Review: Undeniably Tuneful THE SOUND OF MUSIC at The Fox Theatre

Rodgers and Hammerstein's THE SOUND OF MUSIC is still popular today, and there's really no need to wonder why. The songs are undeniably familiar, and the story and characters go through a number of compelling moments. However, it does require a good, solid cast and sharp direction to live up to the expectations of all those folks who have seen the 1965 film over and over and over again. Thankfully, this touring company currently playing The Fox Theatre (through May 8, 2016) is more than up to the task. This classic still has its many charms. and holds up remarkably well despite its age and overexposure in various forms over the years.

Maria Ranier can't seem to fit in with the rest of the nuns at the Nonnberg Abbey. She displays far too much of a passion for life to ever conform to the strict code that it presents. As fate would have it, she's sent away to become the Trapp family governess. There, she's able to win over the many children of this large clan immediately with her playful enthusiasm and knack for breaking into song. Though, she's not quite able to win the heart of their father, Captain Georg von Trapp. And, even with his pending engagement in the way, she still finds herself falling in love with the stalwart Georg. She eventually returns to the abbey, and when she does, love blossoms between the pair. Distance and time do indeed make the heart grow fonder, at least in this case. But first the family must deal with the suddn Nazi occupation of their beloved Austria, which seeks to enlist the former Austrian Captain into their own Navy. Their escape is worthy of a "Hogan's Heroes" episode with its clever and amusing ruse covering their flight from danger.

Kerstin Anderson makes a wonderful Maria, not only possessing the vocal qualities that define the role, but also the pleasant, and sometimes feisty demeanor one has come to expect. She handles material like "Do Re Mi" and "My Favorite Things," with considerable aplomb. Ben Davis is a handsome match for her as the family patriarch, and even though the script (book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse) never fully develops his character, you still find yourself rooting for him to choose Maria, over his snooty on-again off-again fiancee Elsa (Teri Hansen). The children are all cute and talented, with Paige Silvester making a particularly strong impression as Liesl, providing us with a lovely"Sixteen Going on Seventeen".

Jack O'Brien's direction brings a palpable freshness to the proceedings, and he's aided in his efforts by scenic designer Douglas Schmidt and lighting designer Natasha Katz, who provide the atmosphere and overall mood for this story with their fine work.

If you've never seen the musical on stage, this is a great opportunity to see a fairly newly minted production that stands proud and rings relatively true. And, take someone who says they've never seen it before, and be pleasantly surprised when they start singing along to so many of the lyrics, because so many of these songs have become standards.

Photo credit: Matthew Murphy