"The Sound of Music" - by Rodgers and Hammerstein - Theatre at the Mount (Gardner, MA.) - REVIEW
(Cover Photo: The CAST of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "THE SOUND OF MUSIC" now playing at Theatre at the Mount in Gardner, MA. through December 8, 2024. Photo Credit: Paige Fowler Photography)
By Kevin T. Baldwin
METRMAG Reviewer
# 774-242-6724
“When the Lord closes a door, somewhere He opens a window."
- ("Maria") / Rodgers and Hammerstein
Theatre at the Mount
Presents Rodgers and Hammerstein's
"THE SOUND OF MUSIC"
Music by Richard Rodgers
Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II
Book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse
Director Gail Steele
Music Director Dave Twiss
Choreographer Kim Soel
Cast Includes: Chelsea Daniels as “Maria Rainer,” Ryan Malyar as “Captain Georg Von Trapp,” Sue Dirusso as “Mother Abbess,” Alyson Foisy as “Elsa Schraeder,” Chay Tower-Hughes as “Max Detweiller,” Megan McGuire as “Sister Berthe,” Betsy Fiedler as “Sister Margaretta,” Deonne Johnson as “Sister Sophia,” Julia Feeley as “Liesl,” Elliott Nelson as “Friedrich,” Amelia Cormier as “Louisa,” Andy Smith as “Kurt,” Addison L’Ecuyer as “Brigitta,” Lily Smith as “Marta,” Piper Gingrasa as “Gretl,” Xavier Cormier as “Rolf Gruber,” Todd Ziemke as “Franz,” Pam Sontag as “Frau Schmidt,” Craig Cormier as “Herr Zeller,” Tim Murphy as “Admiral Von Schreiber.”
Nuns Ensemble: Kimberly Abel, Luci Adams, Julia Ciccolini, Dianne Cormier, Imani Githae, Erin Girouard, Naomi Harris, Elizabeth Lademan, Audrey Lavenski, John Leslie, Mindy Lordan, Renee Mercier, Julia Overhiser, Marissa Pdesta, Ruby Tower-Hughes, Diane Twiss, Lucy Warren.
Young Men’s Ensemble: James Cannon, Ryan Rollo, Connor Shear, Jovan Tremblay
Additional Creative Team:
Technical Director/Set Designer - Joshua Patino; Stage Manager - Jillian Whitney; Costumer* - Maryann Allen;*Costumes Provided By Emerald City Theatrical Costumes; Lighting Designer - Tim Smith; Box Office Manager - Paul Caouette; Graphic Designer - Haily Caisse; Lobby Posters - Lori Adams; Running Crew - Bob Allen, Mike Shear, Kristen Licht, Gavin Ducharme; Dressers - Casey Manseau, Josie Daisy, Kira Taylor; Construction Crew – Samuel Nieves, Maiki Coggins, Gavin Ducharme, Daniel Garcia, Elsa Guerra, Cody Hart, Reenie Kim, Amber Mason, Evan Shear, Kelsey Vachon.
Performances:
November 29, 2024 through December 8, 2024
(Contact Box Office for Exact Times)
Mount Wachusett Community College, 44 Green Street, Room 182, Gardner, MA.
TICKETS:
Tickets are available online at mwcc.universitytickets.com or by phone at 978-630-9388. For additional information contact Professor Gail Steele at 978 630-9162 or g_steele@mwcc.mass.edu
COVID 19 PROTOCOLS
Contact Venue for Most Updated COVID-19 Safety Protocols and Information.
For the holidays, Theatre at the Mount (TAM) offers up Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein’s "THE SOUND OF MUSIC" and it is a gift that, even after all these years, is still a musical delight.
"THE SOUND OF MUSIC" was written by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse and is based on the memoir of Maria von Trapp, tells the story of the Trapp Family Singers and how they came to America in 1939 to escape the Nazi takeover of Austria.
The TAM production also features a strong vocal ensemble and a live orchestra which is simply a joy to experience.
