins” were once again demonstrated — with everything and anything that can be done and concocted with “palos.” Spicy, sweet, saucy, “ginataan”, “ginisa”, baked, steamed, fried, what have you!
The winning recipe came from Barangay Ibabang Owain. The dish is called “Steamed Palos.”
Put onion leek into the water and set for boiling.
Steam Palos for about 30-40 minutes.
When cooked, arrange the steamed Palos on a platter with the toppings.
Serve hot.
Uniquely Sampaloc
The “Parada ng Bayan”- a buri-inspired costume parade was participated by the different sectors of the community like NGOs, the private sector, puroks, barangay, and municipal government officials and employees.
Parada ng Bayan
The strong camaraderie was felt as the whole town took time to participate and support the costume parade. It was amazing to see how young women and men were dressed in different creative and distinctively classy costumes made from colorful buri. It was as if these costumes were tailored and styled by professional designers — knowing these were handcrafted by the “Sampalukins”!
The Bulihan Festival provides jobs to residents and promotes tourism in the municipality.
Beautiful sceneries
Some of Sampaloc’s beautiful sceneries are the Malaoag Cave and Underground River, the Hangga Falls, and the Kakati River. During our stay, we were fortunate to explore Hangga Falls, a hidden gem located in the boundary of the towns of Sampaloc and Lucban. An approximate one to two hours of trekking was needed to reach the destination, and was worth the exhaustion upon seeing the invigorating waterfalls!
Feeling invigorated at Hangga Falls after a two-hour trek.With friends from Sampaloc
Discover Sampaloc and know more about its culture, people, and captivating attractions!
A story of hope, surrender, faith, love, overcoming sickness, and the gift of life. “My life now is full of constant reflection and prayer. Everything in this world is temporary,” the singer and OPM icon said.
Acclaimed balladeer Chad Borja and one of the members of the popular male group, The OPM Hitmen looked back on his past life. For someone who had been through a difficult battle with the Big C a couple of years ago, he hopes that his story will inspire other cancer patients not to lose hope.
“God moves mysteriously. He has given me a second chance in life,” he shared in a previous interview. “He answered all my prayers.”
The OPM Hitmen: Renz Verano, Richard Reynoso, Rannie Raymundo, and Chad Borja. Image: bworldonline
Chad related that he found out he had thyroid cancer after his show with pop diva Kuh Ledesma in Los Angeles in August 1998.
“I was jogging one morning when I felt a block in my throat. I was so feverish at that time so I decided to consult a doctor. I had consulted four doctors from New York and LA, and they told me that I had an irritated sore throat,” he recalled.
When he returned to the Philippines, he went to Cebu, his native hometown to seek the advice of other doctors. He was told to take antibiotics.
“But I was bothered. I was fully convinced that there was something wrong with my system. I underwent an MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging), where I was put inside a machine as if it were a coffin for 45 minutes. I preferred not to take sleeping pills because I wanted to know what was happening. After a few hours, the doctors interpreted that I had a mass in my throat, so I needed to undergo a biopsy.
He continued: “Four days after the biopsy I was told that I had a cold nodule. My doctor friends from Cebu and Laoag told me that I needed to undergo surgery before it spread. My fears, doubts, confusion, and depression started to manifest. I decided to do some research and to get a good endocrinologist (in the name of Augusto Litongua) from Makati Medical Center,” he said.
Just to be sure, he underwent another test at the Philippine General Hospital. Still, the finding was malignant.
“The doctor told me that if I undergo surgery there’s a chance for me to get well,” he said.
But Chad had mixed feelings about undergoing the surgery because he was advised by a fortune-teller not to do it.
“In one of my guest appearances at GMA-7, I was predicted not to undergo an operation because something bad would happen to me,” he recalled. “Then I started praying. I went to Coney Reyes to seek advice and enlightenment. After that, I became stronger deep inside. I decided to go on with the operation. Imagine, I was crying for one hour and 30 minutes.”
Bad dream
On October 8, 1998, Chad underwent surgery at the Makati Medical Center.
“I didn’t feel anything. At that moment, I didn’t care if I lost my voice as long as I stayed alive to give me time to repent for my sins. But the torture was after the operation,” he shared. (Chad has now an artificial thyroid. The operation had left him a horizontal scar on his throat.)
Image: blacktiemanila.com
During the first three months, Chad had to take radioactive iodine (a liquid medicine) as part of his treatment. He gained weight because of this medicine. Then he had to regularly monitor his blood to find out if the cancer had spread or not.
“Through this experience, I have learned to surrender my life to God,” he said. “The good news is that my cancer didn’t spread. However, there’s no assurance about it.”
Chad felt fortunate despite everything. “This is my second life,” he intimated. “Now when I wake up every morning, I pray and thank God for giving me an extension in life.”
