Theater Review: "The Sound of Music" at Musicals at Richter

Musicals at Richter, the longest running outdoor theater in the state, is back for their 38th season under the stars with a production of the beloved “The Sound of Music.” The show is directed by Jessica Smith, an adjunct professor at Sacred Heart University, with choreography by Lindsay T. Miller and music direction by Adam Snyder.

The musical offers music by Richard Rogers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, with a book written by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse (“Anything Goes,” “Life with Father,”) which was suggested by “The Trapp Family Singers” by Maria Augusta Trapp.

The “Renaissance of Richter” has begun with the completion of Phase One of the new performance facility. The sleek new stage deck, which was wisely built with all-weather composite material, was completed in early July and looks beautiful. It comprises 3,000 square feet of space and will offer infinite possibilities for future performances.

Personally, I was glad to see the continuation of the tradition of the entire cast walking in single file to the outdoor stage before the show. There are some (very trimmed) trees that remain behind the stage that continue to serve as natural scenic design. With the open set design, designed by John McMahon, the ground-level space behind the stage can be used as well.

I noticed a few added touches that worked. Two girls in religious school uniforms lit the candles before the choir of nuns entered the stage for the first time. There are two beautiful back-lit stained glass pieces in the nun’s chapel.

Emily Walsh returns to this stage to play her dream role of Maria and she is one of the best parts of the production. Walsh, who works at Carnegie Hall in New York, possesses a lovely singing voice and stage presence. Rob Mayette plays the formidable Captain Georg von Trapp.

Priscilla Squiers is perfectly cast in the role of the loving Mother Abbess. This is Squiers' third visit to the Alps, having appeared elsewhere as Maria and Elsa. She writes that she finally feels like she is putting her graduate degree in religion to work as her character as a nun.

The rest of this community theater cast was a bit uneven on opening night, but there were some standouts among the supporting cast members. I paid attention to Stacey Snyder in the delightful role of Sister Berthe, Mistress of Novices because she stayed in character for all of her scenes.

Jillian Flynn, a recent graduate of Bucknell University, shines in her first show with Musicals at Richter in the role of the eldest of the von Trapp Liesl. Vincent Fontenelli has a certain charm early in his role of Rolf Gruber. The young actor was part of “We Will Rock You” at Immaculate High School and is now studying film scoring at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Robert Fontenelli, who has been part of MAR shows since he was nine years old and also appeared in Immaculate’s “We Will Rock You,” covers the role of Franz, the butler.

Charlotte Sydney Harrington, 7, walks perfectly the fine line between a professional yet truly childlike performance as the youngest von Trapp, Gretl in her first show at MAR, and seventh grade student Alllyson Snyder does well as the insightful Brigitta.

Elsa Schraeder was brought to life by the talented Claire Simard, the Performing Arts Coordinator at the Wooster School in Danbury.

Don’t miss the cameo of MAR historian Dolly Connor (who has been involved with MAR for 33 years) as the bowing contestant Fraulein Schweiger in the final scene. Connor, who still works in the will-call both before the show, cheerfully greeting people as they enter the grounds, drew applause with every move.

In his first Richter show, music director Adam Snyder (“Disaster” at Brookfield Theater for the Arts) does well, playing percussion in the pit. The first keyboard is played by Tom Morris. Sound design by Liam Cuneo had only a few minor hiccups. The lighting designed by Sacred Heart University senior Jonah Savage made it easy to see what was going on on the new stage. Kudos to stage manager Olivia Minor, a rising junior at Skidmore College, for managing all of the moving parts of this big show,

I was distracted by several issues with the costumes for this show. Hems on more than one dress were noticeably hanging, as were some straps on gowns worn by the ensemble. Then, while all of the nuns were in full habits, the low neckline of Maria’s postulant’s dress was not appropriate for a woman intending to become a nun. The dresses that she wore when she left the convent were far more modest.

Further expansion plans include outdoor storage that can be locked and even indoor restrooms.

THE SOUND OF MUSIC plays outdoors under the stars through Aug. 6 at the Richter House Arts Center, 100 Aunt Hack Road, in Danbury. Performances are Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings at 8:00 p.m., plus Thursday evenings on July 28 and Aug. 4.

Audience members are encouraged to bring chairs or blankets for lawn seating and plenty of bug spray. A limited number of chairs are available free of charge at the concession area, and a snack/soft drink concession is on site.

For tickets and information, visit musicalsatrichter.org.

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theatre reviews since 2012 as a way to support local theatre venues. She posts reviews of well over 100 productions each year. In 2016, she became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle. She continues to contribute theatre news, previews, and audition notices to local Patch sites. Reviews of all levels of theatrical productions are posted on Naugatuck Patch and the Patch sites closest to the venue. She recently became a contributor to the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Her weekly column and theatre reviews appear in the Thursday Weekend section of the paper.

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