When I talk about why I wanted to do The Sound of Music, I talk about the plethora of parts I could offer the girls, my attempt to compete with West Side Story in attracting people, the ability to show off our particular sets of talents, or the blended family portrayed as good and hopeful.
And that's because I didn't really know or like the musical until I chose it. Until I saw these incredibly loving, enthusiastic students put the musical on.
Yes, it's happened to me with plays before. Julius Caesar happened years before I staged it at my current school, but it was a similar moment. The cast's love and the way the details of the show come alive in a rehearsal room give me love.
But this seems like something different. And today's gospel really helps me zero in on why. Because The Sound of Music is the exact opposite of the prodigal son's brother, which is always the part of the story I obsess about.
He is resentful that his brother is forgiven. That his broken brother who has caused so much harm is welcomed back with joy and feasting.
In The Sound of Music, the moment when little Gretl hugs Captain von Trapp and he starts to sing...I mean, I've seen them do it a couple of times now, but I started ugly crying in the audience this past Thursday all the same. Captain von Trapp has ignored and bullied his children for the last few years (play von Trapp, not historical von Trapp), taking out his grief for his wife by denying himself and them joy and music.
When he turns the corner (in 16 bars that he doesn't even sing), there is a group hug, Maria cries in joy, and everybody immediately welcomes him back to his role as a parent. The next bit of action is officially getting him together with the woman who facilitated his repentance and forgiveness.
He is accepted back. Maria is instantly forgiven for leaving the von Trapps in a panic that hurt them all deeply.
When people turn the corner, when they have an epiphany that leads them to genuinely change who they are -- that is honored, welcome, celebrated. They are forgiven. It isn't treated with suspicion. They aren't held hostage to who they were or told that they will surely revert to their old ways. The hard work they did to come back to their families, hat in hand, and say that they were wrong but they love you -- that's all the von Trapp family wanted.
It's an incredibly forgiving, loving show. It's a celebration of lessons learned -- and forgiveness granted in honor of that lesson.
Everyone in this play is the father of the prodigal son. And no one is his brother.
I feel for his brother, most days, but I am so full of love from this show. I've spent the last 8 weeks living with the prodigal son's father.
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