Puppets, kids, nuns rollick in classic

Richey Suncoast Theatre's production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's classic, The Sound of Music, seems to meet a worthy goal of community theater: Provide as much fun for the cast as for the audience.

The fun is double for the score of kids that director Rick Bronson added to the script to perform as puppets during The Lonely Goatherd. The eclectically costumed youngsters happily charmed the opening night crowd and gave a nice creative touch to a usually stock scene.

The Sound of Music is based on the real life story of the Austrian-born von Trapp family, who escaped their homeland just as Nazi Germany took over before World War II. The family eventually moved to America, where the children have had long careers as singers, missionaries, music camp counselors and lodge-keepers.

The romance between the children's widowed father, a naval captain, and a young Catholic postulant named Maria is the linchpin of the plot, but it is the children, especially tiny Gretl (Skylar Bronson), who make the audience go "awwwwww" with sheer adoration.

The other six Trapp children are ably played by Gabriella Mirrabella, Jonathan Tietz, Joanna Mallon, Louis Ramsey-Wood, Megan Mullen and Harley Pope.

This is a story about singers, and director Bronson and music director Miriam Wysock wisely capitalize on the singing, adding 20 nuns to cantillate throughout the show and letting the spotlight linger on the soloists.

Sedra Bostick is outstanding as the fresh-faced and trusting Maria. Her true, clear voice emphasizes Maria's innocence and often covers when less gifted singers can't quite find the pitch.

Another noteworthy performance is by Davida Petrie as Mother Abbess. Mrs. Petrie looks like the consummate guide and protector of a convent. Her tender Climb Ev'ry Mountain rings with sincerity.

Bill Sutschek provides comic relief as Captain von Trapp's friend, the go-along-to-get-along Max Detweiler. Abbott Morgan is a fittingly decorous Captain, though the age difference between him and Maria is somewhat jarring. (But, hey, so are Hollywood's hottest new couple, Calista Flockhart and Mel Gibson.)

Heather Farley vamps as the captain's near-fiancee, Elsa Schraeder. Drew Lundquist is threatening as the Nazi enforcer, Herr Zeller. Ed Toye makes an appropriately supercilious butler for the Trapps. Rita Kitonplon, as the maid Frau Schmidt, is a convincing mix of stern Austrian and questioning patriot.

Justin Sargent as young Leisl von Trapp's boyfriend, Rolf, shows how much Rolf is struggling between his love for Leisl and his loyalty to the Third Reich. Rolf and Leisl's duet and dance, Sixteen, Going on Seventeen, is winsome and winning.

The show has 19 scenes in 10 different sets, but Charlie Skelton's clever set design, scenic artist Marc de Wehle's colorfully painted drop-down backdrops and the stage crew's quick work keep set and scene changing times to a minimum.

The tempo at Thursday's opening was a tad sluggish at times, especially at the start of the show, contributing to the two-hour, 45-minute run time.

Even so, because of the captivating story and performances, the show seems to go by quickly.

If you go

The Sound of Music, weekends through June 2 at Richey Suncoast Theatre, 6237 Grand Blvd., New Port Richey. Performances at 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2:30 p.m. Sundays. Tickets are $12. Box office is open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays-Saturdays and an hour before each show. Call (727) 842-6777.

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