Pittsburgh CLO's 'Sound of Music' proves sweet, sassy and surprising
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As Captain Von Trapp, Robert Cuccioli, center, shares music with the Von Trapp children in Pittsburgh CLO's "The Sound of Music."
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It's easy to assume we already know what we're getting with "The Sound of Music" -- familiar and family-friendly entertainment that's as sweet as apple strudel.
But the CLO's production has altered the recipe a bit, resulting in a confection that's surprisingly crisp and has bite while preserving the show's wholesomeness.
A fresh-faced would-be nun, Maria, brings singing back into the Von Trapp household, wins the love of her seven motherless charges and the seemingly stern Captain, and escapes the Nazi invasion of Austria by hiking over the mountains with her new family.
Jennifer Hope Wills as Maria is an accomplished vocalist and also brings a charming gracelessness to the role. This Maria is a bit of a nerd: awkward, overeager, bursting into song at inappropriate moments and climbing over furniture in her efforts to engage the children.
- Where: Benedum Center, Downtown.
- When: Through July 31. 8 p.m. Tuesdays-Fridays; 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays; also 1 p.m. today.
- Tickets: $21-$70.75. 412-456-6666 or www.pittsburghclo.org.
And while the plot calls for Maria to be petrified at the thought of the Captain in love with her, Ms. Wills plays these scenes as a woman whose own life-loving nature is what truly scares her.
Not surprising, considering his Tony-nominated performance in "Jekyll & Hyde," Robert Cuccioli's Captain Von Trapp is another character whose conflict makes him more than expected.
As with Maria, his sense of discipline and honor are tested by a passionate re-engagement with life. During "No Way to Stop It," in which his fiancee Elsa Schraeder and friend Max try to convince him to welcome the Nazis, we see his revulsion for a world in which expediency is a cardinal virtue. Mr. Cuccioli's rich voice is another treat that lends gravity and savor to the proceedings.
Another standout performer is Lisa Howard as the Mother Abbess. The Broadway veteran is younger than the role typically calls for, and the result is almost a doubling between her and Maria. When they sing "My Favorite Things," their mirrored dance moves show what could have been had they each chosen different paths. And Ms. Howard's "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" produces pleasant chills.
First Published July 21, 2011 12:00 am
