F. J. Hartland

The Benedum Center is alive with The Sound of Music.

This sure-fire crowd-pleaser from Pittsburgh CLO is well-directed by James Brennan who keeps the pace lively.  For those of you who have suffered through those 3 ½ hour high school productions of The Sound of Music, there is nothing to fear from this quick moving and highly entertaining adaptation.

It also incorporates some of the musical numbers written specifically for the movie—so you film devotees will be pleased!

Jennifer Hope Wills is a delight as the young novitiate Maria, who becomes governess to the seven von Trapp children.  With boundless energy and a powerful singing voice, Wills captures the heart of the cold Captain von Trapp—and she’ll capture yours, too.

Speaking of voices, Lisa Howard as the Mother Abbess fills the Benedum Center to the rafters with her commanding rendition of “Climb Every Mountain.”  Her fellow “sisters” also make some beautiful music of their own.

Usually the role of Elsa, von Trapp’s betrothed, comes across as cold and villainous—but Dona English gives her a genuine warmth and caring.  Jim Brochu makes the most of the laugh lines in his role as the comic relief Max Detweiller.

Tony Award-nominee Robert Cuccioli fares better in Act One when Captain von Trapp is cold and stern.  His transformation for Act Two isn’t completely convincing.

The production is not without its flaws.The costumes border on embarrassing.  Not only do many of them fit poorly, the color palate is strange.  At the party scene, von Trapp is in a red tuxedo shirt; the result looks more like Count Dracula and not Captain von Trapp.  I’ve seen high school musicals with more professional looking costumes.

Some of director Brennan’s staging is odd.  In the wedding scene, the nuptials take place upstage behind a huge gate—which is behind a bank of nuns.  Had it not been for the bishop’s miter peeking up over the top, I wouldn’t have known that anything was going on!

I must admit that The Sound of Music is not one of the favorite musicals; it’s just a little too “sweet” and “cute” for my taste.  But I was pleasantly surprised by this production.  If you’re looking for some entertaining family fare this summer, The Sound of Music should be on your list.

The Sound of Music runs through July 31.