“The Sound of Music” is one of Broadway’s classics, a nearly perfect theatrical event complete with adorable children who are musically gifted, their stern and authoritarian father, the fear of the Nazis, the looming threat of World War II threatening Austria and one clever and delightful novice nun who becomes the family's reluctant nanny. into this mix add one determined woman, a baroness, who has set her marital sights on the honored sea Captain Von Trapp, the father, and will not countenance anyone interfering with her wedding plans, certainly not an upstart, naive nun named Maria. How you might inquire, will she solve the problem of Maria?
Just ask playwright Jacques Lamarre in his world premiere answer. He has studied the question and has prepared a clever and highly entertaining answer in “The Baroness” currently whirling with revenge filled answers at West Hartford’s Playhouse on Park until Sunday, June 22. Come be entertained with Lamarre’s wild and wacky views on Sarah Street’s delicious options as Elsa Schraeder, who plans how to get what she wants to keep her rightful place in Austrian society and keep the Captain as her worthy mate. She’ll worry about what to do with his dreadful children tomorrow.
As she paces and plots, situating herself firmly in the Captain’s guest bedroom, a young Nazi youth, Nick Apostolina’s Rolf, an ambitious messenger boy who insinuates himself by her side, ready, willing and all too able to aid the Baroness in her scheme to succeed. Rolf is on the verge of manhood and has abandoned his infatuation with the Captain’s oldest daughter, Liselle, going on seventeen, for the more mature and challenging Elsa.
Rolf has a new plan. He wants to marry Elsa. As he rises in the Nazi ranks, he feels her status in Austrian society will help promote him in stature and benefit them both. As they exchange secrets about their past, neither one is adverse to a little betrayal and blackmail. Each is determined to be the victor but are they both doomed to failure? Will Rolf’s allegiance to Hitler be the determining factor in his scheme? Will the children enter the Saltzberg Sausage Festival and sing their way to freedom as they climb every mountain? Let Jacques Lamarre take you along on a rocky and romantic journey that only his inventive genius mind could so cleverly create. Director Michael Schiralli minds every humorous moment along this newly investigative trail, on a lovely set by Kim Zhou, with elegant costuming by Jimmy Johansmeyer.
For tickets ($45-57.50), call Playhouse on Park, 244 Park Road, West Hartford at 860-523-5900 ext.10 or online at BoxOffice@PlayhousTheatreGroup.org. Performances are Tuesday at 2 p.m., Wednesday at 7:30 p.m., Thursday at 7:30 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. followed by a talkback. There is also a 10 a.m. show for $25 on Friday, June 13.
Come laugh at the hi-jinks and escapades one desperate woman is willing to pull to get what and who she wants, even if it means deceiving a young lad who has big dreams of his own.
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