The Trilogy is alive with ‘The Sound of Music’

Young Chang

Turns out that actor James Mulligan grew up in south Orange County

watching the same musical classic cast mate Shawn Berry occupied himself

with in Colorado.

Mulligan and his brother never tired of Richard Rodgers and Oscar

Hammerstein’s “The Sound of Music.” Their mother sang along with all the

songs. In Colorado, the movie was Berry’s mother’s favorite.

The two actors, who star in Trilogy Playhouse’s production of “The

Sound of Music” through March 3, even share a favorite scene.

“When the captain first hears the children sing,” said Berry, who

portrays the widowed Captain von Trapp. “It brings back a flood of

memories for him.”

Mulligan agrees that the scene is “sweet.”

“You don’t find that type of thing in Broadway shows,” he said.

Both performers are part of the cast, which includes 29 children, for

Trilogy’s staging of the story about a nun named Maria who cares for an

Austrian captain’s children and becomes part of the von Trapp family

during World War II.

Mulligan plays Max Detweiler, whom the seven von Trapp children

consider like an uncle, Alicia Shaffner plays the principal character of

Maria, Karen Franson portrays the wealthy baroness Elsa Schroder and Judy

Peterson brings to life Mother Abbess.

“I grew up with the musical,” said Peterson, a teacher with the Los

Angeles Unified School District. “My favorite scene was the ‘Climb Every

Mountain’ scene.”

Though the cast members are of different generations, backgrounds and

even professions, each has childhood memories of solving problems like

Maria and yodeling with the Lonely Goatherd.

Franson, whose credits include the feisty role of Ouiser in “Steel

Magnolias” at the Chance Theater in Anaheim Hills, said the baroness’

character is challenging to play because she’s so refined.

“I really have to think about being wealthy and affluent,” she said.

“The mind-set is so totally different from the other characters I’ve

played.”

For Berry, Trilogy’s production of “Music” gives him the chance to

appreciate young talent.

“These kids are extraordinary,” he said. “To do a musical and

especially ‘The Sound of Music,’ it is very difficult and you’ve got to

have a talented kid.”

Shaffner, a 22-year-old who played Mother Abbess as a teenager, said

the role of Maria parallels her personal life.

“It’s just a role I’ve always wanted to do and her character is one

devoted to serving God,” she said. “That’s something I’m devoted to in my

own life, so that makes it special.”

FYI

* What: “Sound of Music”

* When: Through March 3. Performances will be at 7:30 p.m. Friday and

Saturday evenings, and 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays

* Where: Trilogy Playhouse, 2930 Bristol St., Building C-106, Costa

Mesa

* Cost: $17 or $15

* Call: (714) 957-3347, Ext. 1