The hills are alive with The Sound of Music at Pittsburgh Musical Theater in their current production of the classic Rogers & Hammerstein musical, directed by Colleen Doyo. Whether you were introduced to The Sound of Music by stage or screen, PMT’s production might not rekindle your love for the show, but it will remind you the relevancy the story has sixty years after its debut on Broadway.
The Sound of Music is the story of a young woman, Maria, who is sent to be a governess to the seven children of Captain von Trapp. Maria brings music into their home, which ultimately leads the children and family to become a successful singing group. However, on the cusp of World War II, the Von Trapp’s fear their days in their homeland of Austria are numbered.
The Sound of Music runs at the Byham Theater in Pittsburgh’s Cultural District. A theater that is not nearly as large or grand as the Benedum or Heinz Hall, but offers a slightly more intimate experience than its relatives. Having been away from the Byham for a good ten years, it was nice visiting the theater again and admiring the beautiful artwork featured above the stage.
While there are highlights in PMT’s production, overall I found it lacks the charm and heart expected of The Sound of Music.
The sets, while versatile, are for the most part lackluster. With the exception of the beautiful backdrop of the mountains/hills, I found there to be a bare minimum feel to the scenery.
I found the costumes to be up-to-par for the show, and quite enjoyed the curtains turned clothing pieces for the children near the end of Act 1. There were a few costumes pieces that resembled ones from the Broadway production and film, which were nice to see replicated here. It gave a sense of familiarity and helped pinpoint the more iconic moments of the show.
With the cast of The Sound of Music, there are some hits and misses. Overall, its clear the cast is working hard to produce a memorable production. I think in this particular case the production’s issues deal with miscasting, and a lack of chemistry between actors.
There are three highlight performances from actors I felt went above and beyond in their roles, and truly helped the story come to life. Firstly, I was rather impressed with Caroline Nicolian in her portrayal of the Mother Abbess. “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” is a challenging song for even the most experienced of performers, but I felt she nailed it. She is definitely one of the stronger singers in the show, and that song showcases her incredible range and vocal power. My second and third recognitions go hand in hand. Elsa and Max, played by Whitney Noelle and Thomas Conroy, have two of the best performances in the show. Noelle is hands down the strongest vocalist in the cast, and its shown in songs like “How Can Love Survive,” and “No Way to Stop It.” Conroy is fantastic in his role and brings much needed comic relief to the production, and has energy that lights up the stage whenever he is on it.
Where I was disappointed in the cast came to the performances of Maria and Captain von Trapp, played by Lara Hayhurst and Rob Jessup. They are talented performers, but I found they were slightly miscast for their roles. While Hayhurst’s vocals are lovely, she has a modern sounding musical theater voice rather than a classic one, which this show calls for. I will say she has wonderful chemistry with the children, and they with her. As for Jessup, I have no qualms with his vocals, and actually found his performance of Edelweiss to be quite touching. However, I felt he never truly transitioned from the strict, straight-laced man to the loving, caring father. I also found Hayhurst and Jessup’s chemistry to be lacking. There was never a point they felt in love; you just acknowledge it was that point in the show where they get together.
The von Trapp children (Raindrops Cast) are fine performers. You can tell they are extremely talented kids and possess great potential, and I am eager to see them grow throughout their performing careers. I also felt the ensemble who made up the nun choir were excellently cast. Their voices blended beautifully together, and the few moments they had in the show were enjoyable to say the least.
While I did enjoy certain numbers in the show such as “Do-Re-Mi,” and “So Long, Farewell,” overall I found the production to lack the charm that one typically would find with this musical. It’s a good production, but slightly off center from being one that is truly great, and one that sticks with you. Being that PMT is a professional theater company, I expected a step or two above the production that I saw. They obviously have talented people working on the show, but I feel they weren’t used to the best of their abilities.
With a show like The Sound of Music, most people have strong memories attached to it, whether that be growing up with the Julie Andrew’s film or perhaps favoring the Mary Martin version on Broadway. So most audiences have expectations for the show to hit the right notes and land in a certain way. I didn’t feel PMT’s version lives up to the history and name that The Sound of Music holds. I would still recommend this show for the highlight performances and for anyone who holds nostalgia for the show itself. However, I don’t believe new audiences will take to it, and might resonate more with the show after an introduction to the film.
The Sound of Music runs at the Byham Theater through March 15. For tickets and more info, visit PMT’s homepage.
Jade Goodes is a graduate of Penn State University where she received her degree in English. While attending Penn State she became the Managing Editor for the school’s literary & arts magazine, Absence. Jade has been involved with the Pittsburgh theater community since elementary school, and has performed in many productions over the years. In her free time she enjoys reading and attending all the concerts she can.
Categories: Archived Reviews