Over the hills and through the Abbey, the hallways are filled with the iconic sounds of music as Stone Bridge theater’s department prepares for opening night of Running Dog Production’s (RDP) “The Sound of Music.” With performances April 23, 24, and 25 at 7:00 p.m. with a matinee at 1:00 p.m. on the 25th, don’t miss RDP’s testament to this musical theater classic!
“The Sound of Music” has been critically acclaimed since its very first iteration in 1959. Written by powerhouse composition and lyricism duo Rodgers and Hammerstein, the original musical premiered on Broadway and won five Tony Awards including the caption Best Musical.
The musical was later adapted into a film of the same name directed by Robert Wise and starring the incomparable Julie Andrews, which won five Academy Awards. RDP’s rendition continues this trend of success.
The story follows prospective nun Maria Rainer who goes to work as a governess upon the request of Nonnberg Abbey’s Mother Abbess. Abbess makes this request due to Maria’s impious tendency toward singing in the mountains.
Leading lady, Ava Jones, fulfills the role of Maria and all its required whimsy with ease. Maria is about as free-willed and independent as possible for a woman in the early 20th century and Jones embraces this spirit with gumption.
Orchestrating a family of sheltered children into a group of joyous singers is no easy feat, but Jones does so with infectious enthusiasm. In “Do-Re-Mi,” Jones shows off her lovely voice with clear annunciation and effortless belts–notes capable of melting Captain Georg von Trapp’s frigid demeanor.
The former imperial navy captain is played by freshman Andrew Basurto, who fully embodies the role as a militant widowed father. Basurto embodied the captain with satirical strictness, allowing his character to slowly and dynamically open up to Maria and the world with his velvety voice in “Edelweiss.”
Costuming a show of this magnitude with over two dozen nuns is an ordeal in of itself, but when considering that costume crew head Ashleigh Allen and assistant Aryaa Nadkarni also hand sewed an additional 20 costumes, there is no doubt that these two talented young women had their hands full. Yet, Allen and Nadkarni pulled it off, and the result is a tribute to Austrian culture while also showing homage to the iconic movie.
Nazi Germany’s annexation of Austria backdrops the show as the Trapp family is caught in 1938 Salzburg and unsure of who is friend or foe. No one captures this struggle better than Rolf Gruber, played by junior Leo Overstreet, who was once friends with the Trapp’s before joining the Nazi party. Overstreet is a natural performer. He makes Rolf’s supercilious character still likeable, despite his haughtiness.
Opposite Overstreet in the role of Liesl von Trapp is Ashleigh Allen. Allen brings a quality of sweetness to the show and together these two breathed new life into the classic song “Sixteen Going on Seventeen,” and boy can this duo dance! Jointly, they make audiences swoon through all the hallmarks of young love with the more smitten audience members giggling and kicking their feet.
Both powerful and pious, senior Jude DeWitt as Mother Abbess is absolutely spellbinding. As her character’s name suggests, DeWitt is able to portray Abbess’ maternal side while also delivering ethereal and bordering-on spiritual songs, most notably “Climb Every Mountain.”
Supporting this song and all the other songs that make this musical the classic that it is, is the talented Stone Bridge pit orchestra. Collectively, this group shared a professionalism and excellence that made them akin to the original soundtrack especially in the Entr’acte, but two performers stood out: flutist Julia Weeks and bassoonist Ryan Mallett.
While balancing musicianship with tone quality, both Mallett and Weeks repeated refrains from the show and each added during scene changes. Weeks showed off delicate vibrato softly reaching the audience’s ears while Mallet added a touch of vibrancy with bright, confident solos as the only bassoon.
To end with the beginning, the production opens with dozens of nuns hauntingly entering the stage as an unseen figure is heard angelically delivering “Preludium.” Singing in Latin is a feat in itself, but to do so in a way that is engaging is a whole other challenge–and one that senior Mary Esther Vaughan in the role of Sister Berthe takes on triumphantly. Vaughan’s voice will leave audiences captivated and ready for the three hours of exceptional high school musical theater before you.
For tickets to the show, visit stonebhs.booktix.com or at purchase at the door for $12.
