Price’s star turn sparks MCA ‘Sound of Music’

ORONO — How do you give a show-stopping performance like Maria?

Just ask Julie Lynne Price, because that’s exactly what she did Saturday night at the Maine Center for the Arts. Price, a native of Washington, D.C., is touring the country with the NETworks cast of “The Sound of Music.”

The actress’ spunky portrayal of Maria Rainer kept the near-capacity MCA audience entertained throughout the more than two-hour-long show. Price’s vocal strengths also were brilliantly showcased on classic songs, such as “My Favorite Things” and the title number.

The famous Rodgers and Hammerstein musical is based on Austria’s real-life von Trapp family, who fled their home in 1938 to escape from Nazi rule. The rebellious nun Maria enters the von Trapps’ lives when she takes a hiatus from the habit. Maria becomes the governess to the von Trapp children and soon falls in love with and marries the head of the household, Capt. George von Trapp.

As the hip governess, Price really seemed to make a connection with the seven young stage performers. The highlights of the musical occurred when Price and the children teamed up on the numbers “Do Re Mi” and “The Lonely Goatherd.”

These numbers featured humorous, well-choreographed stage routines. Tim Duffey, who plays Friedrich, proved himself to be the vocal standout among the children during these performances. Julie Konopka, as Liesl, also gave her character somewhat of a ’90s attitude and added some flare to the Austrian girl who is “Sixteen Going on Seventeen.”

Although Price and the youngsters had an obvious onstage chemistry, the same could not be said for Price and Peter Davenport. Davenport effectively portrayed the stern George von Trapp as the show began. The captain’s personality, however, didn’t seem to come across as it should have in the final act.

The actor too often delivered his lines in a loud, rapid-fire fashion and his onstage rapport with Price and the children suffered as a result.

Davenport certainly did not fall short, though, when he put his deep voice to music. His strong delivery of the ballad “Edelweiss” caused several eyes to well up as the show drew to a close.

Other noteworthy performances included those of Gordon Gray and Margaretha Ohse. Gray, both bubbly and charming as the captain’s friend Max Detweiler, was able to liven up the scenes that did not include Maria or the von Trapp children.

Ohse, playing the Mother Abbess, forcefully hit all the high notes when she tackled the song, “Climb Ev’ry Mountain.” She earned a roar of applause from the crowd for her impressive vocal talents.

The audience also gave a standing ovation to Price when the gifted entertainer made her curtain call.