The Fox was alive with ‘The Sound of Music’

The Fox Theatre presented “The Sound of Music” from March 1-6, and the show was a heartwarming experience all around.

The singing was absolutely amazing, especially the nuns singing in opera style. The Mother Abbess (Ashley Brown) did a particularly stunning job with her numbers. “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” received thunderous applause from the audience.

Kerstin Anderson was a wonderful Maria, moving freely around the stage as she sang. Her whimsy provided a contrast to the stern Captain Von Trapp (Ben Davis). Davis did a great job of softening his character as the story unfolded. Watching the pair dance together was enough to make the heart melt.

Of course, we also have to give credit to the incredibly talented actors and actresses who played the Von Trapp children—they are all gifted performers and singers. Leisel (Paige Silvester) was a delight to listen to, and little Gretl (Audrey Bennett) was adorable. Each of the children had their own distinct personality that the actors conveyed through the delivery of their lines, and I was impressed by the scope of the songs and lines that they handled.

The set changes were really smooth, from the abbey to gardens to mountains to the Von Trapp house. The backgrounds were simple, yet clearly conveyed the setting, allowing the focus to remain on the talented cast. The costuming was impressive, too. It wasn’t over the top and remained true to the story.

While the plot of “The Sound of Music” starts out very lighthearted and sweet, it takes a darker turn when Nazis come calling to recruit Captain Von Trapp. There was one moment where red banners with swastikas fell to become a backdrop and the stakes for the Von Trapps escalated as their need to escape Austria became more crucial. The cast handled this change well, transitioning from bright and light to somber and determined. Their performance built suspense through the ending of the show, keeping the audience glued to the story of the Von Trapps and hoping for a happy ending.