The curtain comes down on The Sound of Music today as the show finishes it’s Australian tour. There’s just a few tickets left for the final shows at 1pm and 6pm today.

The much loved musical has entertained Perth audiences for the last month as it’s enjoyed its residency at Crown Theatre.

Among the many recognisable cast members in the show is Australian TV legend Lorraine Bayly. The 79 year old actress became a household name as a host of Play School and in her memorable roles as in The Sullivans and Carson’s Law.

Bayly told OUTinPerth that she’s been enjoying playing housekeeper Frau Schmidt in the musical.

“I’m loving it, its a fun role. I try to make her a little different to the normal-formal housekeepers that one sees, and it seems to be working. It gives her a few extra facets to the character which I’m loving playing.”

The actress said  she had enjoyed being in a musical, which is not her normal type of production, but unexpectedly she’s just been in two in a row. Bayly only finished a run in The Shoe Horn Sonata a week before she joined the production of The Sound of Music.

“It was a heavy piece, a beautiful play by John Misto, and there were only two women in it. Prisoners of War – a true story.” Bayly explained. “it was really heavy and emotional. I had one speech that went for five pages.”

The actress said she had embraced the change of pace that came with Rogers and Hammerstein’s uplifting story of a singing family that escapes Nazi occupation.

Bayly said she was really looking forward to celebrating her 80th birthday in January and enjoyed her time touring across the company with production.

Bayly was full of praise for the young performers who had taken on the roles of the von Trapp children in each city alongside the crew and cast of the show; “I can’t think of one person who was not a joy to work, they’ve all really cared about making the show as good as it can be.”

Rush now to catch the final performance of The Sound of Music.  

OIP Staff