What are the chances of a local production inspiring so much love that it runs a sold-out show during the pandemic? Moreover, what are the chances of that labour of love getting an encore?

That’s the reality for the Queanbeyan Players’ (QP) heartfelt rendition of The Sound of Music. Call it a yearning for our favourite things during global uncertainty, but audiences could not be stopped from filling seats at the Q – with some viewers even streaming the show from home.

“Since the first run was sold out before we even opened, a lot of people missed out,” said Michael ‘MJ’ Jordan, who stars as the stern and dashing Captain Von Trapp.  “We’ve been very committed to presenting the exact same show.”

“Originally, we were filled to 75 per cent capacity, because of the restrictions at the time,” said Lydia Milosavljevic, QP’s fresh-faced and dynamic Maria.  “I think now we’ll get a hundred percent, which will be even better!”

The pair auditioned in December 2019, with rehearsals starting in February 2020, right before the pandemic was declared.

“We stopped around March, and then around October we picked up again. Then we performed in March 2021, which was amazing to just finally get on stage,” Lydia told CW.

“It was only a couple of months ago when we got the call from QP saying, ‘we want to bring you back,’” said MJ.

The story of plucky postulant Maria Rainer, ill-suited to life as a nun “because she’s a bit wild,” smiled Lydia (“Just a mess,” supplied MJ), learning to look after seven children living under the thumb of a father who has forgotten how to love, is about finding love and family.

Likewise, close bonds formed between an ensemble of almost 100 regular locals, dedicating their weekends and evenings to the production.

“We’ve definitely become a family,” said Lydia,” I feel because of [Covid]. Like, 2019, that’s a long time! All the kids have grown up, those are the key stages of their lives and we’re getting to see it.”

“They’re all very much teenagers now,” said MJ, sharing a laugh with his co-star.

“They’re just so beautiful, all of them. We have a handshake, a whole dance routine, that we do before the shows,” smiled Lydia.

“Put a rug on them when they show up to rehearsals in a T-shirt,” said MJ.

As they approach opening night, the cast spends three days a week rehearsing together, with Sunday rehearsals sometimes stretching from 9.30am to 5pm. In particular, the youngest cast members have been expanding their skillset.

“A lot of the kids were double cast. They shared roles, one would do one show, then a different kid would do the next,” MJ said.

“All the girls were double cast,” said Lydia. “The boys weren’t until the end, when our Kurt broke his leg a month before the show. So, one of the Gretels and one of the Birgittas learnt the part of Kurt. Now we even have a lot of the kids learning all the parts, so if anything does go wrong, especially with Covid, they can just jump in!”

Both leads bring talent in spades to the local production; 21-year-old Lydia was originally going to audition for the part of the eldest Von Trapp, Liesel, but snagged the starring role with arresting talent, that held up next to her tenured co-star.

MJ had been a live theatre actor for almost two decades, even performing under Australian director, Baz Luhrmann.

“It’s very much who I am. When I came back to Canberra and got a normal, regular job, I kept my hand in the amateur theatre space.”

“I’m a full-time public servant, and study on the side as well,” said Lydia.

“It all works itself together, with a lot of time management,” she smiled. “You make room for the things you love. I’ve been performing since I was six, starting in choirs and school musicals.”

“She’s just one of the most talented people I’ve ever worked with,” said MJ. “Just vocally phenomenal, and a delight.”

“The good thing about doing it again is we have that foundation now from the first show,” Lydia said. “We don’t have to re-get to know each other; we can slot back into where we were.”

Within his illustrious career, MJ noted that this production was personally special for one reason. “The captain has been one of the three roles that I had to play at some point in my life.”

“I watched [The Sound of Music] several times as a child and I admired him even back then. It was one of my dream roles, it always has been.

“I saw a little bit of myself in him, even as a child … The sort that would wear a pocket watch to school.”

“That’s gorgeous, I could see you doing that,” laughed his co-star.

However, if he wasn’t playing Captain Von Trapp, MJ said that his next preferred role would be the Mother Abbess, while Lydia noted a QP trend of Marias going on to play the elegant 1930s material girl, Elsa, “which could be fun down the track”.

Right now, however, they welcome Canberra and surrounds to the long-awaited encore. “Now we’ve had all this time to polish and add the little things. The kids are grown up, they’ve developed more of their characters, and their voices as well,” said Lydia. “They were beautiful in the first run, but even more so now.”

“It’s very much been tightening everything up,” agreed MJ. “The first time we came back, our very first rehearsal was an entire read-through of the show.’

“And we did it!” Lydia smiled.

“It’s going to be real schmick. Get in before it’s sold out,” said MJ.

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