The Sound of Music Live! (2013) Online

I have been reading the other postings with great interest and what I have taken from the collective comments is the lack of understanding that this admirable (Yes, Ms. Underwood needs more acting lessons, though her singing was a pure enjoyable Broadway belt) television broadcast is closely based on the original 1959 stage version written by Lindsey and Crouse (book) and Rodgers and Hammerstein (score) for Mary Martin, with Theodore Bikel co-starring as the Captain, a fact that all of the publicity for this TV version has stated.

One poster on this thread stated he was sorry the TV got the scenes out of order; I beg to differ. The film got the scenes out of order. It was the film version that substituted "My Favorite Things" for "The Lonely Goatherd" in the storm scene, regulating the latter song to some strange interpolated puppet sequence and depriving the Mother Abbess of her part in a duet with Maria.

This version didn't add the two songs for the Elsa and Max. It was the film version that deleted them from the score while adding "Confidence in Me", a 'travelling' song that was justified in a cinematic sense but not needed in the stage version, as the TV broadcast clearly vindicated.

In fact, speaking of the songs, I was sorry to see that one mediocre song ("Something Good") was substituted for another mediocre song ("An Ordinary Couple"). At least that deleted song had a lyric by Hammerstein; Rodgers himself wrote the lyric to "Something Good".

"The Sound of Music" isn't a great show, but it is an audience favorite. It shared the Tony Award for Best Musical with "Fiorello!" and Ms. Martin beat out the likes of Ethel Merman for Best Actress in a Musical. The TV version was an honorable attempt (and broadcast live was a great idea--anyone else notice how the train in the Baroness's dress was stepped on by another actor?). I hope network television experiments further with this idea (though keeping the commercials down might be a good idea--a bunch at the beginning, a clump in the middle, and another cluster at the end would keep the audiences involved.). So, congrats to all involved. Keep singing.

I've read most of the reviews coming out and am surprised: why, and how, do you compare a live performance on television to a carefully filmed and edited movie? I don't think you can, nor do I think it's fair. Be closer to compare this to the live Broadway production of The Sound of Music with Mary Martin, but that ran for many performances, allowing ample time to work out the rough edges.

I thought it was fantastic. I haven't seen a live production on TV like this in decades. Kudos to everyone who produced it, I thought Carrie Underwood was fantastic, if slightly out of breath early in the movie from the hectic costume changes and dance/singing routines. Mother Superior was fabulous in both acting and singing. I love the sets. I'd like to see a WHOLE lot more TV like this.

As far as I know this is a live television adaptation of the original stage musical and NOT the film version. I know a lot would not agree with how the show was made but who's to blame? The magnificent voices of the cast brings back memories on how the Von Trapp family became a sensation. Carrie may not have had the best of acting abilities but when she starts to sing the chemistry that defines her as Maria starts to appear. I don't think it would be fair to compare her with Julie Andrews but I do believe that she did better than any other Broadway actresses who played Maria on-stage.

I can only say to myself that they did cast the right people for a television show. To play on-stage would be a different thing.

Kudos to Carrie Underwood.

Many posters here have done an adequate job of reviewing all the facets of NBC's ambitious December 5th production of "The Sound of Music;" I'd like therefore to focus on only one. Several trade and daily newspapers have pointed out the deficiencies of Miss Underwood's acting. I cannot quibble with the fact that it was not great, but I thought her performance was magnificent for a first effort, and her pipes were perfectly up to the task.

I enjoyed this musical very much, and even found myself shedding a few tears here and there. What I think we have to understand is that it's quite likely that it could not have been staged at all without Carrie Underwood's participation. It takes that much star power to get the backing for a venture of this magnitude. If not she, then who?

So I'd beg others to give her well-earned plaudits for putting herself on the line in a LIVE performance like this. It must have been terrifying for someone who'd never done it before in her life. It would also be wise to remember that if this were a production prepared for the NY stage, it would have opened in Hartford or somewhere like that to get the kinks worked out before the curtain ever went up on Broadway. In this instance, though, there was NO way to polish it further -- i.e., THIS was opening night, and as such, I think it was a magnificent effort. For anyone who'd care to compare this to the movie version, just try to imagine how much better each and every scene could be with the benefit of the ten or twenty takes and months of editing that the Robert Wise/Julie Andrews version received.

Rather than decry Carrie Underwood's efforts, I'd like to propose that we may have been privileged to see a new stage-musical star being born. I simply cannot give her enough credit for her monumental first effort in this medium. She'll get better, and she may become great.

You GO, Carrie Underwood!

So viewers are aware, this is not a remake of the 1965 movie. This is a television production of the Broadway show.

This was old-fashioned TV. In the 1950s, much television was broadcast live, and performances of musicals were frequent. This was essentially a televised stage performance, with simple sets and no special effects. The company performed the 1959 Broadway version of "The Sound of Music," with one exception: the song "An Ordinary Couple" from the original production was removed and replaced with "Something Good," which was written for the 1965 film version.

