Watching the Sing-a-long Sound of Music was unexpectedly engaging. I have seen many musical productions of the Sound of Music, but I realized I have never actually watched the movie all the way through, only clips of it, and I have never been to a sing-a-long. Who knew it would be so engaging?

One thing that was eye opening was the fact that the movie was produced in 1965, 50 years ago. Despite its age, the sets and videography is breathtaking. The videography captured the rolling hills vast beauty and the elegance of upper class wealth back in the 20s and 30s. I had never known that the movie was 50 years old, and I am utterly fascinated by video technology back then.

Sitting in the theater, watching flashes of mountains and hills on the screen, I was strangely nervous. Not only am I not much of a singer (you could see how I would be worried in a sing-a-long version of Sound of Music), but I was not entirely confident in the audience around me. What if I began singing and everybody else just muttered or hummed along? Would there be enough volume to drown out my terribly off-key voice? As it turns out, I could barely even hear myself. The audience was delightfully enthusiastic. As soon as the first song came on, “How do you solve a problem like Maria?”, people jumped right in without hesitating. The audience participation wasn’t only limited to singing. There was a running commentary throughout the entire film. When Maria came out in a wet dress, there were wolf-whistles. When the Nazis showed up on screen hisses and boos filled the air. Clearly, most people in the audience had watched the movie on repeat. I found myself laughing and shouting at the screen with the rest of them. If you ever have the opportunity to attend a similar event, I would definitely recommend the experience.

When I awoke on Saturday morning, I got dressed and readied myself for my one true love: coffee. I realized shortly thereafter, as i descended the lovely Founder’s Hall stairwell, that I had slept through the entire event. I then looked down wearily at the event below it. “Sound of Music Sing-a-Long”. I’m pretty sure I cursed myself under my breath, but whatever.

I had never seen the Sound of Music, and the event was a Sing-a-Long. Sigh. So I went, and quickly realized what I was in for. Loud singing, dress-up, and obnoxious hand motions to accompany the songs/characters. As these movements were presented at the beginning of the movie’s presentation by a very jolly fellow, I thought to myself: “What if i just left?”

The movie started, and the hills rolled in. HILLS!1!1!1!!!!1!! 

The first song came on, accompanied by lyrics at the bottom. Being a person who, when backed against the awkward wall, fights the awkward with awkward, I thought of ways to possibly fight back.

And since I consider myself a man of character, I did just that.

I sang LOUDLY.
very loudly.

About an hour into the movie I was: (1) emotionally attached to the story; (2) very much admired the videography; and (3) became an opera singer.

Honestly, great movie and a great time. I’m very much happy I overslept.

I had never been to a movie at the theater where being loud was encouraged, not frowned upon, until this past Saturday when I went to the Sing-a-long Sound of Music at Cornell Cinema.

Instead of watching trailers before the movie started, one of the staff members led us in a warm up to get our voices ready and quizzed us on lyrics.  We then learned what to do with the goodie bag we were handed when we entered the theater.  We were instructed to wave the plastic white flowers during the song “Edelweiss”, pop the party popper at the exact moment when Maria and Captain Von Trapp kiss, and wave flashcards with different words and pictures on them during other songs.  In addition, we were told to chant “Maria! Maria! Maria!” as the camera zooms in on her after minutes of scenery shots, “hiss” the Baroness when she appears on screen, use hand motions during the song “Doe, a dear…”, the list goes on.

I thought the enthusiasm would die out by the end, given that the movie is three hours long, but the audience kept with the motions, props, and singing the whole time.  I’ve been watching the Sound of Music since I was a child, and my elementary school chorus sung the songs one year, so I know all the words, but I had no idea that so many people loved the Sound of Music!  It was truly impressive to hear the whole theater belting out “My favorite things,” “I am 16, going on 17”, and of course, “The Sound of Music.”

This event was very fun, and I learned that Denise was in a production of the Sound of Music, so she really knows all the words!  I highly recommend going to a film/musical with audience participation if you haven’t been to one yet!