With sprawling Austrian landscapes, seven extraordinarily talented children and an undercurrent of pre-war tensions, “The Sound of Music” has united people since its mid-century release.
Jack O’Brien’s production of the beloved play, which ran from Jan. 6 to 18, 2025, at Boston’s Citizens Bank Opera House, is exceptional. Originally a Broadway musical that premiered in 1959, “The Sound of Music” was adapted into a film in 1965. Although the movie starring Julie Andrews is wonderful, the live performance truly cannot be topped. The two productions differ as the movie has a longer, more drawn out plot, but the play was able to showcase the voices of the actors beautifully.
The timeless story begins in The Abbey, a nunnery in Salzburg, Austria. It follows protagonist Maria (Cayleigh Capaldi) as she is sent to care for the seven Von Trapp children, who have been deprived of music in their household since their mother died. Maria brings song back into their lives and, in the process, falls in love with their father, Captain Georg Von Trapp (Kevin Earley). The two get married, but at the end of the film, the family must flee their home to escape the Nazis, who want to recruit Georg.
From the beginning, it is clear that Maria does not fit in at The Abbey. She is unable to sing without permission, which proves impossible for her, but she does bring joy to everyone around her, as is clear in the early number, “Maria.” This song captures Maria’s truly incandescent nature, with striking lyrics like, “How do you catch a moonbeam in your hand?”
Capaldi brilliantly captures Maria’s character. Her angelic voice comes through, particularly in the song “The Sound of Music.” Her charismatic personality, too, is especially evident when she first meets the Von Trapp children.
In contrast to the film, it does not take Maria as long to connect with the children, which makes it unclear why past nannies had said the children were so difficult. The children seem to get along with Maria almost immediately, whereas in the movie, they are far more reluctant. “Do-Re-Mi,” the first song all the children sing with Maria, would have been more satisfying had the children fought back more against Maria originally.
The children are amazing, with the oldest, Liesl (Ariana Ferch), perfectly capturing restless teenage angst and the youngest, Gretl (Luciana VanDette), adding perfectly-timed comedic relief. The two performers had an impeccable grasp of the music, and the song “So Long, Farewell” allowed each to display their individual talent adorably.
Georg’s character does a complete 180. He starts the show closed-off, strict and in a relationship with Baroness Elsa von Schraeder (Kate Loprest), a businesswoman who lives in Vienna, but by the end of the production, he has rediscovered his love of music and fallen in love with Maria. They are perfect together, though their storyline is slightly rushed. In one scene, Georg and Elsa break up, and in the next, Georg and Maria are expressing their feelings for one another, with the only thing truly initiating their love being one dance together.
Soon after Maria and Georg get married, he is requested to be a navy officer under Hitler. They have to flee the country to escape the Nazis, and they do it by performing at a local concert as a cover to leave their home before running away. The combination of their fear of being caught and their performance of their wonderful songs makes for a gripping scene. Unlike the film, the musical’s audience gets to double as the Von Trapps’. It was quite a remarkable experience to be transported into the story itself.
As Maria and the Von Trapps escape into the Austrian mountains, hoping to reach Switzerland, Mother Abbess (Christiane Noll) sings “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” one last time, encouraging Maria to follow her heart as she embarks on a new journey. This song, the best of the show, demonstrates how amazing Noll’s voice is. In this theater production, Mother Abbess is not just a side character as in the film; Noll captures the entire audience whenever she is present.
While “The Sound of Music” is still in Boston, it’s a must-see even if you have already seen the movie. You will be captivated by the unforgettable songs and inspired to take a trip to Austria, of course. Most of all, you will leave with a smile on your face, knowing that music really does connect us all.