Viewers unfamiliar with the stage version might not recognize two other songs from the Broadway show not included in the 1965 film (but included in this production), "No Way to Stop It" and "How Can Love Survive." The latter song is one of the most well-crafted lyrics of Oscar Hammerstein II.

The cast did a very good job, but there is no question that it could have been better with a prerecorded format instead of performing live for the sake of novelty.

If television broadcast more musicals in this format, it would be most welcome.

This production is based on the original play with Mary Martin, not the popular 1965 movie with Julie Andrews. As a result, some scenes and songs seem out of order when they are actually in the correct order based on the original play. Plus, some characters are not developed as much as in the 1965 movie while others are more developed. This review is a comparison of this production to the Julie Andrews movie, since that is what most people have seen.

I found the singing by Audra McDonald as the Mother Abbess in this production to be far better than that of Peggy Wood in the 1965 movie. I always dreaded the singing by Peggy Wood. Though good, she was too high-brow for me. Audra's singing is fun, more energetic, and most of all, understandable. In fact Audra's portrayal of the Mother Abbess is more "real". I also found the Baroness to be more likable in this version than the 1965 movie. In fact I found myself hoping the Captain would marry the Baroness! Only later do her political sympathies develop and so you realize the Captain could never marry the Baroness. Unlike the 1965 movie, she doesn't seem at all interested in shipping the Von Trapp children off to boarding school. Speaking of the children, you don't see them as much in this production, so you don't really appreciate their characters. Liesl and Rolf are still an item but Rolf does the right thing in the end this time. But their frolic in the garden seems stiff. Max is Max but a bit more selfish and conniving; but in the end, you see he comes around. The Nazi's are more threatening in this version, and I suspect they were more sanitized for the 1965 movie. The Captain is more stern which makes his quick decision to marry Maria seem less like love, more rash and less "natural". I don't think I would've picked Carrie Underwood for Maria. There's really no passion between her and the Captain. Maybe I missed it but I didn't really see them "falling" in love - it just suddenly happened and Maria is running off to the convent. The development of their love just didn't happen. Finally, the Sisters are also not as developed in this version as they are in the 1965 movie and as a result, there's no creative thwarting of the Nazi's.

So why only a "6" rating. Simply put, the audio was AWFUL! I would probably purchase this to go with my 1965 version but only if the audio is corrected. Plus, Carrie Underwood didn't seem quite right for the role of Maria. And there were a few bloopers, like when the Baroness was trying to approach the Captain but someone was standing on her dress and when the Admiral either forgot his lines or missed his cue. But bloopers just remind the audience this was live.

I have to be honest here, I originally had no intention of watching this special, but when I found out it would be performed live, as they used to do in decades past, it piqued my curiosity. I also happened to turn on the TV just about the time it started, so decided to check it out.

In no way was I expecting it to compare to the 1965 film. This was obviously supposed to be more akin to the stage production. Having said that, I was far more impressed than I anticipated. The music was fantastic and I loved the live acting quality to it. I only have a couple criticisms.

I understand that Carrie Underwood was probably selected because they wanted to get a name to draw in viewers. Her singing was actually quite good, but her acting was sub-par, especially to the rest of the cast. I understand she is not an actress, so I give her kudos for putting herself on the line.

As for the rest of the cast, I was happy that they decided to use mostly unknown actors, who appeared to be trained for stage productions. It definitely added to the credibility of the show. I thought the kids were all great, except Gretel, who was definitely a star in the film version. This one did not seem especially gifted in acting or singing and even lacked charisma. I wondered if she might be the daughter of a producer or something. That was a shame because its another stand out role that suffered.

I was pretty pleased with everything else. The sets were gorgeous! The transitions were seamless. The music overall was very fun and enjoyable, hearing those great Rogers & Hammerstein songs never gets old! Was also nice that they included some songs that were not in the film version. I definitely don't feel I wasted my evening when there is so much other rubbish on TV. I hope people were open-minded and supportive, so perhaps we'll see another live musical special next year!

As a 40-something would-be tough guy, I like to think I'm Han Solo stuck in the 21st century so I sure as hell ain't gonna watch a girly show like The Sound of Music. After avoiding this program all these years I finally sat down and watched Carrie Underwood's version on Thursday night after seeing it advertised on my local NBC news. I figured I should make an effort to get in touch with the world of performing arts.

This presentation of The Sound of Music was wonderful. Now, I didn't know the storyline nor the original music, so for me, this was a blessing. Great singing, sets, costumes; just a fantastic production all around. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Carrie Underwood is really pretty, too.

There has been much speculation, anticipation, and even trepidation since NBC announced their plans for a live event of "The Sound of Music." These questions grew when it was announced Carrie Underwood would play the role of Maria, made iconic by the great Julie Andrews. So, does the event meet expectations? I would have to say yes.

The legendary musical is loosely based off of the real life Von Trapp family during World War II. Maria had just recently become the governess for the Von Trapp family where she falls in love with the father of the children. While helping them rebuild the family they must also deal with the Nazi occupation happening all around them.

