BWW Reviews: THE SOUND OF MUSIC Soars in Austin's Zilker Park

The Sound of Music, the final collaboration of Musical Theater Gods Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, is quite possibly their most popular and most famous; judging by the current production by Zilker Theatre Productions it's easy to see why. The Sound of Music is a classic crowd-pleaser that the entire family can enjoy and appreciate.

With The Sound of Music, Zilker Theatre Production carries on its 54 year long tradition of presenting free professional quality entertainment in Zilker Park's outdoor Sheffield Hillside Theatre. Here they present the familiar story of Maria, a postulant in an Austrian nunnery who becomes a governess to the seven children of Austrian Navy Captain, Georg von Trapp. Love blossoms between the free-spirited Maria and the stern Captain just as the Nazis rise to power.

While the story and songs are familiar, Zilker's production makes it seem fresh and new, in part to the incredibly talented cast.

All seven children are superb and adorable, particularly Ella Rutman as Gretl, the youngest of the children. Ella's puppy dog eyes and shyness are completely endearing and allow her to steal every scene she's in. Another stand-out is Alyssa Muir as oldest daughter, Liesl. She is a sweet, naïve teenager in the first act (her reaction to being kissed at the end of "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" was a delicious mix of adolescent joy and confusion), and easily transforms to a confident, beautiful woman in the second act, a transitions that most Liesl's can't handle. While other actresses perform the role as either cutsie and girly the entire show or as a more worldly, aware young woman, Ms. Muir gives us a little of each and creates an interesting character whose journey parallels Maria's.

Leslie Hollingsworth also gives a polished performance as Elsa Schraeder, the Captain's charming but elusive fiancée. Ms. Hollingsworth has a gorgeous voice which sadly is only heard in "How Can Love Survive?" and "No Way to Stop," two lackluster Rodgers and Hammerstein throw-away songs that were omitted from the film version. However, even when given two mediocre songs, Ms. Hollingsworth turns in one of the best performances of the night, and she will no doubt be a fantastic Sally Bowles in The City Theatre's upcoming production of Cabaret.

Another stand-out among the women is Coty Ross who enriches her character of Mother Abbess with a certain warmth that is a refreshing twist on the stern, colder approach that Peggy Wood gives in the film. Ms. Ross also has arguably the best voice in the cast and gives a haunting rendition of "Climb Ev'ry Mountain."

As Maria, Michelle Haché gets the difficult job of stepping into an iconic role so widely associated with the incomparable Julie Andrews. Ms. Haché makes the smart choice of not imitating the Julie Andrews approach on the role and makes the character her own. Her Maria is a young woman whose spiritual passion is equaled by her zest for life and rule-bending who, like Liesl, is confused and frightened by love. She also plays each moment where Maria does something that evokes an angry response from the Captain (making clothes from curtains, introducing music into the house) as both something designed to bring joy to the children but to also challenge the Captain and to break down his façade, an interesting choice that adds depth and dimension to her character.

And as Captain Georg von Trapp, Joshua Denning gives the best performance of the evening. His Captain is cold, calloused, and stoic in Act I, but there always seems to be this desire underneath to connect with those around him, particularly Maria and the children. He also plays the role as if von Trapp's harsh exterior is a fragile mask of a man who fears the future as the Third Reich becomes more powerful. Mr. Denning also has a rich Baritone voice, and his "Edelweiss" is a chilling highlight of the evening.

Attention must also be given to Scenic Designer Paul Davis who creates a lush, expensive looking world for the characters, not an easy feat for a non-profit company whose budget is completely donation-based. The double-level set for the von Trapp home is a beautiful focal point in Davis's set design, and Jason Amato's cool, atmospheric lighting of blues and purples wonderfully compliments Davis's designs. Costume Designer Susan Branch Towne also has some major wow moments, particularly with the decadent gowns warn by Baroness Elsa Schraeder and with Maria's hilariously hideous street clothes, a dress so ugly that, as Maria says, even the poor didn't want it.

But a Rodgers and Hammerstein musical is nothing without an orchestra, and the Zilker's Orchestra, under the direction of John Vander Gheynst, is absolutely thrilling. This 15 person orchestra sounds like 40, and through them the score soars.

The only shortcomings of The Sound of Music come from the material itself. While I do appreciate that Director M. Scott Tatum obviously tries to make the story and the characters fresh, relevant, and new by not emulating the film version, the original text is riddled with problems. It's clunky and long. Certain moments in the original work don't ring true (for example, Mother Superior singing about her "Favorite Things" or a family escaping the Nazis simply by singing "So Long, Farewell"), and as mentioned above the score features a couple of Rodgers and Hammerstein songs that are so unmemorable they were axed from the film.

Still, in spite of the material's flaws, The Sound of Music is a treat for the entire family. If you and your children know and love the film, you will not be disappointed and will enjoy discovering how this version differs from the movie. And if The Sound of Music or Rodgers and Hammerstein are completely unknown to you, Zilker's production will be a fun, engaging, and entertaining introduction to one of the most beloved musicals of all time.

So come to Zilker Park, where the hills are indeed alive with the sound of music.

Running time: Roughly 2 ½ hours with a 20 minute intermission.

The Sound of Music plays Thursday thru Sunday at 8:30pm now thru August 11^th in Sheffield Hillside Theater in Zilker Park. Admission is free, though donations are encouraged. Parking is $5. For more information, go to www.zilker.org.

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