THE SOUND OF MUSIC Open Air Theatre, Regent’s Park

The difficulty these days for any revival is that Rodgers and Hammerstein’s schmaltzy mixture of affable nuns climbing ev’ry mountain, cute children singing Do-Re-Mi and nasty Nazis invading Austria, still, even 48 years on, has to compete with the memory of Julie Andrews’ definitive performance and the spectacular Salzburg locations in the much-loved film. Rachel Kavanaugh’s modest and wholesome revival is, nevertheless, absolutely fine for Regent’s Park and family audiences. Charlotte Wakefield is a very young and impetuous governess (not much older than the eldest of her seven charges). Michael Xavier, as her very tall and rigid employer, towers above her. The children, as usual, melt all hearts. Imogen Gurney’s very knowing 12-year-old deservedly gets the loudest laughs.