Timeless classics to take the stage

When "The Sound of Music" premiered on Broadway 50 years ago this month, Robert Ivey was in the audience in the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. He was mesmerized by Mary Martin starring as Maria.

Ivey, who then was dancing in the Broadway production of "West Side Story," considers himself fortunate to have seen some of the nation's musicals that have held up through the decades.

"When people think of 'The Sound of Music,' they usually are relating to the film version which came out in 1965, as the stage version is not performed that often," says Ivey, who will direct the musical, which opens Friday at the Footlight Players.

Ivey notes that Martin, then 46, pulled off playing a young girl. "She had kind of a timeless face and played up the more comic side of Maria's personality, while in the film, Julie Andrews portrayed Maria as a sweeter person, rather than a headstrong one," Ivey explains.

He points out that several differences exist between the stage and film versions of the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, which turned out to be their final collaboration before Oscar Hammerstein's death.

"In the stage version, Baroness Elsa Schraeder, who was von Trapp's fiancee, has a larger role as she sings, 'How Can Love Survive,' and 'No Way to Stop It' with Captain von Trapp and his friend Max Detweiler," Ivey says. "However, these songs are not in the film."

Set in 1938 Austria during the rise of the Third Reich, the libretto centers upon Maria, a young postulant, or nun in training, who is advised by Mother Abbess, her mother superior, to take some time to examine whether she truly is suited to become a nun. To take a break from the Abbey, Maria becomes a governess for Captain Georg Ludwig von Trapp, whose wife has died, leaving him to care for seven children and a large estate.

Several governesses have departed, unable to control the rowdy youngsters, but Maria uses her musical gift to teach the children to sing, which pleases the captain. Although recently engaged to Baroness Schraeder, von Trapp breaks the engagement and he and Maria are married, to the delight of the children.

As pressure is brought upon von Trapp to join the German Navy, he stalls for time, and the family seeks refuge in the Abbey before escaping to Italy and then to the United States.

Prolific actress Emily Wilhoit will take the role of Maria, something she has wanted to do since seeing the film as a child.

"Although I think of Julie Andrews often, I'm striving to place my own imprimatur on the character," Wilhoit says, adding, "It's interesting that in the film, the song 'My Favorite Things,' is used by Maria to distract the children from a thunderstorm; however, in the stage production the song is sung by Maria and Mother Abbess as they discuss Maria's future and discover they both love the same song."

Wilhoit also notes that the script does not gloss over the fact that national politics affects people's personal lives, as the oldest daughter, Liesl, 16, falls in love with Rolf, 17, a burgeoning member of the Nazi Youth, in a romance that is cut short.

With musical direction by Nancy Stedman, the show features Tony Nappo as von Trapp; Cara Dolan as Baroness Elsa Schraeder; Druid Joyner as Mother Abbess; Sarah Callahan as Liesl; and Kyle Kasten as Rolf.

"The Sound of Music" will be performed at 8 p.m. Friday and at various times through Dec. 20 at the theater at 20 Queen St. Tickets are $35, $30, $20 and are $15 for children 10 and younger, and may be purchased by calling 722-4487 or at www.etix.com.

'A Christmas Carol'

The yuletide season will receive a ghost-filled welcome when Charleston Stage presents "A Christmas Carol, A Ghost Story of Christmas," opening Wednesday for a three-week run.

Adapted from the famous Charles Dickens work by director Julian Wiles, the production has undergone some changes from previous years.

"We have an all-new holiday score created by Amanda Wansa, our resident music director, and inventive choreography by Lindsey Lamb," Wiles says. "We're especially excited by the new grand finale which has Old Ebenezer Scrooge dancing with almost everyone in town."

Ghostly spirits and magical apparitions will abound amid the large cast as David Ardrey portrays the skin-flint Scrooge; Rob Maniscalco takes the role of Bob Cratchit and Steve Fordham plays Jacob Marley, with Taylor Carnie as Tiny Tim.

The show opens at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday and continues at various times through Dec. 20 at the Sottile Theatre. Tickets are $15-$35, with $15 tickets available for students. To purchase tickets, call 577-7183 or www.charlestonstage.com.