Jeri Tidwell Photography
You would have to be a very young human to not have any familiarity with The Sound of Music, the Rodgers and Hammerstein Broadway musical that first lit up the stage in 1959, became a major motion picture in 1965, and has had countless productions in theatres from regional to high school, and had a live TV production in 2013. The original Broadway production earned eight Tony Award nominations and won three, including Best Musical and Best Lead Actress in a Musical for Mary Martin. The film earned ten Oscar nominations, including Best Actress for Julie Andrews, winning five including Best Picture and Director (Robert Wise). The film has also become a perennial on television for the holidays. The show has cemented itself as a classic not only because of the story, but because of the songs, including the title song, ‘Maria’, ‘My Favorite Things’, ‘Do-Re-Mi’, ‘So Long, Farewell’, ‘Climb Ev’ry Mountain’, ‘Sixteen Going On Seventeen’, ‘Edelweiss’ and many more.
The appeal of the story is the focus on the budding romance between Captain von Trapp and Maria, a postulant at a nearby abbey who is sent to the von Trapp home to be governess for the children for a few months, and the seven children themselves, ranging in personalities from precious to precocious, aged 16 to 5. The story takes place in Austria in 1938, a time when the Nazis are marching through Europe. The Captain is staunch in his defense of his country, while his associate Max Detweiler and love interest Baroness Elsa Schraeder urge him to just let things happen — because they’re going to happen — lay low and then it will all eventually blow over. The Captain wants no part of it but finds himself roped into taking command of a German ship. In the meantime, Maria arrives and the children fall under her spell, treating her with more love and respect than they have any other governess because she likes to break The Captain’s rules about playing and singing. Maria finds herself falling in love with The Captain but runs back to the abbey without saying goodbye, terrified that she’s doing something wrong in the eyes of God. The Mother Abbess convinces her to return, telling her that her love for another man is also part of God’s plan. When she returns, the Baroness has gone because The Captain could not stomach her passivity toward the Nazis, while Max has booked the children into a talent competition for their singing under Maria’s tutelage. But with the Nazis now fully in control of Austria and The Captain about to be forcibly taken to his ship, the family must come up with a plan for a daring escape to safety and freedom. But can they cross that forbidding mountain separating them from Switzerland?
This story has become so well-known that many believe it to be fact, and while parts of this are true, the actual events began about ten years earlier, and while there was an escape by the family it was not on foot, nor across a mountain. It probably would not have made as interesting and gripping a story if the show was factually correct, but that doesn’t detract from the show or the wonderful musical numbers that have become iconic over the decades.
The new production of The Sound of Music at Toby’s Dinner Theatre in Columbia, Maryland is another stellar presentation of an old favorite. The scenic design by David A. Hopkins evokes the von Trapp home and the abbey, assisted by Lynn Joslin’s lighting design that directs your eye to one part of the stage while another is being set for the next scene. The sound design by Mark Smedley is perfect, with voices and music blending very nicely, voices clear and never overwhelmed by the orchestra. The costumes by Janine Sunday and Sarah King really evoke the costumes familiar from the movie, from Maria’s simple dress and hat when she arrives, to the children’s Naval-style uniforms, and The Captain’s jackets. Director Mark Minnick has taken this familiar tale and breathed new life into it with his staging and impeccable eye for casting, and really delivers a gut punch in Act 2 when the Nazi peril becomes all the more threatening, giving the audience a chill down their collective spines as it becomes clear that this 1959 classic has become eerily relevant in today’s political climate. It’s hard not to think, while enjoying the performances and musical numbers, if we aren’t about to live through this story in our present day. It truly has become a much more thought-provoking show than it ever intended to be.
