'The Sound of Music' is Pitch Perfect at Drury Lane Oakbrook -- Theater Review

Theater Review

The Sound of Music
Drury Lane Oakbrook
Thru January 8, 2012
@@@@@

I realize it would be apples & oranges to say that the production of The Sound of Music at Drury Lane Oakbrook is far superior to any of the three West End musicals I recently saw in London.

For the Rogers & Hammerstein masterpiece is one of the greatest musicals ever created and it's likely that a strong high school rendition would be more satisfying than Ghost: the Musical. And while the other two London shows I caught, Thriller Live and Priscilla Queen of the Desert, featured some fantastic performances, the former was simply a revue with no story and the latter likewise consisted solely of pre-existing music. Both were enjoyable but far from historic.

Mind you, there are many superior musicals playing in London which I have seen previously, there or elsewhere, and my point is not to minimize the quality of the shows and performers working in one of the world's two most prestigious theater districts.

Rather, I mean to herald the heights to which the Drury Lane--and other Chicago area production houses--are now regularly jumping. In a few days I will post my list of the 10 Best Musicals I Saw In 2011 and although my pool includes 18 shows seen in the West End, on Broadway or as a Broadway tour, I am certain that this version of Sound of Music will make the cut, along with a number of other local productions (including Drury Lane's last show, Sweeney Todd).

This is actually the second fantastic production of the fictionalized tale of the real-life von Trapp family I've seen this year. Back in June, I caught one of a 2-show run by Chamber Opera Chicago at the Athanaeum Theater (and wrote about it here). That was the first time I'd ever seen TSOM on-stage and the production was remarkable for how good it was despite the sparsity of performances, highlighted by the efforts of a 30-piece orchestra.

While that rendition was certainly a treat, this one's even better, in terms of overall production values and the performance in the lead role of Maria. Beyond a lovely singing voice, Jennifer Blood imbues the role with a playful exuberance and just the right balance of trepidation and fearlessness as Maria tackles insta-mothering a brood not all that much younger than she is.

Longtime Chicago musical star Larry Adams similarly does a great job of capturing Captain von Trapp's tough and tender sides. While old enough to be Blood's father, he allowed for their romance to come off as believable, and though the Captain doesn't often get to sing, Adams clearly showcased his fine voice on "Edelweiss."

Also demonstrating superlative vocal talents--on a goosebump-raising "Climb Ev'ry Mountain"--was Patti Cohenhour as the Mother Abbess, a role she played in the 1998 Broadway revival. It's obvious the DRO is attracting top notch talent, as as with Sweeney Todd, smaller roles here are filled by local stalwarts with many leading role credits, such as Paula Scrofano, John Reeger, Catherine Lord, David Girolmo and Natalie Ford. I was sorry to miss Peter Kevoian as Max, but on the matinee performance I caught, Craig Spidle quite ably handled the role.

And quite importantly, all of the children were excellent. Although the two boys and some of the younger girls didn't come off as all that individualistic here, Katie Huff did a very nice job as Liesl, Marieclair Popernik made for an adorable Gretl and either Arielle Dayan or Ingrid Lowery was slyly knowing as Brigitta (sorry, I'm not sure which girl performed).

I have now seen four shows directed by Rachel Rockwell and all have been excellent...or even better. Though she may not quite be a household name, as one of Chicago's best musical theater directors, she seems to be elevating herself to a well-deserved "brand name" level, a la Gary Griffin. I wouldn't be shocked if she soon finds herself in demand on Broadway, so all the more reason to take in this terrific production if you can.

Getting a ticket may not be easy as the Drury Lane is rightfully packing them in for this family-friendly show. And without any discount availability on Hottix or Goldstar, you might pay a bit more than at some other area theaters also doing fine work. But the $35-45 you'll spend is not only going to give you all the value of a downtown Chicago show for a fraction of the price, it will also save you from flying to London (or New York) to see musical theatre of the highest quality.

And when it comes to looking back at "My Favorite Things" of 2011, The Sound of Music will long resonate.

(Call the Drury Lane box office at 630-530-0111 to avoid Ticketmaster fees; another reason to love this theater.)

Fine Yet Fleeting Production Renders 'The Sound of Music' Harmionously Sublime -- Theater Review

Theater Review

The Sound of Music
presented by Chamber Opera Chicago
at the Athenaeum Theatre
Run Ended
@@@@1/2

Until Sunday afternoon, The Sound of Music stood as the most famous--and presumably best--musical I had never seen on stage.

Although I have avidly been attending musicals over the last dozen years--seeing more than 300 different ones, many multiple times--I don't recall ever having an opportunity to see the great Rodgers & Hammerstein musical live and in person. And when I finally did get the opportunity, I literally had only two chances, as Chamber Opera Chicago slated just a pair of performances last weekend at the Athenaeum Theater.

Though I had never seen nor heard of this troupe before, they fortuitously found me with a promotional postcard.

Thanks to Goldstar, a wonderful, free-to-all ticket discount service, I was able to get a ticket for just $13 including convenience fees. And as impressed as I consistently am with the high-quality productions that Evanston's Light Opera Works delivers of shows that typically run for a scant 8 performances and cost me about $40 after discounts, I was even more awed by the experience Chamber Opera Chicago provided, given the even shorter run and lower admission cost. (Although, straight up, LOW's wonderful recent staging of Brigadoon had slightly better production values and performances.)

I have been to the Athenaeum on Southport many times but had never had occasion to sit in its grand mainstage theatre, so I was delighted to see it completely packed for this strong rendition of The Sound of Music. I don't know if they were borrowed or specially built, but the sets were far better than anyone had a right to expect for a 2-show run. The 30-piece Orchestra sounded excellent, as did most of the vast, almost exclusively non-Equity cast in giving a 3+ hour performance packed with superlative songs, such as the title tune, "Maria," "My Favorite Things," "Do-Re-Mi," "So Long, Farewell" and several more. 

Nick Sandys, who I'd seen as Professor Henry Higgins in a Light Opera Works production of My Fair Lady, was very good as Capt. Georg von Trapp, and most of the young stars playing the von Trapp children were also notably good, particularly Sarah Huffman as Liesl. And though she sang only one song, Erika Morrison delivered a phenomenal rendition of "Climb Ev'ry Mountain."

I hate to call Barbara Landis' performance as Maria a weak spot, since as the artistic director of Chamber Opera Chicago she likely put this whole wonderful production together. And she was certainly more than adequate, but just didn't seem perfectly suited to the part.

Perhaps I'm unfairly comparing her with Julie Andrews--who legendarily played the role in the 1965 movie version--but I didn't feel that Landis quite exuded the proper ebullience. And while the seasoned opera singer certainly has an impressive--if rather deep--voice, the operatic tonality of her singing just didn't strike the right note for the role of Maria, a fanciful nun turned governess. 

Although she was much more good than bad, Landis' performance was probably the main thing preventing me from delivering an unprecedented fourth straight @@@@@ review on Seth Saith.

Though it only shared the 1960 Best Musical Tony--with Fiorello--The Sound of Music is clearly one of the best musicals ever written. Perhaps I'll see an even better production some day, but as an initial live experience, this outstanding local staging brought true joy to my eyes, ears and soul.