Recent History – 2002
April 24, 2002
By Mark Nielsen, Daily News Staff
The Sound of Music was as big a success at the box office as it was on the stage.
The musical, put on by the Dawson Creek Community Players April 11-13, drew large numbers of people on all three evenings that it was performed — 434 on Thursday, 579 on Friday, 547 on Saturday and a fair-sized crowd of 347 for the Saturday matinee for a total of 1904.
Exactly how much money was raised is still being determined as organizers wait for the bills to come in, but once a final total is determined, the proceeds will be donated to various local causes.
Co-director Dawn Taylor was pleased with how everything went.
“There were no anxious backstage moments with anyone get so nervous they were hyperventilating,” she said. “Everybody was very professional.”
Those who went definitely go their money’s worth.
Mary Chisholm conveyed both the look and the energy that the role of Maria Rainer calls for as the nun-turned-governess who finally melts the heart of Captain von Trapp.
Just as important, she and the seven von Trapp children — Samantha Klassen, Kaitlynn Johnston, Rylee Laveck, Ryan Chantree, Heidi Anderson, Lincoln Frank and Tammy McNutt — played off each other well. It didn’t take long to tell them apart and to get a sense of the bond between them and Maria.
In the fine tradition of productions if this kind, the magic of music was an ongoing theme. Chisholm and the von Trapp children were melodious while James Klassen, when he had the chances in his role as the aloof captain, showed that he can sing with the best of them. Hopefully, we’ll see and hear more from him in the future.
As well, a pared-down orchestra worked well with the singers, loud enough to be heard but not so loud that they were drowned out.
A nice touch were the nuns closing both the first and final acts. Taylor, especially, was remarkable and the audience showed its appreciation for all her work both on stage and behind the scenes, with a standing ovation.
Barb Munro also showed some chops as Elsa Schrader, the well-to-do competition for the hand of the captain, conveying a soft side that was not so apparent in the movie.
Her regal composure made her a natural for the part, and likewise, Dave Roszmann’s innate sense of humour made him an apt call for the role of Max Detweiller, the survivor with a sense of what’s right.
Roszmann lived up to the expectations and the audience responded with some good laughs to the sly one-liners.
The props were simple yet effective and the backdrop of the Austrian mountains was impressive. Needless to say, the captain gave up a great view when he and the family decided to escape the Nazis.
Speaking of Nazis, full credit to Robert Martschin for playing what was undoubtedly the most unpopular role in the show.
In all, the troupe did a credible job of bringing the Rodgers and Hammerstein classic to the stage. You couldn’t help but come away from the show feeling at least a little warm and fuzzy.