The Catskill Chronicle

By J. A. Di Bello

FORESTBURGH, NY (August 9, 2012) – With the light of a waning moon, the woods and forests that graciously surround the Forestburgh Playhouse were party Tuesday night to the capture and enchantment of a spellbound audience. It was with a call to prayer, Handel’s Dixet Dominus that familiar melodies of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “The Sound of Music,” filled the eager hearts of those in attendance. The musical is the last collaborative effort of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein. It brought smiles of pleasure and tears of joy to those assembled at this Playhouse in the forest.

Interestingly, a number of “experts” and professional critics, did not and do not find the ‘The Sound of Music’ to be of a quality equal to its predecessors: “Oklahoma,”1943; “Carousel,” 1945; “South Pacific,” 1949; “The King and I,” 1951, et al. Some were reported to have described the show as “Juvenile,” “Mushy,” and “A child’s operetta!” In response, Richard Rogers wrote in his autobiography, “It’s my conviction that anyone who can’t, on occasion, be sentimental about children, home or nature is sadly maladjusted.” Yea!! Fortunately the producers at the Forestburgh Playhouse concur. Another Yea!!

The story is the creative interpretation of the Georg Johannesvon Trapp family. It is set near Salzburg, Austria, 1938, the year of the Anschluss. To counter that grim reality, enter Maria Rainer, a young postulant at Nonnberg Abbey, brilliantly portrayed by Jessica Wagner displaying an attractive, vivid youthfulness that perfectly matches the mystical qualities of Maria and without doubt reflects the Austrian Dilemma: “How do you hold a moonbeam in your hand?” “The Sound of Music” is after all the story of Maria.

To musically and convincingly perpetuate the legend of Maria von Trapp requires a complete and talented ensemble of theatre professionals. They must be able to convince an overexposed audience (those with knowledge of the plot and the actors who have gone before) that this presentation is inclusive and germane. By laborious attention to stage management, direction, lights, sets, costumes and musical direction of what must be considered a classic score the Forestburgh Playhouse delivers.

It is the projected charm of Jessica Wagner that radiates through Maria and causes the rigid Captain von Trapp, convincingly portrayed by Dan Fenaughty, to fall in love and again live as a man. His delivery of “Edelweiss” is sincere and full of hope. Give careful attention to the Captain and Maria’s folk dance, Act 1; the spark of attraction is clearly evident.

It is the children, however, that potentially upstage the assembled characters. “The Lonely Goatherd” and “Do-Re-Mi” are classics and the children command the full attention of the audience. They’re irresistible. Each a keeper if parents could place orders. Especially endearing is the smallest Gretl developed to the limit by Anna Romano and her older brother; Kurt hilariously brought to life by Jeremy Shinder. And if imitation remains a compliment, who in that audience hasn’t tried to teach a group of children the scale via Maria’s clever word play? Direct careful attention Kyra Leeds. She competently brings a degree of seriousness to the 16-year-old Liesl, as she’s endearingly innocent and unmistakably wholesome. Her brief flirtatious encounter with a young Nazi, Rolf, is alarming, as the naïve nature of this17 year-old want-to-be is convincingly brought to the stage by Kyle Peter Van Zandt.

The versatile, talented Kevin Confoy adds a slightly comic spark to the freeloading, ever-compromising Max Detweiler. A companion in the thankless role of the rich woman, Elsa Schraeder, the captain’s short-term fiancée is skillfully and intelligently depicted by Joyah Spangler. Mary Jo McConnell, as Mother Abbess brings front and center this production’s anthem, “Climb Every Mountain.” It is thematically forceful and skillfully delivered.

The evil that exists is adequately represented by Zachary Bencal,who commandsthe tyrannical roll of Herr Zeller, a Nazi. The thugs that accompany his reprehensible mission in addition to the blatant display of the Nazi crest and Swastikas are calamitous pieces of history. This portion is not overplayed as might be the temptation. To recognize the existence of evil was clear and appropriately presented.

“The Sound of Music” ends as expected. Each applauding participant knows Maria von Trapp. Her charm, her wit and attractiveness are beautifully interpreted by Jessica Wagner. For she, Maria, is the Austrian Moonbeam. Catch it if you can. For the opportunity, thank those who schedule events at the Forestburgh Playhouse. This summer’s August is a month with a Blue Moon, two full moons in the same month. Notable events, it is said, occur “once in a blue moon.” The Austrian Moonbeam, Maria von Trapp is one of them.

Secure tickets to “The Sound of Music,” which plays through at the Forestburgh Playhouse box office 845-794-1194 or order on line at www.fbplayhouse,org.