This semester Stern was brought to life by the sounds of hard work, rehearsals and the exuberant members of the Stern College Dramatics Society as they prepared for their musical production of The Sound of Music. The production showcased the incredible talents roaming the halls of Stern College. Cast and crew alike contributed to a beautiful and enjoyable production.
SCDS rents the auditorium at Norman Thomas High School for their productions. In the past few semesters they were faced with a recurring problem: The stage is just too large for the small society. However, this semester brought with it great solutions to the problem at hand.
Firstly, director Sami Ginsburg (‘16) used clever blocking strategies to ensure that the stage looked full as oppose to daunting. Ginsburg arranged the Von Trapp children in wide rows or large clusters which relayed a constant sense of activity and occupied the audience’s attention. Additionally, in scenes like the ball, Ginsburg placed the actresses in a manner that created a balanced composition and generated the illusion of fullness.
The set and props this semester also assisted in satisfying the large space. Working off the effect of the larger than life tree in the Tempest, Set Designer Sarala Pool (‘15) chose to fabricate three floor to ceiling backdrops. The multiple sets, executed by Pool and the two Assistant Set Designers, Miriam Jacobson (‘16) and Leah Fleischhacker (‘16), were beautifully painted and instantly drew in the audience to the world of the Von Trapp family. Ahuva Miller (‘16) and Chaviva Freedman (‘18) worked together to choose and arrange props. They selected large furnishings, adding embellishments to produce a suitable space. These choices succeeded in generating the illusion of a comfortable and liveable space.
Among the actresses, a few stood out as exceptional in their roles. Most noteworthy, Talia Molotsky (‘15), as the Mother Abbess, developed a kind-hearted and beloved character and stole the show. Her inflection and tone softened her character and she exuded a certain warmth. Furthermore, Talia brought this sense of personality and emotion into her songs, all of which were executed beautifully. She nailed the high notes of the difficult song, “Climb Every Mountain.”
ST Schwartz (‘15), who played Uncle Max, was another actress who brought life and excitement to her character. Her vivacious personality transcended into the lovable and comical Uncle Max.
Taking a break from her usual masculine roles, Malka Sigal (‘15) learned how to walk in heels for the first time in order to play the sensual role of Baroness Shraeder. With every strut and smirk, Malka (deservingly) received loud catcalls from her beloved fan club, the audience.
As the leads, Captain Von Trapp, played by Daniella Eson (‘15) and Maria, played by Ayden Pahmer (‘15) were charming and captivating. Eson’s resounding voice and stage presence was consistent throughout the show, while Palmer played a soft and darling Maria.
With every show comes its shortcomings. Unfortunately after the first half of the show, many members of the audience left Norman Thomas due to the lengthiness of the production. The show lasted approximately two hours and twenty minutes, and the hard-wood seats in the auditorium are not suited for such a long production. Additionally, it was evident that the actors on stage were having difficulty hearing the piano playing the music. This resulted in missed cues and pitch problems.
After losing their original theatre SCDS was presented with many difficulties. However, with each production they have incorporated clever problem solving to make the best of their situation. While the play had it’s faults, overall it was a successful endeavor by SCDS.