Filling My Heart with "The Sound of Music"

     Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens are pretty familiar.  So are bright copper kettles, warm woolen mittens and brown paper packages tied up with strings.  The familiarity however began to wane with snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes and completely disappeared while singing about crisp apple strudels and schnitzel with noodles.  But that did not stop me from wailing along to Fraulein Maria’s “Favorite Things” when I was five.  On and on I went until I was sixteen going on seventeen and even way past my twenties when I met an eventual friend who went by the online monicker Edelweiss.  Up to now, I haven’t completely figured out what exactly the sound of music should be but for sure, it should at least involve do-re-mi and the other notes down the scale.

    Thus when the opportunity to see the extended run of “The Sound of Music” in Resorts World Manila presented itself, I was at the very least completely excited.  And not only that, the week after my family and I saw it the first time, there was an extra ticket for another showing so I went to watch it again.  In both instances, I kept my fingers severely crossed that I would at least get to see Audie Gemora as Captain Von Trapp but I had no such luck.  The failure, however, to see my childhood crush blow a whistle around the stage was not enough to rob me of a mighty good time and to start working on my yodeling.

  
     This purely Filipino adaptation of the well-loved musical deserves a lot of commendation.  The set was impressive and the transitions were smooth and never distracting.  I especially loved the use of the video screen to provide the background for every scene change.  It lent a more authentic and realistic feel to every scene, especially in the scenes which involve the home of the Von Trapp family. 

    The singing was generally exceptional.  I especially enjoyed watching Pam Imperial on stage as one of the nuns in the abbey.  When I was a freshman in college, Pam was already acting in our school productions and often stood out in any role she played.  Tanya Manalang and Michaela Bradshaw filled the stage with their clear voices as Leizl.  Mother Abbess (played by Jenny Villegas) drew great applause for hitting those impossibly stratospheric notes in “Climb Every Mountain.”  As for the Von Trapp children, Brigitta (Janina Punzalan) was perfectly cast with all her precociousness as well as Luisa (Rebecca Coates) who played up her rambunctiousness naturally.  Alexa Villaroel portrayed Gretl and came across as a very plucky five-year old. 

    Special mention should be made of the supporting cast who were really on a league of their own.  Leo Martinez (as Max Dettweiller) was humorous, engaging and absolutely perfect for the role.  As for Pinky Amador (Baroness Schraeder), it was very difficult to tear your eyes from her once she entered the stage with her disarming presence, poise and that one heck of a voice.  The runaway winner though would have to be Frau Schmidt who was excellently portrayed by Debra Lee (who is really one of the most underutilized actresses in the country).  She was just so downright hilarious without even trying too hard.  

    In both instances that I had seen the show, the role of Captain Von Trapp was played by TV and movie actor Ariel Rivera.  I really had no problems when he sang the high notes because he sounded quite all right despite his pop background.  I just had difficulty understanding him when he was speaking or singing in the lower registers because he needed to enunciate his words more.  In his scenes with Pinky Amador, Leo Martinez and the two Marias (Joanna Ampil and Cris Villonco) where he had to sing with any of them, his voice was often drowned out.  Ariel really needs to work hard not just in projecting his voice but also himself.  I think he needs to make his shoulders broader, keep his feet slightly apart and lift his chin higher when he stands on stage so as to give a more impressive, bulkier impression.  After all, he is playing a decorated navy captain!  I have to give him credit though for his searingly emotional rendition of “Edelweiss.” 

    When I saw the show on two separate occasions, I was especially fortunate to witness the two actresses playing Maria - West End star and former Miss Saigon Joanna Ampil and Philippine theater’s homegrown sweetheart Cris Villonco.  I would not daresay that one sang better than the other because that is would be a downright lie.  I would venture to state that both sang differently and distinctly.  It was apparent that Joanna was a seasoned performer and her beautiful soprano voice was serene, smooth and effortless - much like silk on air.  She channelled a more mature Maria, perhaps due to the fact that she was older than Cris.  Cris, on the other hand, was a revelation.  She looked so young onstage despite the blonde wig but sounded very mature and so much like Julie Andrews.  Her singing was completely faultless and I thought she got the yodeling in “The Lonely Goatherd” down to pat.  Her Maria was more spirited and endearingly defiant, especially in instances when she had to stomp across the stage and hold her chin up in the air. 

    It has been about three weeks since I saw the show but I still cannot quite stop myself from singing about cream-colored ponies, doorbells, sleigh bells and wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings.  I guess there is something about a completely wonderful and poignant childhood memory brought to life once again through another avenue.  If I could draw up a list of my own favorite things, “The Sound of Music” would certainly be on top of everything I would have written down - just a few notches above “girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes.”

"The Sound of Music" runs until May 27, 2012 in the Newport Performing Arts Theater, Resorts World Manila.