Longport’s Doug Farrell as Maria in “The Sound of Music.”
By NANETTE LoBIONDO GALLOWAY
LONGPORT – The “Sound of Music” was brought to life Saturday in the crosswalk at the only traffic light in Longport.
Longtime resident Doug Farrell and his band of Christmas buddies from Philadelphia brought one of the world’s most loved musical to the striped crosswalk at 33rd and Atlantic avenues, ala James Corden’s Crosswalk Musicals.
Cordon hosts The Late Show and often performs riotous comedic musicals in the crosswalks of some of the busiest intersections in Los Angeles.
“I took on his persona and took charge of organizing and directing it. Everyone knows the songs in The Sound of Music and I thought it would be a crowd pleaser,” Farrell said.
He said the cast, which included his Philly friends who work at a free clinic, picked the date months ago and kept it hush-hush. After several Zoom meetings, they had one 45-minute rehearsal in his driveway just before they headed out to Longport’s most used beach access point at Lifeguard Headquarters.
They even practiced how to roll off a vehicle if it traveled through their production numbers.
Cast of “The Sound of Music” performed in the crosswalk at 33rd and Atlantic avenues in Longport, Saturday, Aug. 22.
Members of the cast included Barbara Wilson of Northfield, along with Joann Garr, Mary Beth Appel, Sheila D’Hand and attorney Chris Paul. To keep things secretive, they approached the intersection in their lederhosen and aprons from different directions to avoid arousing suspicion.
His son Michael filmed the making of the crosswalk musical and posted it on YouTube.
“We wanted to fill minds, hearts and crosswalks in this difficult time,” Farrell said.
He noted parallels between the musical’s theme in Nazi Germany and today’s political climate in America and around the world.
“With what’s going on now, we are so divided, and you can’t even talk to your neighbors without the possibility the conversation will blow up. I though it would be a great to bring them a musical that brings everyone together,” he said. “We just need to take a deep breath and enjoy some time together.”
Farrell went online to purchase his Maria costume, which he said cost him all of $15.99.
He played the part of Maria and Capt. Von Trapp changing costumes in his car which was parked on Atlantic Avenue.
The troupe ran into the crosswalk when the light turned red and lip synced as much of the songs as they could before traffic again flowed.
“We sang three songs from the musical and an encore based on the 27 second traffic light, and we even had a timer letting us know when we had to get out of the street,” he said.
Farrell said he was happy to see people coming and going to the beach stop on the street corners to watch their antics, and they wanted to hear more, he said.
“The best moment was when four bikers pulled up. I had just been handed a bouquet of dead hydrangeas by my granddaughter, Maggie, and was singing, ‘So Long, Farewell’ dressed as Maria. I handed each of them one of the dead blossoms. They had the biggest smiles on their faces,” he said.
Performing is second nature to Farrell, a retired podiatrist who sings the national anthem at the Margate Fire Department’s annual 9-11 ceremony and at Longport’s annual Irish music concerts.
“It was fun to get back to the basics amid COVID-19 and have a little fun together,” he said.
People asked him when and where their next performance would be held.
“I don’t know if that will happen. They say it’s best to go out while you’re on top.”
Copyright Mediawize, LLC 2020
