Fraulein Maria @ Great Lakes Theatre 11/20/09

The Sound of Music fans may remember one nun’s defense of the unruly novice when all of the other sisters list Maria’s transgressions (whistling, being late, curlers in her hair) as they sing “What are we going to do about Maria?” One sister steps forward and says a bit defiantly: “Maria makes me laugh.”

Well, “Doug Elkins and Friends’ Fraulein Maria” onstage at Great Lakes Theatre make me laugh too. This whimsical version of “The Sound of Music” that mixes the soundtrack of the film (Julie Andrews and all) with inventive dance could have lasted twice as long (it was just a bit over an hour) and I’d still have wanted to see it again.

It’s a funny, clever, kindhearted, witty (and yes, gender-bending) show that uses minimal props with a childlike sincerity to great effect. The dancers (especially the two women and one man who play Maria) bring to life Elkins’ original choreography in a graceful, subtle manner that calls attention to what they are portraying more than to their quite considerable talents as dancers. It was, in a word, brilliant.

Laura Kennelly is a freelance arts journalist, a member of the Music Critics Association of North America, and an associate editor of BACH, a scholarly journal devoted to J. S. Bach and his circle.

Listening to and learning more about music has been a life-long passion. She knows there’s no better place to do that than the Cleveland area.