THE THEATER MIRROR, Boston's LIVE Theater Guide
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"The Sound of Music"
Directed By Paul Adam
Musical Direction by Stuart Britton
Produced by Stacy Harris
Crew:
Stage Manager: Connie Altimus
Assistant Stage Manager: Josh Smith
Stage Crew: Christine Dery, Tom Richards
Set Design: Paul Adam, Steve Pacheco
Set Construction: Mark Anderson
Lighting Design: Paul Adam, Steve Pacheco
Lighting Execution: Steve Pacheco, Mark Anderson, Leslie Choquette
Costumes, Steve Pacheco, Marge Conte
Orchestra:
Piano: Stuart Britton
Violin: Amy Francisco
Trumpet/Horn: Elaine Alessandro
Trombone: Mark MacKinnon
Cello: Nate Melhorne
Bass: Brian Battles
Synthesizer: Dwight Allenson
Percussion: Henry Hebert, Phil Cloutier
THE CAST
Maria....................................................... Sarah Martini
Captain Von Trapp...................................... Greg Bonin
Leisl......................................................Samantha Stuart
Friedrich............................................... Jonathan Cottle
Lousia....................................................Erika Anderson
Kurt.....................................................Mathew Simpson
Brigitta..............................................Rebecca Kubaska
Marta...........................................................Kelly Ryan
Gretl....................................................Amy Poniatowski
Baroness Shraeder............................Danielle DeRotto
Max...................................................Louis Lamoureux
Franz, The Butler............................... Andrew LeClerc
Frau Schmidt, Nun..................................Lisa Forsgard
Mother Abbess.....................................Louis Tetreault
Sister Bertha.........................................Rachel Cesana
Sister Margaretta........................Pamela Poniatowski
Sister Sophia............................................Alicia Daigle
Rolf........................................................Tom Richards
Baron Elberfeld/ Admiral ..................Fred Reinhardt
HerrZeller............................................... Chris Kibbe
Ursula/Nun/Contestant......................... Elyssa Tardif
Nun/Contestants
Shannon Davies, Julia Pirraglia, Jamie Remillard
The perennial favorite musical about Maria Von Trapp, from postulant in a Salzburg Abbey , to governess for a widowed naval officer, to "climbing every mountain" to find her true love, Capt. Von Trapp , and his seven children is recreated in Theatre Works production of "The Sound Of Music".
I think everyone who knows theater, or movies, would probably know the story, so I won't go into details. I am more interested in telling you what I saw. My first impression was....okay how are they technically going to handle the massive set changes on a very small playing area? I was pleasantly surprised ...a unit set..that very cleverly converted from the abbey to the living room of the huge estate of Captain Von Trapp, with just a few changes of curtains and set pieces. And they used the stairs going down into the audience for scenes that normally would have been executed upstage for exits.
The Nuns of the Nonnberg Abbey open the play with the "Preludium", and the nuns sounded so wonderful!. The orchestra, conducted by Stuart Britton, who also musically directed the show did a remarkable job. I was impressed with the musical quality of this show more than anything else. I have always believed that when you do a musical--it had better be good to outstanding...or you may as well not do the show. This was one show that had "outstanding voices...all blending to that wonderful score!...much to Stuart's credit.
I also saw very good acting from some very talented members of this cast---from little Gretl to the grown ups. Maria, played by Sarah Martini, and Mother Abbess, played by Louise Tetreault were outstanding!. Captain Von Trapp, played by Greg Bonin , recreated the role of the widowed naval officer. Bonin played the role with the same sterile military discipline the role calls for. Bonin displays some fine acting in a touching scene when he hears his "children" singing, and breaks down and hugs them...finally...some emotion!!! And his musical numbers with the children were very good. I liked the choreography, which he was responsible for.
Leisl played by Samantha Stuart, and Rolf played by Tom Richards were fun to watch as the young lovers...doomed to part by the invasion of the Nazi's.
On to the children.....everyone of these kids surprised me. They did an extraordinary job, both vocally and acting that was truly professional. I would not be amazed if some of these kids went to Broadway someday. They were all very good, but I focused in on Rebecca Kubaska, who played Brigitta......she was excellent.....and Little Gretl won me over....Amy Poniatowski...a five year old kindergarten student...with six ready-made "siblings in her family."....according to the program. What a joy she was to watch! The other children were very talented and as a "family" on stage they excelled.
Most of the supporting roles were excellent. I liked Max, played by Louis Lamoreux, and Frau Schmidt, played by Lisa Forsgard. Also, The Baroness, played by Danielle DeRotto stood out in my mind. She was especially effective in her scenes with the Captain, and with Max.
And who can forget Fred Reinhardt, one of my favorite people, who played dual roles, Baron Elberfeld, and Admiral von Schreiber. Incidentally, when The Pawtucket Community Players did Sound of Music, in 1986, Fred and his lovely wife, Alice donated their furniture for our set of the von Trapp living room!
I loved the original costumes, executed by Steve Pacheco, and Marge Conte. They looked so authentic and rich looking! And the children's costumes (made from the curtains) were very colorful.
I enjoyed this production very much, and wish to praise PAUL ADAM for a fine musical production. I know what it takes to put out this kind of entertainment, and Paul has to be proud of this one.
Don't miss this fine musical --- it runs September 11 -27, 1998. Fridays- Saturdays 8 PM., Sundays at 2 PM.
THEATRE WORKS (till 27 Sep)
78 Earle Street
Wooonsocket, RHODE ISLAND
(401) 766-1898