Sound Of Music - Ahmanson Theater

I would disagree about the set, which I liked but would agree about the lighting which I did not like. Ashley Brown was terrific, didn't love the Captain, and I think the Maria will get better and I don't really blame her or any of the actors for what I found to be shortcomings - those I lay at the foot of the director. But it's nice to see the actual show (save for An Ordinary Couple) without the movie additions (save for Something Good, which, for me, is just as bad a song as Ordinary Couple). I'm not a fan of "artistic vision" and I'm also not a fan of subtext played as text. The audience reaction was mild until Climb Ev'ry Mountain, which brought out, for the first time, the usual schoolish hooting and hollering. When the Captain and Maria finally kissed there were a bunch of adults in the audience who reacted like grammar school children. But nothing about audiences surprises me any more these days.

The orchestra is sixteen pieces, so it's not quite the sound of the Sound of Music, but they sounded good. I thought the kids were directed to play it low energy and "real" - that's admirable but it doesn't make for any fun at all and therefore it's a bad choice.