‘I played oldest von Trapp, now my daughter is the youngest’

They have a pretty big cast - not to mention backstage crew - for the runaway success that is The Sound Of Music at Cork Opera House.

But stealing the show at alternate performances are two very composed and experienced ten-year-olds, Sibéal Carey and Sofia Hochstedler, who share the role of the youngest von Trapp, Gretl.

We first meet upstairs in the theatre after a demanding rehearsal, but both young ladies are ebullient about their roles and eager to get to opening night.

“Sofia is at the Joan Denise Moriarty School,” explains her mother, Sarah. “She was singing and dancing at home from a very young age, so I sent her to their classes and she loves every moment of it. I think it’s her second home really!

“She has had plenty of experience in performance, but this is her first big show on the Opera House stage.

“Her experience with Joan Denise will stand to her as she is very used to busy shows, and quick changes.”

Sarah Hochstedler is in fact no stranger to The Sound Of Music as she took the role of Liesl in the 2004 production at the Opera House.

“I was studying music at UCC at the time,” she says, “Sofia laughs at my having played the eldest of the von Trapp children and now she is playing the youngest!”

But how do the two Gretls get on with each other? Is there a sense of competing, of ‘I’m better than you are?’ The girls look at each other and burst into laughter.

In fact, it seems, they were a little disconsolate when at a certain stage in the rehearsals, the two teams of children were split up, and they couldn’t hang round together as they liked to do.

“They have both made so many new friends too,” says Maura, Sibéal Carey’s mother. “It’s been an amazing experience for both of them.”

Sibéal has attended the Performers Academy from the age of four, where her older sister, Coco, has been for 10 years.

It’s her first time too being involved in a professional production, but, says her mother, it just doesn’t matter to her how many days or hours they are rehearsing, she goes in with a smile and comes out with a bigger smile.

“She has loved everything about it,” adds Maura.

Seeing them on stage during rehearsal, listening carefully, repeating the same lines and movements over and over, obedient to every direction, you cannot but be amazed at their commitment. But surely there is something they don’t like?

Both consider this seriously.

“The end,” says Sibéal seriously. The end of the show each night? “No, the end of the run.” They nod in unison.

Already, they are experiencing that emotion familiar to any performer, when a long and successful run has to face the final curtain, and goodbyes have to be said. But it’s not the end yet! That is many weeks away as the show runs to August 23, just before the girls go back to school.

I talk with Sofia and Sibéal again when The Sound Of Music has opened to rave reviews and packed houses. How are they coping with it now?

“It was cool to think we were in the rehearsal room just the other day,” says Sibéal, “but I actually got a fright when I walked on stage for the first time and saw the amount of people out front!

“Now I feel quite relaxed on the day of the show - it’s exciting to head into the Opera House with such a kind cast and such a happy atmosphere backstage.”

Sofia too is feeling really good now that the show is up and running.

“Once you have a few performances under your belt, you gain a lot of confidence. I have the confidence that it’s all going to go OK,” she says.

Sofia usually gets ready at home, with her mother Sarah doing her hair in the special Dutch braids required, and Sofia efficiently seeing to her own make up. They make sure she has everything she needs in her bag, including snacks for the interval - very important.

“And we try to fit in a quick vocal warm-up either at home or in the car on the way to the theatre,” adds mum.

Inevitably, ten-year-olds are pretty tired after the evening shows, but still have to wind down before they are ready for bed. And there are still many more performances to go, since the run has been extended due to huge demand.

Both agree that they find audience reactions very moving, especially when they get standing ovations as is often the case.

The closing scene, when Majella Cullagh as Mother Abbess sings Climb Ev’ry Mountain while the family cluster together on a raised dais at the back of the stage, staring apprehensively into a challenging future, quite rightly brings the house down.

“The story was explained to us, what the family had lost, what they were about to embark on, and we were asked to imagine how we might feel in that situation,” says Sibéal.

“Davey (director Davey Kelleher) was so kind and patient and really made everything very easy for us.”

The Sound Of Music continues at Cork Opera House until August 23. Booking on 021 427 0022 or www.corkoperahouse.ie.