Review submitted by Chris Polio of Northwest High School.
Music can bring family together, and can represent the connection between people. St. Andrew’s Episcopal school reimagined the story of “The Sound Of Music” through the vivid physicality of their actors and the close up connection with the audience.
“The Sound of Music,” book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, with the music by Richard Rodgers and the lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, follows the story of the free-spirited nun who takes the job of governess to the von Trapp family. This story is based on the true memoir of Maria von Trapp, living in Austria during the WWII. Maria loves the children, teaching them how to be individuals and to enjoy being a child. Maria falls in love with Captain Georg Von Trapp, a recent widow. The family faces many obstacles, including the fact that Captain Georg is ordered to join the commission of the German Navy,led by the Nazis.Together as a family, they escape Austria in search of freedom.
St. Andrew Episcopal School’s production created many audience smiles through scenes where the actors’ physicality was brought to life. Throughout the production, the development of each actor’s character was depicted and adequately represented.
Maria Rainer, played by Devin Lucas, had already drawn in all the hearts of the audience when she began to sing. Her innocence and zest for adventure was xpressed through her facial expressions and the ring of her voice. Captain Georg von Trapp, played by Oliver Bush, was portrayed as stern and strict. Throughout the show, Captain Georg would draw the audience in with his change in emotion, as he discovered that his children needed love, and that it was he who would soon fall in love with Maria.
Mother Abbess, played by Parker Dymond, had a great voice, which really shined through “Climb Ev’ry Mountain”, through her soft and waif-like voice. Max Detweiler, played by Cameron Behram, brought many laughs into the auditorium through his one liners and his overall reactions on stage. The audience fan-favorites were the von Trapp children. All seven could brighten the stage with their innocence and joy, at its best during the second act when each child’s personality was clearly depicted.
The lighting set the mood of each scene, for example,the moment when Maria first first entered–she walked down through a glowing yellow light above her, as if she had been reflecting from the sun. One issue for the tech was lengthy set changes
St. Andrew Episcopal School’s production of “The Sound of Music” was a fun experience, that would end with the audience smiling and wanting more.
The performance reviewed was from Saturday, 02/23/2019.
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