Jeri Tidwell Photography
You can’t have a good production of The Sound of Music if you don’t have a good Maria, and Rachel Cahoon has some mighty big shoes to fill … and fill them she does. Cahoon has a lovely voice that fits the songs perfectly, and she has wonderful chemistry with the children (not an easy task as she may be acting with a different cast of kids every performance). She also makes Maria’s feelings for The Captain feel authentic, as she does with her own conflicted feelings when she learns The Captain is to marry the Baroness. Cahoon really makes Maria her own, and if I have any critique it’s that her eye shadow is just too dark, often giving her the appearance of scowling. Cahoon is ably backed by Jeffrey Shankle as The Captain, who also has to go through a range of emotions over the course of the show, and brings a tear to your eye with his rendition of ‘Edelweiss’. Adrienne Athanas is also wonderful as Mother Abbess, and she has an appropriately angelic voice to boot. David James gives a winning performance as Detweiler, easily going from comical to serious as he tries to warn The Captain to fall in line not only for himself but for his children. Asia-Ligé Arnold brings regalness to the Baroness, giving some Eartha Kitt vibes as she slinks around the stage, almost trying to lull The Captain into accepting his fate. Jackson Miller returns after his role in The Addams Family, making Rolf conflicted over his feelings for Liesl and his loyalty to the Germans.
As mentioned, the children performers vary from show to show with the exception of Emily Signor as oldest daughter Liesl. To say that Minnick has found a star for this role would be an understatement. Signor is absolutely magnificent as the teen on the verge of adulthood, pining for telegram boy Rolf, becoming friends with Maria to the point that she begins to see her as a mother figure, and taking on the role of her siblings’ protector when things take a turn for the worst. Signor just lights up the stage, and has one of the most lovely voices that she gets to display with the song ‘Sixteen Going on Seventeen’. Signor absolutely nails her Toby’s debut.
At our performance, the children were played by Lucas Rahaim, Ava Lamanna, Noah Frieman, Harper Wright, Julia Ballenger and Bryn Hummel, all of them excellent with Rahaim hitting Friedrich’s high notes with perfection, and Frieman absolutely charming as Kurt. Wright also had some very nice moments with Cahoon, and Hummel was cute as a button as youngest daughter Gretl. The supporting cast is rounded out with a collection of Toby’s regulars all doing wonderful work, including Heather Marie Beck, Robert Biedermann, David Bosley-Reynolds, Jane C. Boyle, MaryKate Brouillet, Adam Grabau, Justin Calhoun and Jordan B. Stocksdale.
The Sound of Music is a classic, no doubt about it, and while it normally feels all warm and fuzzy like your favorite Christmas sweater, filled with songs you now and love and could probably sing along with, the story now takes on new meaning that some may look past while it resonates with others, but that does not detract from the absolute perfection on Toby’s stage that makes this production a must-see for the holiday season.
And don’t forget the outstanding dinner buffet (brunch for daytime shows) that includes the salad bar, Captain’s Sweet Corn, Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Apples, Seasoned Green Beans with Fried Onions, Scalloped Potatoes, the signature Spinach Phunque, Maria’s Pasta Marinara, Honey Garlic Chicken Thighs, Bratwurst/Knockwurst and Saurkraut, Baked Tilapia, Steamed Shrimp and the Carving Board with Steamship Round, Baked Virginia Ham and Roasted Breast of Turkey. Everything is beyond delicious. And as with every show, there is a specialty drink, ‘The Favorite Thing’, a frozen hot chocolate with a touch of Bailey’s Irish Creme (it comes in a non-alcoholic version as well), topped with thick whipped cream and a mini candy cane.
If you need some time out from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, book your seats now for The Sound of Music and climb ev’ry mountain to get there!
The Sound of Music runs about 2 hours 30 minutes with one intermission. Note that fog, haze and strobe effects are used in this production.
The Sound of Music runs through January 12, 2025. Toby’s next production to kick off the new year is the musical adaptation of the classic comedy movie 9 to 5, with songs by Dolly Parton, (January 17 – March 16).
Check our Ticketmaster link for ticket availability.
Share this post
