How do you solve a problem like Maria?
The Sound of Music, one of the most popular musicals of all time, has often been associated with the holiday season.
Yet there is little connection between the classic story and Christmas.
Around the holiday season, families like to cuddle up and watch classic holiday movies. Some make a tradition of going to see a holiday-themed concert or production at the theatre or orchestra every year.
Many Ottawans can recall fond memories of seeing The Nutcracker ballet or Handel’s Messiah at the National Arts Centre.
This year, The Sound of Music is also being marketed as a holiday favourite.
It’s a story that many families enjoy together around the holiday season, says Sean Fitzpatrick of the NAC’s English Theatre. He says decision-makers at the NAC felt this would be a wonderful way for families to celebrate the holidays.
Throughout December, and even on Christmas Eve, the musical will be performed at the NAC Theatre. The show’s run has already been extended twice.
Ottawa is not the only city hosting special events surrounding the musical. Kingston’s Grand Theatre is advertising The Sound of Music performances from Dec. 13 to 22. Between Christmas and New Year’s, Toronto’s TIFF Bell Lightbox will screen the movie for fans to sing along to their favourite songs.
Network television channels tend to play the Oscar-winning 1965 movie version this time of year, too.
The American NBC network even broadcasted a special live musical event on Dec. 5 featuring popular country singer Carrie Underwood in the lead role.
The glaring problem is The Sound of Music has little to do with the holiday season.
The musical spans across seasons in 1930’s Austria. A young woman, Maria, leaves a convent to become a governess for the seven children of a widowed Navy captain. The story takes place as Germany is about to take over Austria, just before the onset of the Second World War. The captain is commanded to take up a position in the German forces.
It seems almost inappropriate that a movie foreshadowing the evils of the Second World War is becoming synonymous with a season devoted to cheerful celebration, generosity, and religious tradition.
At the English Theatre, Fitzpatrick says there’s a sense that nostalgia is part of the reason. At its heart, The Sound of Music is about family and it’s about song. It’s a classic story. What more could you ask for, leading up to the holidays?
The same reasoning was behind the NAC’s holiday renditions of Oliver! and Pride and Prejudice in 2011 and 2012 respectively.
Whether at performing arts institutions or on network TV, connecting classic stories with the holiday season seems to be a trend.
When offices are shut down and kids are out of school, when workers get that coveted day off this December, the time will come to cozy up and enjoy a holiday movie, or, for some, to dress up and go to the theatre.
But instead of packaging any classic as “Christmas material” to make a buck, maybe it’s time to think about what many of those movies and shows are really about. Maybe those stories shouldn’t get too wrapped up in holiday spirit, lest we lose their essence.
After all, nostalgia, family, and song shouldn’t only be scheduled for late December.