‘I would climb ev’ry mountain to bring Sound Of Music to life one more time. I just can’t say so long, farewell to it’
Theatre producer relives happy childhood memories singing hits from new show
As the opening chord was played at the first readthrough, Peter Kelly was taken back to the Sunday afternoons of his childhood.
Between 2pm and 5pm, he and his seven siblings would gather to practise their harmonies. The Sound Of Music was their speciality, so much so that they became known as the Highland von Trapps.
When it came to selecting this year’s show for Inverness’s Starlight Musical Theatre, it felt like the right time to pay homage to his childhood.
“My mother was a great singer, so she brought that into the family,” said Peter. “She always sang at parties and the song was nearly always Climb Ev’ry Mountain.
“My father was very interested in music, he taught himself piano but he wasn’t a singer. We used to put on shows in our garage for the neighbours. We would mock up a stage with curtains and we’d all have to go and sing songs and do a wee bit.”
There are 16 years between the eldest of Peter’s siblings and the youngest. Lorraine was born in 1953, then Janis, Peter, Louise, Mark, Paul, Claire and finally Maria. Like the von Trapps in the classic story, they performed in – and won – talent competitions across the country, leaving audiences in awe of their harmonies.
“It was a fantastic feeling singing harmonies with your brothers and sisters when you knew not everybody could do that,” said Peter. “Because we are siblings we have similar voices, so the sound is even richer.”
The troop drifted as they went to different school, but music remained a thread that held them together. Lorraine became a head music teacher, Janis is resident head of opera at the Royal College of Music in London and recently played Mother Abbess in a professional production of The Sound Of Music in Chichester.
Peter performed on West End stages before taking up his producer role at Starlight, Claire was in a band and Maria runs a musical theatre school and has also been a West End leading lady.
To this day, when they meet at weddings and family gatherings, time must be set aside for performances.
“We can jump in with any harmony, it’s inbuilt,” said Peter. “When I got married, the list of people who wanted to sing was so long the guy who played the piano just got drunk.
“Our voices are fading a little as we get older, but it’s still special. I think even when we get really old, we’ll still give it a go.”
The last time the Highland von Trapps performed The Sound of Music together was at a millennium concert at Eden Court in 2000. But that wasn’t to be the end of the family’s deep-rooted connection to the musical as Peter leads Starlight’s production next month.
“The day of our first readthrough brought back memories. I got quite teary because it means so much,” he said.
“I must have seen The Sound of Music 20-odd times in my life, and we still watch it every Christmas. It’s such a feel-good story and the goodies win in the end. We always saw my mother being a bit like Julie Andrews because she had as good a voice and was almost sort of nun-like, very meek and modest.”
As the nine local children who will play the von Trapps in Starlight’s production learn their roles – with two alternating – Peter can’t help but hum along.
“I knew all the harmonies our musical director, Fiona, was trying to teach the kids, they just don’t leave you,” he said.
Watching the cast progress through months of rehearsals has encompassed what Peter hopes to achieve with Starlight’s productions.
“The whole point was trying to bring in people who have not done shows before because I believe anyone can sing – not to the same degree, but anyone can sing,” he said.
“A lot of people can act too; you just have to support them and tell them they can do it. I just like to see people enjoy themselves and make the most of the opportunity. It doesn’t matter if you’re not great, you’re just as important.”
Though Peter will be watching from the wings as a proud producer rather than on stage, the rest of the Highland von Trapps already have their tickets to come and cheer him on.
“I am looking forward to coming back to the show again,” Peter said. “The Sound of Music was something we just had to do because it’s one of those musicals. It’s not an easy show to put on or rehearse, but I think once we get on the stage and do it, we’re going to do a good job. This is a real bucket list one.”
Starlight Musical Theatre’s The Sound of Music will be at Eden Court, Inverness, from August 14 to 17. eden-court.co.uk or call 01463 234234