Sophie's Last Night in The Sound of Music

What a night! Sophie's mum and I had not seen the show together since her first night back in November, so it was a real thrill for us to sit together once again and watch the final performance. We have both seen the show several times now, I guess maybe six or seven times each, and each time I'd sit with a grin from ear to ear, humming the tunes and enjoying the slickness of the production and the great performances. The children grew in confidence as the run went on, and they are so drilled to perfection by Frank Thompson and children's MD Ros Jones that by the time they reach the stage they are practically faultless - the timing of each move and line lands really well, you'd hardly believe that for some of these kids, like my Sophie, this is a first professional experience in a big theatre.

The final curtain call was just fantastic, we were so proud of her and all of her team who have all grown so close over the last few months. It was a truly bittersweet night - we felt privileged to be involved, albeit ourselves on the periphery, of this unique experience - the last night of a great production of a classic musical at the greatest theatre. And what with the chaos at the Stage Door after, with all of the kids who had ever been in the show, plus a crowd of adults all congregating there, it topped of a crazy and wonderful night. It's not often I buy my eight year old dinner in the West End at midnight on Saturday, but it seemed fitting to this unique and amazing time.

How lucky she has been to have this experience, and at this age. To be a part of something so lavish, with such effort behind it. I wrote recently that I had accidentally criticised this production when I had been attempting to observe that I thought the book had some issues; sitting there watching this performance with the cast on top form and the audience of 2000 people loving every minute of it I realise my huge mistake in criticising a show that has been so deftly constructed and so beautifully realised on stage by this creative team. The reason this show has survived is because it's just marvellous.

And so on Sunday morning we all had post-show blues, and I guess we still do. Something like this for someone her age dominates all our lives, from Mum, me, sister and cat, every day was planned around whether we had to get our little West End star into town for a performance, and how we planned to pick her up again at the Stage Door afterwards.

It had to end, of course, as we knew from the start. All good things do, apparently. But it was a time we'll never forget, a production that I think a lot of people will never forget, and I think whenever it happens that a producer decides to bring this show back to the West End, they will have a lot to live up to. A mountain to climb, perhaps!? Or maybe that's one dry gag too far...

And depending on when that happens, if the show were to be revived again one day, I know of a girl who will be ready to audition for Brigitta/Louisa/Liesl/Maria/Mother Abbess, depending on what year or decade it might come about! 'Til then, the wonderful show at the London Palladium will remain with us for a long time to come, and we may find ourselves traversing the country to catch the next stop of the tour, just to catch a glimpse of it and ease our withdrawal symptoms!