THE SOUND OF MUSIC at Artistry Theater and Visual Arts

The Sound of Music has opened at Artistry and while the hills may be alive with the sound of music, their volume has been reduced by a few decibels. Taking on a classic musical  can be difficult because everyone has an expectation and an opinion to share. Most will find the production charming and mesmerizing, while some may find it a let down.

Staged on a nearly empty stage, this particular production has elected to focus more on the spoken word and musical numbers to convey the story. Unfortunately, this seems to be a misstep. Throughout the show the audience is never provided an idea of where we are supposed to be, save for one scene in Maria’s bedroom. The production team has instead elected to give the actors free reign of the stage without any obstacles.

Sadly, the actors barely use the entirety of the stage, instead being directed to play upstage left for a good chunk of the show. Whether this was to convey being near the house or not, it seemed an odd artistic choice seeing as they had a good amount of space to play in.

One of the biggest detriments to the show is the acting. While the cast could sing the score for the most part, the acting on stage was mostly wooden and lacked the emotional depth that audiences have come to know and expect from this particular show.

The lack of chemistry exhibited by the two leads is the most glaring set back. While they do their best to try to force the narrative, there is never a genuine moment where the audience is lead to believe that there is any true romance between them. They always seem to be on the edge of an employee/employer or ‘two roommates who share a large home with a group of children’ type of relationship.

This rift becomes most evident during the party scene where Maria and the Captain share their “intimate” dance sequence providing no emotional spark between them. Inhibiting us from feeling let down when they break apart and Maria sharing that she doesn’t remember the remainder of the dance due to being flustered and caught off guard by her feelings for the captain.

While the rest of the cast suffices to play their roles well, it is hard to ignore the woodiness of their performances, feeling as though they are still getting comfortable working together on a stage in front of a paying audience.

The Sound of Music is most known for its gorgeous melodies, catchy lyrics, and soul stirring ballads. All which were present on Saturday night but scaled back. Having all of Maria’s songs converted into an alto key provided a different sound to the music and not in the best way. Instead of the soaring belts that the audience will be accustomed to, they are treated to a  more muted version of the same songs. While the cast does well enough with their vocals, the real star is, and always will, be Susan Hofflander as Mother Abbess. Her rousing performance of Climb Ev'ry Mountain was the true highlight of the night.

While Artistry dubs itself a professional theater company, and they have had many shows that shone brightly in the past, this particular musical falls flat. It is sure to enchant those who may know cast members and parts of the creative team but if someone is seeking a top notch production of this beloved classic, they may need to seek greener mountain tops elsewhere.