Chemistry, scenery enliven 'Sound of Music'

Nazis patrolling the aisles with flashlights, actors in the audience standing to sing "Edelweiss", and the von Trappe family singing solemnly on stage. To think, this is just a glimpse into Garnet Valley High School's production of The Sound of Music! Add to this scene a seemingly professional set and the energy of the cast, and the musical becomes completely alive -  just as the hills are with music.

Though The Sound of Music was on Broadway as early as 1959, the film adaptation, starring Julie Andrews, brought more widespread recognition to the musical. Maria Ranier, a struggling nun who is sent to become a governess to the large von Trappe family, discovers her feelings for the distant, yet soft-hearted Captain von Trappe. However, as she struggles with these feelings, the Captain is busy ignoring his children, spending time with his fiancée, Elsa Schraeder, and contemplating how to remain faithful to his beloved Austria in the midst of a German invasion. With such an intriguing plot uncovering the relationships within a family, the music only serves to enhance the emotion, as well as, showcase character's voices.

These vocal talents were particularly evident every time Mother Abbess (Isabella Jayme) began to sing. Not only did Jayme have a strong voice backed by impressive support, she also had a wide range, showcased in her solos in various numbers. Likewise,this was evident in her duet with Maria Ranier (Simone Cuccurullo) in "Climb Ev'ry Mountain". Elsa's operatic and clear voice stood out, especially in "No Way to Stop It". Captain von Trappe (Grant Woodworth) was a commanding force on stage, enforcing his authority through his posture and stance.

In fact, the entire von Trappe was a presence on stage; their chemistry attracted attention. The innocent and exuberant Gretl (Molly Delaney) brought out Maria's maternal side wonderfully. Additionally, Max Detweiler's (Mike Pacifico) performance stole scenes. His dramatic body movements and over-the-top facial expressions developed his lovable, flamboyant character.

Aside from the acting and singing, the set was unbelievable. It was unique to every scene and appropriate for the setting and time period. In other technical aspects, the student orchestra was a welcomed backdrop to every song, accompanying the singers well. More impressive though, were the costume changes between almost every scene that occurred at lightning speed. Adding to the acclaims, there were also very few mic and light issues.

In general, Garnet Valley High School's production of The Sound of Music was punctuated with inspirational ensemble numbers such as "Edelweiss" and smaller numbers like "No Way to Stop It". There truly was no way to stop Garnet Valley High School's production of The Sound of Music from having a profound effect on the audience.