IF YOU GO WHAT: "The Sound of Music" Sing-a-Long

WHEN: 7:30 p.m. Friday

WHERE: 4W5 Cafe, Fifth and Market; streets, Wilmington

TICKETS: $15,12 and younger $10. Tickets available at door. 100 seats. Advance purchase is suggested. Call 494-3133 or send to Sing-a-Long-a, Box 7183 Wilmington, DE 19803

FOOD AND BEVERAGES: Visit www.4w5cafe.org for a la carte and prices.

The 4W5 Cafe will come alive with "The Sound of Music" Friday

By Christopher Yasiejko

The News Journal

The audience is likely to be filled with people who already have seen the film, but there's no concern about spoilers here. The appeal of a Sing-a-Long-a showing of "The Sound of Music" is as much about a boisterous crowd as it is about the classic 1965 movie. Many visitors to 4W5 Cafe in Wilmington Friday will arrive dressed as characters from the movie, and Greer Firestone, the event's producer, is eager to be surprised.

The appeal of a Sing-a-Long-a showing of "The Sound of Music" is as much about a boisterous crowd as it is about the classic 1965 movie. Many visitors to 4W5 Cafe in Wilmington Friday will arrive dressed as characters from the movie, and Greer Firestone, the event's producer, is eager to be surprised.

When Firestone, a 57-year-old resident of Brandywine Hundred, organized a showing as a private fundraiser at the Christina Riverfront in 2002, he noticed some creative interpretations of the costume option. Some people dressed as Julie Andrews or members of the von Trapp family Some went as nuns.

"People have come as brown paper packages tied up in string," Firestone says.

Others summoned lyrics when creating costumes such as a ray of golden sun and a doe (a deer, a female deer).

Each member of the audience -seating is available for up to 100 - will receive a bag of goodies relevant to the movie. Two Party Poppers can fuel a tiny display of fireworks when Baron von Trapp kisses Maria. A kazoo offers another option for those wary of singing. A whoopie cushion provides a fitting welcome when the Nazi enters a scene.

For 30 minutes before the show's 7:30 p.m. start, Firestone will lead the audience in a vocal warm-up. He'll note moments of the film ripe for interaction and he'll judge the costumes.

Sing-a-Long-a has shown "The Sound of Music" with superimposed lyrics at events throughout the United States and Canada, the United Kingdom, Sweden and Holland.

A portion of the proceeds from this event, Firestone says, will go to Gordon DelGiorno, a local filmmaker.

The whole audience sings and wave their Edelweiss in the air as they sing the song Edelweiss.

2) Tori Natali (left to right), Olivia Peeke, and Kayla Stitz all of Hockessin, wave their Edelweiss in the air as they sing.

3) Greer Firestone (promoter) holds a twig topped with a cotton ball to be used as piece of Edelweiss (a native flower of Austria) that the audience holds up and waves during the opening song.

4) Dmitri (left to right), and his mom Deena blow their party razzers when there is a villain in a scene.

5) Greer Firestone holds his hand over Cara McPeeke of Wilmington, as the audience judges the best costume of the night. Next to Cara is Susan Pugh. Together they are "Christopher Columbus Plumber," which is so weird we're not even going to explain.

6) Guests enjoy food and drinks before the screening of "The Sound of Music."

7) Gordon DelGiorno (Film Bros. Productions), talks about up-coming sing-a-long events.

8) Rob Cook of Wilmington, sings in costume about how "sew" is defined as "a needle pulling thread."

9) Cynthis Cook of Wilmington sings "Snow Flake" in costume. "Snow Flake?" We don't even remember the song "Snow Flake."

10) This woman, who did not want to give her name, sings "Me, a name, I call myself," which if you think about it is ironic in a few different ways.

Contact: Greer Firestone
209 Jackson Blvd.
Wilmington DE, 19803
302.494.3133