The Sound of Music: Historical Context Presentation
By GJ Gillespie
Whidby Playhouse
Oak Harbor, WA

May 6, 2025

Acting coach Sanford Meisner said: "Acting is behaving truthfully under imaginary circumstances"

How do we behave truthfully as actors? It begins by putting yourself in your character's shoes.

Understanding the historical backdrop of "The Sound of Music" transforms what might seem like just a charming family musical into a story of moral courage during one of history's darkest chapters.

With over 30 years teaching communication and performance I know historical context is vital for adding depth to performance. Beyond my academic background, my own acting experience has taught me that the best performances come when actors truly understand their characters' world.

Today, I'll shed light on three critical historical elements that form the backbone of our story: Austria's precarious position in early 1938, the Nazi power structure represented by figures like the Gauleiter, and the Anschluss that forced the von Trapps to make their fateful decision.

Austria's Proud History and Transformation

Austro-Hungarian Empire before WWI 1914 was ruled by the Habsburg Family Dynasty for 600 years. Called the Dual Kingdom Austria and Hungary shared a king and foreign policy but each had their own parliament, laws and taxing system. Impact: Austrians had a rich history of prestige and political power. 

After WWI 

• The treaty of Treaty of Versailles, signed in 1919, imposed devestation terms on Germany and the Empire
• Austria was transformed into a small struggling nation without a sea port
• Key Detail: Captain von Trapp's character makes more sense when you understand he was a naval hero without a navy - Austria had lost its coastline after WWI
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• Transition: While Austria struggled with its identity, a growing threat was organizing just across the border to the North

Coming of the Gauleiter - The Face of Nazi Power

• Hitler took power in 1934 and sought to expand Germany and take over German-speaking Austria
• A Gauleiter was a powerful regional Nazi Party leader who governed a district and reported directly to Hitler. For Salzburg, this was Friedrich Rainer, though he isn't named in the musical. Rolf mentions him.
• Significance: The small reference by Rolf in the "You Are Sixteen" scene shows how Nazi influence was already infiltrating Austrian society before the actual invasion, even reaching young people like Rolf.

Friedrich Rainer (Salzburg's Gauleiter)

• Transition: The mention of the Gauleiter foreshadows the coming storm with the Anschluss

Nazis Enter Vienna

The Anschluss

• Context: The Anschluss on March 12, 1938, was Nazi Germany's annexation of Austria - the pivotal historical event that drives our story's climax
• Key Detail: Hitler used a combination of political pressure, propaganda, and military threat to force this "union" that was later presented as voluntary through a rigged vote showing 99.7% approval
• Herr Zeller:  When Herr Zeller asks about "The flag of Reicht" it shows that Anschluss had arrived in Salzburg

Review Key Historical Dates That Impact Our Story

• 1918: End of World War I, collapse of Austro-Hungarian Empire
• 1925: Hitler publishes "Mein Kampf," outlining his vision for German expansion
• Early 1938: Increasing Nazi pressure on Austria
• March 12, 1938: The Anschluss - Nazi Germany takes over Austria
• April 10, 1938: Rigged vote claims to show 99% support for the annexation

Austrians Faced a Cultural Identity Crisis

• Three historical context questions our characters face:
  • Remain distinctly Austrian?
  • Accept becoming part of Germany?
  • Or should they resist the Nazis?

Example of my character Baron Elberfeld:

• He strongly opposes the Nazis and German presence
• He resists Herr Zeller and declares he is a proud Austrian
• As an "Old Guard" of the nation, he sees them as a threat
• He is open about his dislike of Germans because he felt his wealth and social standing would protect him from whatever political winds that might blow
  
  
  
  
  
  

Transition: While the musical covers this history, let's point out where the story stretches the truth a little for dramatic reasons:

• Maria was hired to tutor one of the children who was ill, not initially as a governess for all of them. 
• Captain von Trapp was a warm and kind father in real life, not initially the stern, distant figure portrayed in the musical.
• The children's ages, names, and personalities were altered and simplified for the story (e.g., Liesl's storyline is fictional).
• Date of marriage was ten years earlier. 
• Escape happened by train not hiking over mountains. 
• The dramatic concert performance just before the escape and the immediate pursuit by Nazis over the mountains were fictionalized for the climax.

Why History Matters for Our Performance

• Understanding characters' motivations, behaviors and the world in which they live helps actors create authentic, believable and realistic performances.

Context of Evil:

The Nazi regime represented one of history's clearest examples of evil, systematic oppression, antisemitism, and eventually genocide. Keep that in mind that there is darkness looming behind our story. 

Application:

In scenes with Nazi characters, particularly Herr Zeller, we must convey the real menace they represented - not cartoonish villains, but the face of an ideology that destroyed millions of lives.

Expert Quote

Elie Wiesel, Holocaust survivor and Nobel Peace Prize winner, said: "For the dead and the living, we must bear witness."

Conclusion

We've explored Austria's vulnerable position in 1938, the Nazi power structure represented by figures like the Gauleiter, and how the Anschluss changed everything for the von Trapp family.

Visualization: When you take the stage, imagine not just performing a beloved musical but bearing witness to a moment when ordinary people had to make extraordinary choices. The music we create together isn't just entertainment - it's a reminder of the courage it takes to stand for what's right when doing so carries real risk.

Final Thought: "The Sound of Music" endures not just because of its beautiful melodies, but because at its heart, it's about the triumph of love and courage over fear and hate. That's the story we have the honor of telling.

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