At nearly 66-years-old, some may conclude "THE SOUND OF MUSIC" is irrelevant compared to many Broadway shows out there today.
They would be sorely mistaken.
The cast and creative team for the production at Theatre at the Mount deliver a production proving that the content of the show is still just as relevant today as it was over six decades ago.
"THE SOUND OF MUSIC" opened on Broadway in 1959 just 21 years after Austria’s assimilation into Nazi Germany and a mere 14 years after the war in Germany had ended.
Yet, in this latest TAM production, certain themes within the book (on which the musical is based) appear to be timeless, especially given the prevailing social climate existing in the United States and abroad.
The Theatre at the Mount cast staunchly executes the iconic Rodgers and Hammerstein musical numbers including "Edelweiss," "My Favorite Things," "Climb Ev'ry Mountain," "Do-Re-Mi" and the title number, "The Sound of Music.”
As the story unfolds -
Feeling as if she is being punished, young Maria (Chelsea Daniels) follows the directive by the Mother Abbess (Sue DiRusso) and heads to serve as governess at the villa of widower, Captain Georg von Trapp (Ryan Malyar), a decorated World War I Captain of the Austro-Hungarian Navy.
Daniels gives a dedicated, steadfast performance as Maria, bringing a more contemporary sound with her vocal approach.
As to the role itself, and contrasting effectively to the approaches taken by Mary Martin and Julie Andrews, Daniels still pays homage to their overall defining of the role of Maria.
As Mother Abbess, Sue DiRusso offers a compelling rendition of “Climb Ev’ry Mountain.”
And yet, Mother Abbess also displays a softer, playful side, conveyed earlier in her duet with Daniels as Maria during "My Favorite Things."
For those scratching their heads over a couple of tunes seemingly “out of place” – take note that the stage version of "SOUND OF MUSIC" is quite different from the classic motion picture, particularly with “My Favorite Things,” “The Lonely Goatherd” and with the addition of songs not included within the film adaptation.
Maria's initial welcome by all in the von Trapp estate is not pleasant as she is treated poorly upon her first encounters.
Yet, she does not allow this to deter from what she feels is God's mission for her.
Ryan Malyar gives a formidable portrayal of the conservative yet passionate Captain who soon has feelings he thought he would never experience again.
His vocal rendition of the musical's signature tune "Edelweiss” is definitely a highlight.
(Photo: Members of the CAST of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "THE SOUND OF MUSIC" now playing at Theatre at the Mount in Gardner, MA. through December 8, 2024. Photo Credit: Paige Fowler Photography)
Under the direction of Gail Steele, there are beautiful costumes and lavish drops used in conjunction with a lot of clever staging utilized throughout the show.
That said, there were one or two drops that were being a bit “uncooperative” at the November 29th performance, by not being sufficiently anchored to the stage floor or were occasionally making it rather close quarters on stage for some of the actors during some of the choreography.
The above proves to be a minor complaint as the entire cast provides solid performances, engaging from the moment the show begins, including the cast of the seven von Trapp children.
The Captain’s 16-year old daughter Liesl (Julia Feeley) is experiencing the emotional pangs of her first true love in messenger Rolf (Xavier Cormier).
Feeley and Cormier give earnest performances, particularly in the musical ode to naiveté, “Sixteen Going on Seventeen.”
The remaining von Trapp children are: Friedrich (Elliott Nelson), Louisa (Amelia Cormier), Kurt (Andy Smith), Brigitta (Addison L’Ecuyer), Marta (Lily Smith) and Gretl (Piper Gringas).
All have wonderful chemistry together in their scenes - enhancing their respective relationships with both Daniels and Malyar and other performers on stage.
Although her initial welcome by all in the house is quite underwhelming, Maria begins to win over the hearts of the Captain’s children, and then, gradually...the Captain himself.
Von Trapp, engaged to be married, becomes increasingly aware and defiant of the coming Nazi occupation of Austria, or “Anschluss.”
