WHEN I was asked to review The Sound of Music staring 'the other Maria' I was a little disappointed.

Instead of seeing Connie Fisher, the star and winner of BBC1's How do you solve a problem like Maria?', I would see Aoife Mulholland, a runner-up in the reality TV series who plays Maria on the days Connie takes off.

I was critical from the outset, however a few scenes in, as the musical warmed up, the alternate Maria was already starting to prove me wrong.

Her voice is just as I remember Maria, which would be as Julie Andrews played her in one of my favourite childhood films, honest, genuine, heartfelt and passionate, and her songs were pitch-perfect, as far as I could tell.

The supporting cast was also outstanding. Margaret Preece's impressive voice as Mother Superior sent chills down the spine, and each of the children shined in their roles, showing their own, very individual characters, adorably.

As Maria's warmth and love of music brings life back into the cold, military-style Von Trapp household, Captain Georg von Trapp, played by Simon Burke, is at last moved by the music that reconnects him with his children.

As his heart awakened to Maria's charms, and melts away his icy shell, it touches Maria so deeply she leaves the path of the nun, to become his wife, and mother to his children.

I realised then her music had touched me as well - the harsh critic had dissolved.

The stage and orchestra performances were matched by impressive set designs, conveying beautifully the Austrian hills and mountains in a creative vision which brings the theatre to life, and draws in the audience for an experiential piece of much-loved musical theatre.

The Sound of Music is on at the London Palladium at Oxford Circus For information and tickets call 0870 895 5589 or log on to www.seetickets.com