It matters not which story you choose to follow. Both the film/stage production and the series of historical events are charming accounts. And the bottom line is this: CAST has picked a very popular and delightful show in “The Sound of Music” for all ages about love, family, courage, conviction, and finally, survival.
The musical opened on Broadway Nov. 16, 1959 for a run of 1,443 performances. Its plot continues to affect people today with its romantic, serious and emotional elements.
It is about a family dealing with war, and music and bonding are comforting factors.
It was the 1965 film version, starring Julie Andrews that made certain the popularity of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s show around the world. “The Sound of Music” returned to Broadway in 1998, starring Rebecca Luker.
The Rodgers & Hammerstein musical (with a host of our area’s community’s stars) opens Sept. 4 and ends Sept. 21. It is directed by Kim Dobbs, a Jacksonville State University graduate. And, again, Jacksonville and JSU talent sparkles. Over half of the cast and crew’s total number of people are from here.
There are some differences in how things actually took place when the film and stage versions and the historical accounts are compared. “Maria” was hired to tutor only the oldest daughter in the von Trapp family, said Sumer Buckner at a recent Civitan Club meeting.
Buckner plays the part of Maria for CAST. Buckner said that Maria fell in love with all of the children, and the captain fell in love with her.
But the children she taught were paramount in her consent to marry von Trapp, Buckner told the Civitans.
And, von Trapp was actually a gentle man and loving father instead of the stern image one remembers from the film/stage play. “Maria” (the character is based on Maria Augusta von Kutschera) a nun-in-training when we first see her in the production, was the more disciplined of the two, and actually given to temper tantrums at times.
It was no small matter for a man like the captain to leave his homeland.
That holds true in both the stories, but it seemed certain that if he remained in Austria he would be forced into leadership in the German navy.
According to Internet sources, the von Trapp grandchildren maintain that the means of escaping by the von Trapps in 1938 was not by climbing he Alps into Switzerland.
The family actually took a train to Italy, according to Amanda, grandchild of the von Trapps. Eventually, they went to the United States and settled in Vermont.
The von Trapp family lodge is in Stowe, Vt., and the Austrian home is now a landmark. The musical grandchildren have been performing since 1997 and carry on the tradition.
One of their winter performances will be with the National Arts Centre Orchestra in Canada.
Almost always, differences surface between a film/play and a book or in history.
“But they are both beautiful stories,” Buckner emphasized. The children, she added, look wonderful as they line up in stair-step heights and the accents used help “lift the characters out of Calhoun County” .
The size of the part doesn’t matter; the audience will find all of the characters interesting.
The Butler and Maid
George Whitesel’s role adds flavor to the political side of the story. Whitesel, as “Franz,” was an assistant to the captain on a ship and is now the butler of von Trapp’s large estate. The takeover of Austria by the Nazis is near, and “Franz” is thinking of his own future. This butler is a likable character, Whitesel adds, but he tends to favor the new regime. The phone calls from Berlin that he announces adds a dramatic sinister effect beneath the surface of the romantic and happy background of Maria, von Trapp, and the children who come to adore their tutoress.
Sylvia Malone portrays “Frau Schmidt”, the housekeeper of the mansion, and she has tended the estate for a long time. But in the new political climate the housekeeping staff is divided on their loyalty to the family; “Frau Schmidt” chooses to stay with the family.
Other actors and production workers from the Jacksonville area or JSU are Jordan Parker, Cody Harrell, Ellie Mellon, Robin Bauer, Pati Tiller, Jacob Cummings, Howard Johnson, Mike Parsons, Dawn Hurst, Dylan Hurst, Sarah Miller, Caryl Stahl, and Jule Stahl. Also featured are Chris Harris, Linda Lee, Sandi Smith, David Montgomery and Marty Davis. Emmy Hengeeld of Jacksonville will be in the orchestra.
For reservations, call 820 CAST (2278).
