photo credit: Matt Bobke

Written by Patrick Chavis

J Stage presents The Sound of Music, playing now at Merage JCC in Irvine from April 19 to May 4, 2025.

Rodgers & Hammerstein’s best and most extensive play, directed by Carina Morales, receives a strongly coherent thematic presentation, a vibrant and colorful tapestry of art, and a nod to the musical aesthetic of the 1950s.

The Sound of Music is Rodgers and Hammerstein’s fifth musical. It is loosely based upon the real-life story of the Von Trapp family, a musical family that escaped Austria during the Nazi occupation. As with many dramatic recreations of historical stories, many creative liberties were taken. If you are interested in an accurate history of the Von Trapps, you can research the family’s autobiography from many different sources or read Maria Augusta Von Trapp’s memoir, The Story of the Trapp Family Singers. This memoir inspired a film that inspired the musical The Sound of Music.

Story:

It’s a musical for those who like their coffee home-roasted. You’ll never go back. It’s crafty because of the creative design team at Jstage. It’s also saccharine, which could turn some off, but that’s a part of what it is. There’s a sterility in pieces like this reminiscent of the period it was made in, and those criticisms of the piece are valid. But the message, especially in hard times, is of resistance and staying true to your values, even when it may seem impossible. It is so important to keep hope alive, that constant struggle with fear and nihilism, which lets bullies and fascists take hold. If you let them.

There is no better example than in pieces like “No Way to Stop,” sung beautifully by Will Minton, Lindsey Vangerpen, and Thomas Patrick Propofsky. It is where Max (Will Minton) and Elsa (Lindsey VanGerpen) try to convince Captain Thomas Propsofsky that resisting the Nazis and their horrific vision for the world was a bad idea and that he should compromise and cave in and think of himself. How easy and seductive it is to compromise your morals and let heinous things happen when you’re only thinking about yourself and you let fear guide your decisions.

Costumes/Set Design: 

Designer Haven Hanson’s costume design is a smorgasbord of delights, from Lindsey VanGerpen’s impressive golden backless dress to the colorful multicolored outfits worn by the Trapp children, including, of course, those adorable blue and white iconic sailor outfits worn by the Van Trapp family.

The transitions between scenes took a lot of time and required some patience, but the payoff was usually warranted due to the large set pieces in this show. The use of painted backdrops that could easily be dropped and removed helped the flow of the show, and the artwork was quite gorgeous because of what looks like hand-painted backgrounds from the scenic painters: Haven Hanson, Sophie Sonntag, Sarah Leonard, Dominique Salazar, and Mickey Narez.

Is The Sound of Music long? Indubitably! Still, this production flew by. The cast does a fantastic job with most of these tunes, which is no small order. There’s a lot of material to cover, and this ensemble was more than up to the challenge.

Acting:

Kayla Rush (Maria Rainer) delivered the instantly hummable “My Favorite Things.”

Jaime Hoovers’ gave an electrifying performance as Mother Abbess in “Climb Ev’ry Mountain ” and everything she does.

Proprofsky shows strength and vulnerability. Yes, he can sing, too. He performs wonderfully in the tune “No Way To Stop It” with VanGerpen and Minton.

Of course, you can’t have the Sound of Music without the kids; they all bring it.

From Neri Birans’s (Kurt Von Trapp ) moment-stealing high note in “So Long, Farewell” to the excellent stage presence and delivery from Harlee Schauf (Brigita Von Trapp).

And the charisma and the vocals to match from Alyssa Ultreras (Lisel Von Trapp) and Gavin Hamze (Rolf) when they performed “Sixteen Going on Seventeen.”

The hills are alive and booming with the sound of music at Merage JCC.

Review

8.8 Overall

9.2 Users (2 votes)

Story8.8

Acting8.6

Set & Design8.8

Costumes9.3

Entertainment8.5

What people say... 2 Leave your rating

Erica O.

Sound of Music

Outstanding performances across the board from the leads to the supporting actors. They fit like a glove together. I’m pretty confident they found some of the characters from Broadway or near Broadway productions. I loved the show!

April 30, 2025, 11:15 pm

Story9.3

Acting9.6

Set & Design8.4

Costumes9.3

Entertainment9.7

0

0

Barry Gordon

Sound of Music

I loved the performances. But the ensemble really stood out. Sometimes we forget all that goes into a show like this . From the excitement of the nuns, to the children to butler and housekeeper, and especially the Nazis, particularly Jeremy Gorelick who played Herr Zeller. I actively booed this menacing figure, who represented all that was wrong during the start of the WWI I. The ensemble was incredible. Absolutely wonderful and worth seeing… they were that good. Really, that good !!

April 25, 2025, 3:58 am

Story8.8

Acting9.6

Set & Design8.8

Costumes9.3

Entertainment9.5

0

5

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Great Show! OCR Recommended!

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