Theater Review: 'The Sound of Music' by Newbury Musical Theatre Company

Review by Connecticut Critic Circle member Nancy Sasso Janis

This past weekend, Newbury Musical Theatre Company presented three performances of their annual summer musical. This year on the stage at the Nonnewaug High School Auditorium, the company performed a heartfelt production of “The Sound of Music.” As always, Jim Tornatore directed the show, with his wife and dedicated voice teacher Cynthia Servetas as the busy producer and the couple’s daughter Stephanie Tornatore as the dedicated musical director.

Mr. Tornatore chose the musical for this summer, celebrating the 60th anniversary of the movie version. The group had first done this show in 2011. The 1965 film is one of the most popular musicals ever produced, but the stage version came first in 1960, running for 1,443 performances. “You will hear some of the most iconic, joyful and memorable music superimposed over a very serious time in history,” namely the developing Third Reich in Germany, the director noted in the printed program.

Tornatore reminded his reader that the musical version romanticized the von Trapp story a bit, and some of the details of their story have been changed. “After the beautiful love story that develops in the musical,” he added, “I am always amazed at the portrayal of people who assume the Nazi party will just blow over and that they should cooperate just in case it doesn’t. It is a commentary that we shouldn’t take lightly.”

Congratulations to Tornatore on his retirement from Scotland Elementary in Ridgefield after 40 years in music education.

The extensive cast rehearsed for only five weeks to bring this show to the stage and only have five days to practice on the high school stage. The choral singing was especially impressive, never more so than when the nuns sang the hymns in lovely harmony.

The young Clara Pizzolorusso tackled the role of (“how do you solve a problem like”) “Maria” Rainer and gave a glorious performance. The young actor played Hodel in “Fiddler on the Roof” in 2023.

Patrick R. Spadaccino owned his role of Captain Georg von Trapp and made it all look easy in his first Newbury show. Spadaccino is a published author and has performed in more than 60 productions. Mary Ann Hines (Yenta in 2023’s “Fiddler on the Roof”) played the role of the housekeeper Frau Schmidt very well.

Joyce Schroeder, who has appeared in five Heritage Village productions, portrayed Sister Berthe, and Jenna Brown, who played the title role in “Annie Get Your Gun” last year) lit up the role of Sister Margaretta. Gretchen McCann, a pediatric physical therapist, played Sister Sophia.

As the oldest of the von Trapp children Sarah Cloutier portrayed the lovely (“Sixteen Going on Seventeen”) Liesel, singing and dancing beautifully. Cloutier is a recent graduate of Wagner College and played Amy March in “Little Women” at Niantic Bay Playhouse.

Aaron McCann was Friedrich in his first mainstage show, Christopher “C.J.” Zold played Kurt in his Newbury mainstage debut, Morgan McCann was the insightful Brigitta, WAMS student Hannay Cady portrayed Marta and Pomperaug rising junior Isabelle Winer was the lovely Louisa. The role of the tiny Gretl was played by (the Newbury mascot) Sophie Bannon and six-year-old Zoe Seeley.

Jeri-Lyn Z. Walsh, a Heritage Village Theater Guild member, sang magnificently the Mother Abbess’ signature number “Climb Every Mountain.” The talented (and tall) Kalman Zold portrayed Rolf Gruber, the telegram deliverer who turns scary in the second act. Kalman, now age 18, appeared in his third Newbury production.

Lisa Segal, who played Golde in “Fiddler,” stood out in the role of the wealthy socialite Elsa Schraeder. Joseph Stango (General Waverly in Landmark’s “White Christmas”) tackled the role of “Uncle” Max Detweiler and managed to bring out the comedy in his role. I enjoyed their performance of “How Can Love Survive.”

James Accuosti (in his second community theater show) and Jennifer Wocjik (a music teacher from Harwinton) played the Baron and Baroness Elerfeld, with Paul Hines of Bridgewater as Admiral von Schreiber. Phen Harrison, Frank Butler in “Annie Get Your Gun,” was strong in the role of Herr Zeller and Sean McCann joined his family onstage in the role of the butler Franz. UConn student Anna Kwashnak played Frau Zeller and Hanna Smith of Roxbury (Ariel in “The Little Mermaid') played a new postulate.

How authentic was it that the Bishop that marries the couple in the (massive and very impressive) wedding scene was portrayed by Rev. Jaime Maldonado-Aviles? Naturally, the Administrator of the Roman Catholic Parish of Middlebury/Southbury (who was born and raised in Puerto Rico) convincingly blessed their marriage.

The members of the ensemble played nuns, novices and postulates, and well-dressed party guests. Grace Mombo, Ciara Proulx and rising senior Serafina Wocjik were the hilarious Saengerund Trio and Emma Pizzolorusso bowed excessively as Fraulein Schweiger on the concert hall stage.

Stephanie Tornatore, who holds a Masters in Music and has conducted the Newbury pit since the first show in 2008, conducted the 16-piece orchestra positioned in front of the stage, with Will Duchon on piano. They worked together to make this massive score sound magnificent at all times.

The set design by Don Cavanagh and the director included the staircase in the von Trapp family home and looked great on the high school stage. The transitions between scenes tended to be lengthy, covered by a reprise by the orchestra. The director was in charge of the lighting that began a bit confusingly at the matinee but soon straightened out. Choreography by Woodbury Ballet Artistic Director Christine Harris added a lot to the performance. Kudos to the costume mistress Jennifer Wocjik on a job well done.

Newbury has recently joined Southbury Arts and Culture Alliance. The production was made possible in part by a grant from the Connecticut Community Foundation.