|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The Sound of Music by Starlight Musical Theatre  The Starlight Bowl is alive with The Sound of Music
again, taking me back to the summer of 1989 when Starlight gave me my very
first professional theatre experience with the same show. Clearly that one was
good enough to inspire my continued theatre attendance, eventually leading to
the creation of this website. And so I was glad to see that Starlight’s 2005
version would have had the same effect!
Director Dan Regas has assembled an impressive cast for this beloved Rodgers and Hammerstein classic about the musically inclined, real-life Von Trapp family who fled Austria after its acquiescence to Nazi rule in the late 1930s. The show’s songs include such well-known numbers as the opening title song, My Favorite Things, Sixteen Going on Seventeen, Do-Re-Mi, and the beautiful Edelweiss. The cast is led by Victoria Strong as would-be nun Maria, a Welk Theatre regular who performed the role of Mother in Ragtime both at Moonlight and on the national tour, and one of the greatest singing voices of our local stages. Here her vocal work shines throughout, while also turning in a good performance as the kind-hearted, child-loving, and spirited Maria including a nicely staged I Have Confidence (as she prepares to become the nanny of seven children). Norman Large returns from his magnificent performance in last year’s Sweeney Todd, this time as the less violent but equally determined Captain von Trapp who is passionate about his anti-Nazism but not about raising his children since their mother died (a problem Maria hopes to solve). Norman is a stern and strong Captain who eventually thaws well. Together they are bringing up a fantastic brood of seven
highly talented kids bookended by Sixteen Going on Seventeen Candice
Nicole (Dorothy from Starlight’s Wizard of Oz) and a sensational
nine-year-old actress Mackenzie Holmes as little Gretl, with Henry
Metcalf, Nicki Performs through August 21, 2005.
Rob Hopper ~ Cast ~
Captain von Trapp: Norman Large Maria: Victoria Strong Mother Abbess: Patricia McAfee Elsa Schraeder: April Fissell Max Detweiller: Chris Moad Rolf: Joseph Glaser Leisl von Trapp: Candice Nicole Friedrich von Trapp: Henry Metcalf Louisa von Trapp: Nicki Elledge Kurt von Trapp: Alex Foley Brigitta von Trapp: Kara Keyes Marta von Trapp: Emily Hoolihan Gretl von Trapp: MacKenzie Holmes Sister Margaretta: Jeannine Maruie Sister Berthe: Lana Hartwell Sister Sophia: Melissa Cigainero Frau Schmidt: Charlene Dibelka Franz: Robert Stark Herr Zeller: Devin Collins Admiral von Schriber: Daniel Hall Baron Elberfeld: Michel Napolitano Men's Ensemble: Phil Golden Richard Herring Garney Johnson Tim Roberts Women's Ensemble: Ilene Brown Aimee Dotts Maria Garcia Caitie Hannon Claire Kennelly Kathleen MacNeil Whitney Peskin Lauren Stevens Sharon Stevens Sarah Sumner Director: Dan Regas Musical Director & Conductor: Parmer Fuller Sound Design: Mark Hartshorn Costume Design & Coordination: Suzi Arnson and Margo Selensky Choreographer: Christine Hall Stage Manager: Debbie Luce Lighting Design: Trisha Schleicher Original Set Design: Wally Huntoon |
Elledge, Alex Foley, Kara Keyes, and Emily
Hoolihan rounding out the litter. They all get to demonstrate their wares
(both singing and personality-wise) in a terrific rendition of My Favorite
Things, showing both great individual and group flair (with nice
choreography by Christine Hall). Other standouts include an amusingly
and charmingly fake and pretentious Elsa (April Fissell) who combines
with Chris Moad as the lovable sponge Max Detweiller in the often
skipped How Can Love Survive number, a stunning singing of Climb
Ev’ry Mountain by Patricia McAfee, and a heavenly ensemble of nuns.