The Sound of Music musical

My cousin R gave me two tickets for The Sound of Music musical at the Ahmanson Theatre because he was unable to use the tickets.  I have been curious and somewhat interested with this so I was very pleased to have the tickets.  I must admit that I was interested in watching The Sound of Music at the same time I was mildly not that interested because I have seen the movie version so many times.  So I totally expected to see a stage version of the movie.

Many of what I expected to see were shattered by the musical.  It was refreshingly new to me.  Yes they sang almost all of the songs from the movie but several were not from the scenes I expected it to be.  I suppose the limitations of the stage played a role in that.  One song in the movie notably missing was the "I have confidence" song Maria sang on her way to the Von Trapp family house.  And the "Something Good" song Maria and the Captain sang to each other was rewritten with about 80% different lyrics.  I know because I know these songs by heart.  Then there were 2 new songs they added that give the Baroness Schraeder and Max Detweiler songs to sing.  I personally did not care for the 2 new songs.

I want to mention that the production did a good job in the stage props and set.  Everything flowed from scene to scene effortlessly.  The background scenery painting brought me to that place they intended to bring their audience.

All the actors sang beautifully.  Even the children were flawless.  Kerstin Anderson as Maria was delightful.  And that is a tough shoe to fill after Julie Andrews.  Ben Davis as Captain Von Trapp was good but I must say he did not seem as handsome as how I pictured the captain would be.  The children were all very size and age appropriate unlike in the movie where Liesl and Friedrich seems too old for their suppose age.  Teri Hansen as Baroness Schraeder appears too old for me too. 

Despite the changes, I still had a very good time with it.  In fact I think the changes gave this musical that I am so familiar with a new feel for me.  Very entertaining indeed.  Thank you cousin R!