Jack O Ry Mountain Play Critique

In early March, I saw the touring production of The Sound of Music at the Fabulous Fox Theater in Atlanta, Georgia. The production was directed by Jack O’Brien. Having been a fan of the famous 1965 movie version, I was a bit skeptical about the show. I must say, however, that the production exceeded my expectations. Everything about the show was simply stellar. The entire cast worked together to create a truly magical theatergoing experience! The director’s concept for the show was true to the original movie that we all love, but also unique in an updated sense. I was extremely impressed with the production. Perhaps the most outstanding aspect of the show was the acting and singing. I have never heard a cast who was more “pitch perfect” and

The visual design and sets were simply breathtaking! The proscenium stage allowed for beautiful and elaborate sets throughout the show. The colors consisted mostly of bright purples, greens, and blues. The entire experience created a mood that made me feel as though I were in Austria. One interesting visual effect within the set came at the end of the show during the Reprise of “Climb Ev’ry Mountain.” The set designers made use of a staircase wrapped in leaves and stones to give the effect that the characters were actually climbing a mountain. It was stunning and a perfect set for the finale. In addition to the sets, the costumes were beautiful, yet simple. Perhaps the best costumes appeared in the ninth scene of act one, when the cast danced at a grand party at the Von Trapp

It was easy to see that a great deal of rehearsal had gone into this show. The stage hands, lighting/sound technicians, and orchestra were extremely skilled. If there were any mistakes during the show, they were certainly not noticeable! I was particularly impressed at how quickly the stage hands were able to change the sets. Each set change was accompanied by a short piece of instrumental music, which was a nice distraction from what was happening on the dark stage. The lighting directors also did an outstanding job on this show. The lighting was adjusted at the perfect times to fit each scene appropriately. Last but certainly not least, the sound quality was perfect. There was never as much as a crackling microphone. The volume of the orchestra was perfectly mixed with the vocals, creating a soundtrack quality