By Marilyn Jozwik
Forte Theatre Company is presenting an ambitious production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s last and most beloved musical, “The Sound of Music.”
On opening night, we were treated to a spunky, sincere and talented Maria in Sarah Zapiain, a fantastic nun choir headed by the incredible Kathy Pyeatt as the Mother Abbess, and a huge handsome set in the grand Saber Center for the Performing Arts at Franklin High School. All the pieces are in place for a production befitting the timeless musical and its enduring love story, set during a time of national crisis.
The story of the wannabe nun falling in love with the handsome Austrian naval captain, Georg (Matt Specht), while she attends to his seven children in their opulent mansion, is well-known. Set in 1930s Austria, the stage play puts more emphasis on the politics of the time than the movie, showing both sides of the Austrian mindset – Capt. Georg von Trapp’s steadfast patriotism for his Austrian homeland, and his friends Max and Elsa’s insistence that the new Nazi regime is just a phase. This is playfully demonstrated in “No Way to Stop It” as Elsa and Max try to convince Georg that he should just try to get along with authorities after the Nazi takeover of Austria. The song was omitted from the movie.
Directed by Randall Dodge and under the musical direction of Paul Helm, this cast does a fine job of creating all the scenes we’ve come to know and love.
Mother Abbess (Kathy Pyeatt), center, leads the nuns at Nonnberg Abbey in singing “Maria” in a scene from Forte Theater Company’s “The Sound of Music.”
Zapiain starts off with a lilting, if a bit tentative, “The Sound of Music,” but seems to build up her own confidence as she sings “I Have Confidence,” which crescendos perfectly, showcasing her wide musical range and pitch-perfect, bright vocals. She goes on to embody everything audiences love about Maria, bonding nicely with the children, standing up to the stern captain and wrestling with her feelings as she struggles to know the right path to take in her life.
The children are a charming group, but we especially enjoyed Emma Hipp as the teen-aged Liesl. Her “Sixteen Going on Seventeen” with her beau, the handsome messenger Rolf (Brandon Engle), includes some pleasant vocals and a nicely executed medley of dances. As Kurt, Johnny Koniar is utterly delightful and impressive with his vocals.
But the real scene stealer is Ryan Jay as Max, Georg’s impresario friend. With his affected accent, confident strides, perfect comic timing and wonderful audience engagement, Jay takes total command of the roguish Max. He gets maximum mileage out of all of Max’s charmingly arrogant lines, like when he arrives at Georg’s party and meets one of his children and says, “Tell your father it (the party) is sure to be a success. I’m here.”
Max and Elsa (Ryan Jay and Maya Danks) team up to celebrate the good life singing “How Can Love Survive” in a scene from Forte Theater Company’s “The Sound of Music.”
I also enjoyed the statuesque Maya Danks as Elsa, Georg’s fiancee. Danks exudes elegance and an air of wealth, sweeping around the stage in lovely gowns and cavorting with Max as they try to convince Georg to submit to the government after the Anschluss.
Pyeatt delivers a memorable “Climb Every Mountain” as Mother Abbess, her operatic voice effortlessly scaling the stirring piece. The nuns are a wonderful group, but especially notable are the nuanced comedy of Candace Decker as Sister Margaretta and the marvelous, full sound generated by the group in their solemn Latin numbers.
The canned music had the rich sound of a live orchestra, but a few abrupt cut-offs broke the mood. Unfortunately, more than a few sound miscues, including some fuzzy mic sound, sound cutting in and out, some performers without mic sound and even backstage “hot” mics in one pivotal scene, marred the opening night performance. There also was a child missing in one scene that the performers covered nicely. No doubt, these issues will be addressed in future performances.
The ample Saber stage gives the opulent von Trapp mansion a truly spacious feel. Especially in the nicely staged garden scene at the party, it offers great space for partygoers inside … and outside, where Georg and Maria dance the graceful Landler, which finds the pair realizing their love for each other.
If you go
Who: Forte Theatre Company
What: “The Sound of Music”
When: Through Oct. 16
Where: Saber Center for the Performing Arts at Franklin High School, 8222 S. 51st St.
Tickets/Info: www.ForteTheatreCompany.org; 414-366-3634