Review: The Sound of Music

Relive the Classic Story at the Arsht Center!

It’s been 50 years since the beloved film version of “The Sound of Music,” starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, graced the big screen. And now, fans of the film can relive the classic story at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts as “The Sound of Music” takes the Miami stage. Featuring timeless songs such as “Do-Re-Mi,” “So Long, Farewell,” and “My Favorite Things,” this touring version of “The Sound of Music” is everything you could ask for and more: It’s comforting, heartfelt, and utterly bursting with warmth and charm.

Kerstin Anderson takes on the iconic role of Maria, a struggling postulant nun who temporarily takes a job as governess to the seven von Trapp children. Commanding the stage, Ben Davis plays Captain Georg von Trapp, the children’s stern father who has the kids marching in a regimented manner and responding to a shrill whistle. Davis is dashing and heartbreakingly handsome as the Captain, with a beautiful baritone voice that is meant for the stage. And he only gets better as the show goes on, when Georg’s icy exterior starts to melt due to Maria’s infectious presence. Also of note is Paige Silvester, who plays the oldest von Trapp daughter. Her confident and flirty “Sixteen Going on Seventeen,” which she sings with the charming Dan Tracey, is one of the show’s unexpected highlights.

Part of the thrill of live theater is when you come to realize that the entire audience is operating on one singular, entranced wavelength; more than just clapping after a song, the audience as a whole is giving impromptu standing ovations or exhibiting an audible response to a particular scene, in total and complete agreement about the magic that’s happening before them.

Quite a few such delightful moments occurred during the opening night of “The Sound of Music,” proving that this enchanting production may very well end up being the crowd pleasing highlight of 2015-16 Broadway Across America season.

Take, for instance, when the Captain finally grabs Maria and pulls her into a passionate kiss. It’s a great scene, made even greater by the gasps and sighs that automatically and involuntarily rippled throughout the audience.

And while the entire production is tremendous, no moment can top Ashley Brown’s scene-stealing, transcendent rendition of “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” at the end of act one. It’s a powerhouse moment, so much so that the cheers started before Brown’s final soaring note had even begun, and continued long after.

“The Sound of Music” is currently playing at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts until Sunday, January 3rd. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.