INTERVIEW: At Paper Mill Playhouse, one can hear ‘The Sound of Music’
Photo: The Sound of Music stars Ashley Blanchet in the iconic role of Maria Rainer. Photo courtesy of Jeremy Daniel / Provided by The Press Room with permission.
The Sound of Music is inarguably one of the most cherished and popular musicals of all time. Of course, there’s the iconic classic film starring Julie Andrews as Maria Rainer, a young woman training to be a nun in Austria who is sent to the von Trapp family to be the children’s governess. While on assignment, she meets the father of the family, Captain Georg von Trapp (Christopher Plummer in the movie), and the two begin falling in love, all set against the backdrop of the rise of the Nazis in nearby Germany and the von Trapp children gearing up for a singing competition. The show features so many memorable songs by Rodgers and Hammerstein, including “My Favorite Things,” “Climb Every Mountain” and “Edelweiss.”
The Paper Mill Playhouse, the beloved regional theater in Millburn, New Jersey, is currently mounting a new revival of the musical, with Ashley Blanchet as Maria, Graham Rowat as the captain, Emily Borromeo as Elsa Schraeder and Gavin Lee as Max Detweiler.
“I was so excited when I got offered the lovely part of Uncle Max because I’ve played Paper Mill once before just before the pandemic,” Lee said in a recent phone interview. “I had the time of my life. It is such a great theater to work at. I love [director and producing artistic director] Mark Hoebee, who is in charge, and it’s only 10 minutes from my house. So it’s nice. We finish rehearsals, and I get to come home and have dinner, and then pop back to do a show. It’s so convenient, such a gorgeous theater and a show that I’ve always wanted to be a part of. I guess I’ve reached that age where I can play lovable Uncle Max.”
Blanchet, who has appeared on Broadway in everything from Frozen to Beautiful to Memphis, is equally excited to take on the role of Maria.
“I have always loved Julie Andrews,” Blanchet said. “When I was little, I watched The Sound of Music a lot. I watched Thoroughly Modern Millie a lot. I even sent her a note when I was 7 that was, ‘I love you so much. Your voice is a miracle.’ So, yeah, I never thought to myself that I would actually be Maria myself. As a Black girl growing up, I watched all these musicals and never really put myself in that position because nobody looked like me. But, yeah, when Mark asked me to do it, of course, I love this music, and I guess I was surprised during the rehearsal process about how much I felt I could relate to her outspokenness and what a cool character she is. I have really enjoyed getting to know her a little bit.”
For Lee, known for his Broadway roles in Mary Poppins and SpongeBob SquarePants: The Musical, his previous knowledge of The Sound of Music and Uncle Max mostly came from the film. Also, almost a quarter century ago, he remembers being reluctant to see a stage production of the show in London, but he walked away from the musical absolutely loving it and firmly placed the show on his future to-do list.
“I remember the actor who played [Uncle Max] in the movie,” Lee said. “To me, he seems a lot older than I am. I seem to think I’m still in my late-30s, and I’m clearly in my 50s now. [laughs] I’m going to approach Max as maybe younger and a little more energetic, and so I’ve tried to approach the role as a younger Max who is just excited about these kids and their talent. And all he cares about is this music festival every year, and he doesn’t even care that the Nazis are coming. He really is like, ‘Yes, but the festival, the festival!’ It’s fun playing a character who is a little unaware of what’s going on in Austria in 1938, and there’s a side to him that you think, really Max? You’re not caring that Austria is going to turn German? Not to get too deep into the plot, but it’s fun playing a character who is a bit shallow and a bit out for himself in a way.”
For Blanchet, her preparation for the musical, which continues through Jan. 1, involved looking deeply at Hammerstein’s lyrics and trying to make sure she wasn’t singing the words on stage while being on “autopilot.”
“They’re such iconic pieces,” she said. “A lot of my process has been take yourself off autopilot here, and why am I saying these words? And how would I say them, as opposed to the way that I hear it in my head automatically. She’s a very interesting character for 1959 when the show was written. She’s an outspoken, strong rebel, and I think that’s a cool thing for a woman to be written that way in 1959. She stands up to the captain in a way that he hasn’t really been stood up to before. That’s what makes him fall in love with her. She’s a good partner in the end, but she’s also good in the way that she’s able to say, ‘Hey, take a second, look at this. Your children are growing up without you.’ I think there’s a lot to her that is really surprisingly from 2022. That’s what makes this piece so special is that it really spans the test of time in so many ways.”
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
The Sound of Music, starring Ashley Blanchet, Graham Rowat, Emily Borromeo and Gavin Lee, continues through Jan. 1 at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Millburn, New Jersey. Click here for more information and tickets.
