Geographically speaking if the Trapp family had done what Rodgers and Hammerstein suggested and donned backpacks and hiked over the Alps to freedom, rather than find themselves in the safety of Switzerland they would have landed up almost literally in Hitler's back garden which just goes to show that you can't let the facts get in the way of a good story

Oddly this pretty much sums up the Sound of Music. Unapologetically sweet and often tipping over into the sickly this is a show which is the theatrical equivalent of an old dressing gown - easy to slip into but with the odd worn patch here and there - just like the show's latest production by AAODS which runs at the Borough Theatre this week.

With more sing-a-long numbers than you can shake a stick at, a bevvy of handsome children and a chorus of nuns and Nazis make no mistake about it this is a sure fire hit for the technically adept company and with the first night safely under their collective belts, with a little work the production can only go from strength to strength.

When I say work of course I use the term advisedly for this is already a show with an envious degree of polish and a remarkable lack of first night hiccups.

Its drawback is that if anything it is so well rehearsed it has lost some of its spontaneity and passion and perhaps most importantly the sense of fun which acts as such a contrast to the underlying tensions.

In the central role of Maria, Helen O' Sullivan is charming. She pitches her scenes with the children beautifully and wins over the audience from her first appearance yet I couldn't help waiting for her to throw off her inhibitions and give us a glimpse of the exuberance she displayed with her Kiss Me Kate debut for the company a few years back.

If she can overcome her obvious nerves - which I have no doubt she will - her naturally wicked stage presence and easy voice will make her a memorable Maria.

The same goes by and large for Patrick Callahan as Captain von Trapp who is measured and restrained but for most part fails to fully convey the heel clicking arrogance of the widowed naval officer or the change wrought in him by the guileless Maria as he slowly realises that he has fallen in love with her.

Their beautiful duet Something Good was perfectly sung, but sadly lacked the amazement and delight of two people who have discovered that their love for each other is reciprocated.

As the Baroness Suzanne Meates works well but again fails to bring the light and shade needed to make the character truly come to life although the two trios she shares with von Trapp and Peter Winter as Max were among the highlights of the evening.

Speaking of Peter Winter, his performance as Max was everything it should be - relaxed, fun and light, especially when he was working with the children.

In the role of the Mother Abbess, Rita Rouse, as always, commanded the stage bringing the necessary gravitas and humanity to every scene. Her Act I closing number Climb Every Mountain was a sure-fire audience pleaser.

Of course no production of The Sound of Music can succeed without a talented team of young people and AAODS was blessed with a group which simply oozed class.

Headed by?Megan Trinder as Liesl, the seven strong 'family' - Miles Harding, Molly Brickley Clark, Brandon Jones, Carys Davies, Amy Price and Anni Rees - blended perfectly from their first entrance with showstoppers like Do Re Mi, My Favourite Things and the Lonely Goatherd delighting the audience.

For Sixteen Going on Seventeen, Meg was joined by Alex Williams as Rolf with their ill-fated teenage romance beautifully played.

As ever with AAODS the chorus work was faultless with the nuns coping perfectly with the change between the lighthearted and the more serious -although I have to admit I half expected the Nazi stormtroopers to burst into a chorus of YMCA as they lined the auditorium as the show reached its dramatic climax.

Again as we've come to expect from AAODS there was some nice 'off the ball' playing and cameo appearances.

Jane Griffith was natural and relaxed as Frau Schmidt, Peter Bourne raised a smile as Franz, the butler - think Larry Grayson on steroids and you won't go far wrong - and Brenda Maloney, Sue Price and Deborah Harrington were great fun as the triumvirate of nuns .

In all this was a show of which the homegrown production team of Stephen Clark and Sarah Fowler can be very proud.

There were moments when I wished the cast could have enjoyed it as much as the audience because when they do The Sound of Music really will come into its own!