The Sound of Music has just opened at the Fox. The return of the old warhorse surely drew sighs from frequent theater-goers, but they needn't have worried. To the surprise of even the most cynical, this new national touring company production is a charmer, and not unbearably saccharine. At least it's as un-sweet as something can be with seven children singing. We tend to forget that in many of the Rogers and Hammerstein musicals, there's looming darkness, whether it's little (Jud Frey in Oklahoma!) or large (World War II in South Pacific). Here, it's Nazis coming into Austria, a very sober touch that in reality somewhat balances the mostly uplifting score – which is what most of us remember the show for, anyway.
A very young Maria – Mary Martin opened the show on Broadway in 1959 at age 44 – works beautifully here. Kerstin Anderson was a sophomore at Pace University when she was cast. A great voice, and natural, unaffected acting gives us a very believable Maria. Ben Davis, whom St. Louis loved at the Muny in Oklahoma! and South Pacific, is Captain von Trapp. His von Trapp is more nuanced, a little less the martinet than is the usual version, and particularly pained in the scene at the festival.
Melody Betts is the Mother Abbess, and tears it up. All the children are delightful, the oldest, Liesl, being another Muny veteran, Paige Sylvester. Frau Schraeder, Teri Hansen, gives us a softer, more human take on the character. And Merwin Foard, playing impressario Max Detwiler avoids the broad, almost slapstick, possibilities in the role, giving us a guy just trying to keep his job.
All this, including the snappy pacing, comes from director Jack O'Brien. That pacing is helpful; like many shows of its generation, it runs more than 150 minutes, including intermission. Douglas W. Schmidt's scenic design is outstanding, not just the mountains but the interiors as well. It's aided and abetted by Natasha Katz's lighting. A live pit band, hooray, and traditionalists will be happy to hear the original orchestrations of Robert Russell Bennett, who had worked before with Richard Rogers.
Good stuff, but if you're going, check your tickets. This is another of the 7.30 curtain shows at the Fox, done for what I assume are the most family-friendly shows. And this is pretty G-rated, to be sure, only a couple of fast double entendres. Good stuff, even for the jaded.
The Sound of Music
through May 8, 2016
Fox Theatre
527 N. Grand Blvd.