When the Captain finds himself falling for remarkable young Maria, it does not go unnoticed - not by his children, by his close companion Max Detweiller (Chay Tower-Hughes), nor his jealous fiancé Elsa Schrader (Alyson Foisy).
Max, as effectively expressed by Tower-Hughes, sees himself as neither a hero nor a villain.
Max tries to be as neutral or as close to "Switzerland" as a man could get.
Yet, at some point, Max does make a decision as to where his true allegiances reside.
Conversely, Elsa knows exactly who she is and her social position and, as rendered by Foisy, also shows that she will do anything to protect and maintain that standing.
Tower-Hughes and Foisy both give strong performances, yet are relegated to "make interesting" probably two of most weakest songs in the show: “How Can Love Survive” and “No Way to Stop It” (the latter sung with Malyar).
The songs, intended to foreshadow the forthcoming “Anschluss,” are totally needless to move the plot along, yet they do allow the two fine actors a little more to do in the production.
The numbers actually seem "shoehorned in" - as if only there to serve to provide additional time for any set prep or costume changes required for the subsequent scenes.
(Note: the above is a relatively minor structural complaint of the R&H score which does not detract from the overall TAM production.)
That said, the latter song, “No Way to Stop It,” does work on stage (featuring some fine choreography by Kim Soel) if only to drive home a pivotal moment of decision for the Captain (which was not required in the film version of the musical).
It is also a Rodgers and Hammerstein song that, of the two songs mentioned, actually has the familiar ‘feel’ of a Rodgers and Hammerstein song.
As the Captain and Maria declare their feelings for one another, they do so in the face of increasing danger as he gets recalled to military service.
They decide they must find a way they can flee their fallen Austria with the children.
(Cover Photo: The CAST of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "THE SOUND OF MUSIC" now playing at Theatre at the Mount in Gardner, MA. through December 8, 2024. Photo Credit: Paige Fowler Photography)
Even with the occasional unruly drops, "THE SOUND OF MUSIC" staging capably utilizes the entire Theatre at the Mount space, and the stage crew expertly maneuvers each and every scene change and set redress to maintain the fluidity of the show’s pacing.
Through the collective efforts of Director Gail Steele, Music Director Dave Twiss and Choreographer Kim Soel, the TAM production moves along at a consistent steady pace.
The era-specific costumes, which utilized an extensive but vibrant color palette, were striking, and the cast (in particular Daniels and those playing the von Trapp children) deserves high praise for executing well the multitude of rapid costume changes required in "SOUND OF MUSIC."
Musically, the cast and orchestra, all under the guidance of Music Director Dave Twiss, never falter.
Other choreographed highlights by Kim Soel include the numbers "Do-Re-Mi," which allows the bonding and more spirited relationship between Maria and the children to be the focus; and "So Long, Farewell" which is a fabulous showcase for the talented younger performers.
"THE SOUND OF MUSIC" continues at Theatre at the Mount in Gardner until December 8th and some performances are already sold out. So, get your tickets now for this wonderful production.
Coming up next at Theatre at the Mount will be the James Lapine and Stephen Sondheim musical "INTO THE WOODS" beginning February 21, 2025.
For tickets go online at mwcc.universitytickets.com or call # 978-630-9388.
Approximately two hours, 40 minutes with one intermission.
Kevin T. Baldwin is a member of the American Theatre Critics Association (ATCA)
@MetrmagReviews
@Theatre_Critics
ABOUT THE SHOW
Revisit the world’s most beloved musical. "THE SOUND OF MUSIC" tells the tale of a young nun who is dispatched to serve as governess for the seven children of a widowed naval Captain.
Her growing relationship with the children, coupled with her generosity of spirit, gradually captures the heart of the stern Captain.
The final collaboration between Rodgers & Hammerstein was a Tony©, Grammy©, and Oscar©-winning score, featuring favorites, including “Do-Re-Mi,” “My Favorite Things,” “Edelweiss,” and the iconic title track “The Sound Of Music.”
Mount Wachusett Community College
444 Green Street Gardner, MA 01440
