REVIEW: 'The Sound of Music'

‘Sound of Music’ tour traditional, delightful

Courtesy Photo "The Sound of Music" continues at the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville through Sunday afternoon.
Courtesy Photo "The Sound of Music" continues at the Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville through Sunday afternoon.

The national tour of Rodgers and Hammerstein's beloved classic "The Sound of Music" wraps up its stay in Fayetteville this weekend with three more performances at the Walton Arts Center. I'll be honest, I've heard mixed reviews on the production. I've even heard it go so far as people have left at intermission because they were so disappointed. I'm not sure what day they attended the musical or what may have been going on on stage for that performance, but I'll say the opening night showing to a full house on Tuesday was, without a doubt, not worth walking out of.

Without speaking to these people directly -- I heard of their walk out through the grapevine -- I'm still trying to wrap my head around what could have been so unsatisfactory as to make someone cut their planned night of musical entertainment with the von Trapp family short so soon. Perhaps they somehow had never seen the iconic 1965 Julie Andrews film and were not prepared for the traditional flavor of Rodgers and Hammerstein's writing? Or, perhaps, their love for the film is so great they were put off by the differences on stage and decided to leave? I don't know. But as with most anything happening on the stage, especially those stories adapted from something already so loved, I find it best to approach with an open mind and an open ear.

FAQ

‘The Sound of Music’

WHEN — 2 & 8 p.m. May 19; 2 p.m. May 20

WHERE — Walton Arts Center in Fayetteville

COST — $36-$85

INFO — 443-5600, waltonartscenter.org

You must know going in that there are differences between the stage and the film -- discussed here by actor Mike McLean, filling the role of Captain von Trapp on the tour. But it may surprise some to know the stage version actually came first. The original book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse was based on "The Trapp Family Singers" by Maria Augusta Trapp and debuted on Broadway in 1959. That is the same book for this revival tour, now at the tail-end of its run. Fans will notice a few favorite songs in different places, a couple moments that were cut from the film and some things added for the movie that don't take place on the stage. A woman to my left expressed some audible dismay at the shift of some of her favorite tunes so maybe the only comfort I can offer you is to, again, approach with an open mind and an appreciation for the art form -- knowing that all your most loved songs are all still there.

If you're somehow unfamiliar with the story of young Maria (played by Jill-Christine Wiley) who has devoted her life to becoming a nun in late 1930s Austria, the high points are Maria is assigned to a governess position over the von Trapp family's seven children when the Mother Abbess (Lauren Kidwell) feels Maria needs a bit more life experience to determine if abbey life is truly for her. The family's strict, cold head of the household Captain Georg von Trapp and Maria of course fall in love, as do all seven children with the charming woman who brings warmth and music back into their home after the Captain had forbade the latter following the passing of his wife. Trouble is brewing, though, as the Nazi's impending rise to power can very much be felt building on stage and in the wings and Georg must decide how much he is willing to risk in his conscionable opposition of the Germans.

The musical is full of some of the best and most sentimental writing of Rodgers and Hammerstein's songbook, delivered here by a cast of true talent. Wiley as Maria is easily likable and brings the balance of vulnerability and courage that the role needs. The children are equally delightful and offer nice comedic timing in spite of their obviously young ages. Kidwell's stunning vocals repeatedly impress. McLean told me in our previous interview for What's Up! that his favorite moment in the show is when the Captain truly sees his children again, thanks to music. But my favorite moment with him, and possibly in the whole show, is his moving performance of "Edelweiss" at the Salzburg Festival for an audience of Nazis at the end of the show. McLean's visual emotion in this moment was his convincing. I did feel some of his other moments of emotional impact -- professing his love for Maria, his passionate resistance of the Nazis -- just shy of the full significance the moment deserved.

At not quite the nearly 3-hour run time of the film, I'm not sure exactly where all the differences in content lie between the stage and screen. But I will say I felt a little bit of character development and a little bit of relationship-building was sacrificed for time. When the Captain and Maria do get together (disregarding the already fairy tale nature of their short time knowing each other), it feels sudden and not fully believable. I wanted Wiley and McLean to have ever-so-slightly more chemistry. But honestly, that could come down to just opening night jitters in a new venue. Another character I feel is slighted in the musical is the Captain's brief fiance Elsa Schraeder (Melissa McKamie). Sure, she's an antagonist in the film who doesn't care about the children, but she's also strong, classy, graceful and knows what she wants and needs from a relationship -- and isn't going to settle. I found the stage book's version of Schraeder more flat and far less complex, which is no fault of McKamie's. It's just unfortunately how she's written.

My issues with the production, if you can call them that, are few and minimal. What stands out more about my experience a the theater Tuesday night is an evening of beautiful music, delightful children and a lovely live version of a movie I have such fond memories of.

NAN What's Up on 05/19/2018

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