Cleveland stages alive with family musicals: 'Sound of Music,' 'Talking About Jamie'

Musicals about the family are the mainstay of musical theater in general. But the parameters of the family musical certainly have changed since Maria waltzed through the mountainscape of Salzburg, Austria -- as evidenced in comparing two entries continuing this week in Cleveland. "The Sound of Music" There's not much a theater company can do to either ruin or elevate one of the most popular and familiar musicals in history, especially in the wake of the iconic 1965 film adaptation. But the current tour of "The Sound of Music" surprisingly succeeds at the latter, breathing fresh life into what could have been a stale encounter. If you missed the 1959 Mary Martin original Broadway production, the Julie Andrews Oscar-winning film, the national tours, the school and community theater productions and the sing-along screenings, this might be a great way to catch up. Based loosely on the biography "The Trapp Family Singers," by Maria Augusta Trapp, the show follows a free-wheeling novice at a Salzburg convent sent by the Mother Superior to become the governess for the seven children at the grand estate of a noble Austrian naval captain. She wins the love of the family as they learn to love the fulfillment of music and singing -- all in the dawn of Nazi domination of Europe. One of the most prominent reasons for this new tour's success is the creative but detailed direction of Jack O'Brien, best known for the original Broadway production of "Hairspray." He in fact raises the bar on how compelling the Broadway version of "Sound of Music" can be. Also, the production is grandly mounted by Tony-winning scenic designer Douglas W. Schmidt. His stately depictions of the abbey, the interior and exterior Von Trapp estate and the iconic Austrian mountainside vista triumph over the usual restraints of a touring production, making the most of stationary backdrops without the video-screen enhancement so common today. The cast members triumph vocally, but unfortunately vary in performance. Fortunately, Sydney K. Borchers, who Wednesday night stepped in as understudy for iconic leading role of Maria, was majestic and compelling as she navigates seven unwieldy children, a staunch family matriarch and romantic competition from a regal baroness (beautifully portrayed here by Kate Loprest with a touch of sophisticated irony). Unfortunately, Kevin Earley could not break through the one-dimensional nature of Captain von Trapp; a little more nuance would go a long way. By far, the greatest performance of the evening was by Christiane Noll as Mother Abbess, who not only uncovers extra humanity and even humor in the stately character, she seems to have found that higher mountain to deliver the musical's enduring anthem, "Climb Every Mountain," which rightfully closes the first act of the stage version. (The film's intermission commences after Maria sneaks away from the Von Trapp household after realizing her ostensibly forbidden love for the captain.) Wisely, the show does not succumb to pilfering the possibly more familiar changes the film made to the Broadway version, particularly interpolating songs Richard Rodgers made just for the film version. But the decision to replace Broadway's "An Ordinary Couple" with the more sophisticated "Something Good," when Maria and the captain realize their love for each other, seems to be, well, something good. The family's climactic escape to Switzerland should be of no surprise to most of the audience seeing this tour, but Northeast Ohio veterans of "Sound of Music" might be surprised how freshly the Richard Rodgers & Oscar Hammerstein II musical shines at Playhouse Square's Connor Palace. "Everybody's Talking About Jamie" Flash forward to the 2020s, and the family dynamic seems to have shifted from the days when Rodgers & Hammerstein ruled Broadway. Not so great for families, but great for a wonderful musical continuing at Near West Theatre -- "Everybody's Talking About Jamie." Those who have seen another recent Broadway entree -- "Prom," which was adapted into a film starring Meryl Streep -- would not be unfamiliar with the plot of "Jamie," a student who wants to come to the big school dance on his own sexually oriented terms. In "Prom," the student was a winsome lesbian with a secret romance with the star cheerleader. In "Jamie," the student is a would-be drag queen who wants to strut his high heels in accompanying female finery. But Jamie has no secret affairs, no plans for gender-affirming surgery, not even a desire to become a permanent cross dresser; he just wants to glam it up on the right occasions. Being in contemporary times, his family is broken not by death of a spouse but by abandonment of father. His dad is very much alive, but refuses to have anything to do with his effeminate son. The mother covers by pretending birthday cards and gifts to her son are from her "worse half." But Jamie has much support, not only from his mom, but female school chums and the proprietor of a shop geared for such queenly finery. The show, written by Tom MacRae, revels in lots of infectious songs by Dan Gillispie Sells, with clever lyrics by MacRae. But musicals such as this depend not only on sheer energy, but creative mounting. Director David Turner, co-choreographers Kristy Cruz and Kirk Lydell, music director Olivia Tassone and scenic designer Laura Carlson-Tarantowski hone what could easily have been chaos with such a young cast into a tight production. It could give the original production (presented with the British cast domestically in Los Angeles about three years ago) a run for its stilettos. This is not to say the Near West Theatre company is in want of star standouts. In the title role Allen Hughes commands every scene vocally and dramatically. Rachel Drotar proves compelling as his mom, and the rest of the non-professional cast seem to prove near professional -- all the while brilliantly (at least to Cleveland ears) affecting Sheffield, England, accents. There is a credible film version available on streaming services of "Everybody's Talking About Jamie," but what everybody in Northeast Ohio should be talking about -- that is, if they're amenable to modern family musicals beyond "The Sound of Music" -- is this production continuing through May 3 at Near West Theatre. Contact Howard Gollop at howieeg@gmail.com.