By James V. Ruocco
A captain.
A governess.
A convent.
A love story.
Seven well-schooled children.
Singing nuns.
A daring escape.
A happy ending.
"The Sound of Music" - replete with its skillfully crafted music and lyrics by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II - transports theatergoers back to the Austrian mountains of yesterday backed by a rapturous, melodic score of popular showtunes including "Do-Re-Mi," "My Favorite Things," "Sixteen Going on Seventeen," "Edelweiss" and lastly, the title song itself draped in abundant swatches of heart, emotion and genuine harmony.
It's beautiful.
It's sweet.
It's tuneful.
It's affectionate.
It's nostalgic.
Moreover, every word, every phrase and every song is lodged in the memory of pretty much every single person in the audience who bought a ticket to this oft-produced musical.
The iconic 1965 film aside, the two-act musical, backed by a talented, confident and equally delightful cast of performers - all ages; all sizes - transforms Broadway Method Academy's sweet-sounding revival into a ceremonious good time for fans of the Oscar-winning film, the original 1959 Broadway production that starred Mary Martin, Theodore Bikel, Marian Marlowe and Patricia Neway and the musical's many incarnations throughout the years.
This is wholesome, feelgood entertainment with catchy songs, adorable children and ready-made escapism.
It's milk chocolate, candy-coated fun with homespun dazzle, radiance and demand.
It warms the heart. It lives up to its expectations.
It's singalong ready with perky, loveable enthusiasm.
It's spontaneous and respectful and despite its familiarity, it builds and sustains interest marvelously without rarely missing a beat.
Moreover, it doesn't tamper with history or the musical's original conceit as envisioned by Richard Rodgers (music), Oscar Hammerstein II (lyrics) and Howard Lindsay and Russell Crouse, who wrote the book.
Set in 1938, "The Sound of Music" takes its cue from Maria von Trapp's 1949 memoir "The Story of the Trapp Family Singers" and the popular 1956 German films "The Trapp Family" and its 1958 sequel "The Trapp Family in America" which starred Ruth Leuwerik as Maria von Trapp and Hans Holt as Baron Von Trapp.
Then and now, it musically portrays the family story of a young novitiate who becomes governess to seven children, falls in love their father, marries him and becomes stepmother to his two sons and five daughters. For story purposes, some of the real-life events of the von Trapp family have been altered for dramatic purposes including the names of the children and the family's escape from the Nazis over the Austrian mountains in Saltzberg to Switzerland on foot.
In its musical form, BMA's revival features all the songs from the original 1959 stage musical including two numbers that were cut from the film but nonetheless, essential to the story - "How Can Love Survive?" and "No Way to Stop It," sung here with melodic dash, spirit and panache by Brenna Donahue (Elsa Schraeder), Martin Giannini (Captain von Trapp) and Sam David Cohen (Max Detweiler). Here, as sung by the trio, both songs heighten the dramatic momentum of the story, its references to society and position, its politics, its compromises and the imminent arrival of the "Anschluss."
For this production, musical director Matt Moisey brings energy, contrast, mood, tone and great warmth to the original Rodgers and Hammerstein score, carefully conveying the intended meaning of every song, its sense of line and purpose, its story progression and its signature theatricality.
Staging "The Sound of Music," director Connor Deane ("Annie," "Evita," "Carousel," "The Addams Family") brings a memorable, breezy spin to the story, reinforced by a strong sense of clarity, eloquence, sweetness and coloring that heightens the musical's evolving narrative, its nostalgia, its optimism and its built-in cheeriness.
It's an inspiring, cheered-up approach, built around playful, important musical numbers, daft conversations, familiar characters, a smart mix of performers of all ages and more importantly, fresh, invigorating pacing of high expression, delicate simplicity, lightness of touch, controlled dynamic and smooth, straightforward confidence.
Emily Fink, as Maria, comes to "The Sound of Music" with a crisp, clear, beautiful soprano voice that brings a fresh excitement and musicality to every song she is asked to sing including the showstopping title song, "Do-Re-Mi" and "The Lonely Goatherd." Martin Giannini, as Captain von Trapp has a rich baritone voice reminiscent of opera stars at the MET. He is also well matched opposite his charismatic leady lady which makes their on-stage romance relatable and plausible throughout the musical story. As Mother Abbess, Michele Jennings delivers one of the production's most memorable musical numbers, the anthem-like "Climb Every Mountain" with an operatic mezzo soprano voice well worthy of a standing ovation. As Gretl, the youngest member of the von Trapp family, Marcela Perkins radiates the same charm and innocence that Kym Karath brought to 1965 film adaptation and Ashley Rose Orr playfully reenacted in the 1998 Broadway revival starring Rebecca Luker.
"The Sound of Music" is being staged at Black Rock Theater/Broadway Method Academy Theater (1935 Black Rock Turnpike, Fairfield, CT), now through March 19, 2023.
For tickets or more information, call (203) 675-3526.
website: broadwaymethodacademy.org
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