Slowly, he went back to his singing. But this time around, he has a new outlook. “My life now is full of constant reflections and prayers. Everything in this world is temporary,” said Chad, who’s now a renewed Christian.
Chad said, what happened to him was like a bad dream. “Because of this difficult situation, I’ve become more humble. If I have grudges with people, I just humbled myself. I don’t let anger consume me.”
One thing he has learned from this experience is to be satisfied with what you have and never allow material things to rule your life.
“If you have the chance to say ‘I love you,’ to your parents, and loved ones, say it now, because you will never know what will happen,” concluded Chad, who has become a better person inside and out.
(Based on the article published in the now-defunct Mirror Weekly Magazine by the same author)
Like all great musicals, The Sound of Music has exuded a certain magic that makes it special — you can credit the amazing direction, the beautiful milieu, the incredible music, and the story itself. It became so successful due to the amount of love present in it: the love of music, of freedom, of family, and the love between a man and a woman (which – as Reverend Mother wisely reminds us – is holy, too).
Having watched the film repeatedly on the small screen, it was an experience to witness it inside a sophisticated theater in Circuit Makati, at the Samsung Performing Arts Theater. The venue was a good choice for Broadway Asia and GMG Productions to stage this worth-watching Rodger’s and Hammerstein’s masterpiece, which had its last staging in 2020 at The Theatre at Solaire.
The Sound of Music, based on the memoir of Maria Augusta Trapp set in Austria, follows an ebullient postulant who serves as governess to the seven children of the imperious Captain von Trapp, bringing music and joy to the household. However, the forces of Nazism take hold of Austria, and Maria and the von Trapp family must make a moral decision.
The recent international tour was worth the visit. The stellar cast included Jill-Christine Wiley as Maria and Trevor Martin as Captain Georg von Trapp, who are both talented and shared their emotions with the audience often. They make the perfect team and possess the very best diction I have heard on a professional stage in a long time.
Trevor Martin was an emotional powerhouse as he did an excellent job portraying the stern, complex, but loving Captain von Trapp. Jill-Christine Wiley’s rendition of Maria felt young and lovely. She sang with clarity the title song “The Sound of Music” and other popular tunes, such as “My Favorite Things,” “Do-Re-Mi,” and “The Lonely Goatherd.”
I found the moment touching when the Captain turned over his whistle to Maria when he realized he no longer treats his children and household like a naval battleship. Wiley played her role with justice in her opening scenes and became a loving governess during the story.
This production was star-studded, including the talented Filipino singer-actress Karylle Tatlonghari as Baroness Elsa Schraeder. She portrayed her character with natural elegance, convincing sophistication, and maturity.
Cassi Mikat, who played Mother Abbess, astoundingly delivered “Climb Every Mountain” with passion and made it one of the best hair-raising moments of the show.
Markki Stroem, on the other hand, who portrayed the telegram delivery boy, Rolf Gruber, did captivate the audience with his charms and well-built connection to Lauren O’Brien as Liesl. His rendition of the show tune “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” was enjoyable to watch and listen to. A little bit cheeky to describe, Joshua La Force made Max Detweiler a compelling character with that hilarious personality, obviously distinguished in his performance of “How Love Can Survive” with Tatlonghari. The Von Trapp kids, however, were undeniably witty and quirky and became the center of attention for the scenes they were in.
It was a compelling moment when the large Nazi flags dropped from the ceiling and were used as the backdrop of the Festival concert. There’s nothing more symbolic than seeing a proud Austrian, Captain Von Trapp, sings “Edelweiss” (Austria’s national flower – used as an image of symbolism and loyalty to his country) before he bids farewell to his homeland and runs away with his family to the mountains, instead of reporting to Bremerhaven to assume command in the Army of the Third Reich. This scene is a chilling moment. It was also fascinating at the end of the production, with the Von Trapp children, as they escaped the Nazis after the Anschluss. They were taking a long and arduous journey to reach safety. As the family ascended into the hills of the mountains, my breath was taken away (Finale Ultimo).
The mise-en-scene of the show was extravagant with its minimalist set design and lovely lighting. My favorite set design was the last part of the show when the nuns opened the gate where the Von Trapp family escaped — it was realistic and aesthetic!
The musical appeared different from the film in which Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer starred. “My Favorite Things” was sung in the abbey by Maria and Mother Abbess. In place of that song in the thunderstorm scene, Maria and the kids sang “The Lonely Goatherd” instead. “Edelweiss” was only sung once by the Captain at the concert. Uncle Max and Baroness Schraeder also performed two songs. Not like in the film, they were singing characters, too.
This musical was a perfect show from start to finish and imparted a good lesson to kids and adults alike — a feeling of an incredible sense of joy and love.