One thing I must get straight is that this is not a remake of the movie (whoever dares messing with that gem will need many prayers indeed). This is a televised event of the Broadway version. And you can tell this version has a very theatrical feel to it. All the way from the fake set of the mountains to the (admittedly) impressive Von Trapp home. While some may be too unaware to understand how a stage musical works to enjoy the setting, I personally loved how the setting was done. This gave the event a truly theatrical feeling to it that made it more authentic to an actual Broadway show than other musical shows on TV. It was very fun to see.

However, the biggest question is concerning Carrie Underwood. Did she do a good job? Yes, she did a very good job with Maria. While Carrie is new to acting, she shows she has the chops (and potential to grow) needed for an actress. Of course, since she is new I was willing to give her some breathing room. That was my opinion going in but that changed by the time it was over. She shined with the pure innocence and even naivety that is Maria. Now she will never out-shine Julie Andrews (who can!) but she knew that so instead of trying to be something she's not, she made the role her own. That is a very important thing to do (and not many actors are smart enough to realize that) especially with iconic roles such as Maria. I believe Carrie Underwood has a bright future with acting, as long as she continues noticing her weaknesses and grows from them.

Then there is the rest of the cast, which most are very experienced in the world of Broadway and acting. Stephen Moyer was fantastic as the Captain Von Trapp. He brought a certain sadness (and even unlikeable attitude) that made him the perfect contrast to the innocence and sweetness of Maria. The children were fantastic as well, all of them relatively newcomers to the world of acting. They all brought their best selves and proved how mature they were by performing live on national television. That was impressive. However, there were some supporting work from the likes of Laura Benanti (Elsa), Christian Borle (Max), and Audra McDonald (Mother Abbess). All of them did great jobs and stole the scene every time one of them were on camera (though McDonald's version of "Climb Every Mountain" stole the entire show).

All-in-all, this was a great onetime event that we will not get again. The entire cast did great jobs, wonderful performers, great direction, and wonderfully authentic Broadway feel. I really do hope live musicals become a new tradition for Holiday seasons to come.

On Thursday night, NBC attempted to do a challenging task by putting one of the most beloved musicals of all time and adapting it into a stage production. For the most part, NBC did it well and it turned into a very entertaining adaptation of the classic Rodger's and Hammerstein's musical, The Sound of Music.

The production, done completely like a Broadway play with stage sets, worked well, keeping the mood of the scenes just good enough and displaying the settings nicely. The songs: Yeah, they were all there, and a few others that were not in the classic Julie Andrews movie, but rather are in the original Broadway production. Those songs would be "How Can Love Survive" and "No Way To Stop It", and they were a welcome addition indeed.

Besides putting on a Broadway television type show, NBC also decided to take another chance by giving the lead role of the musical of Maria to none other than country superstar Carrie Underwood. Underwood, who won American Idol many years ago has made herself into a big name and had a chance to do something that she rarely has ever done, and that's act. Did it work? Well... a little bit. Her singing was solid. I was wondering if her country sound might come into her voice, and it didn't. Her acting though, was just average. Now, we knew coming into watching this that she would not be a great actress. After all, as I said, she did not have much experience, but for that I do appreciate her stepping into a different medium. As a singer though, she did a good enough job, and for a musical, what else do you really want?

The other lead of the movie, Captain Von Trapp, was played by Stephen Moyer. Moyer, like Underwood was solid in the role, but did not impress me the way I had hoped with his singing. What did impress me however was the supporting cast of this adaptation. The Von Trapp children all were good and as sweet as ever. The Baroness, played by Laura Benanti and Max Detweiler, played by Christian Borle were both excellent and had wonderful chemistry together whenever they were put on stage at the same time. And the Mother Abbess, played by Audra McDonald was tremendous, nailing her big song, Climb Every Mountain with every note and was a performance that would have brought a house to his feet.

Now, was it as good as the original movie? No. But, all in all, despite its flaws and perhaps somewhat poor casting choices, this NBC adaptation was a good watch, and I applaud NBC for putting it on for all of us to see for an evening. It was interesting to not only see some of the differences from the movie that I had grown up watching, but to also see a Broadway stage production of a musical that I rarely see period.

Rating: 7/10

I would like to start by saying that I have a degree in vocal performance and have been acting for 30+ years. The Sound of Music was the first show I ever did when I was in 8 years old. But I am in no way a "theatre snob." I'm just a regular guy.

I have always had a problem with Carrie Underwood's singing; not her voice, which is technically and aurally fine, but her singing. When I listen to her sing, I feel nothing... no personality, no soul, nothing that makes me interested or emotionally invested in what she's singing about, nothing that conveys the mood of the music. Along the same lines, she doesn't seem to have a volume knob. Everything seems to be set to "LOUD!" I would rather hear a dull, out-of-tune piano played with emotion and dynamics than a brand new, shiny, perfectly equalized synthesizer being banged on by someone who can't feel the music.

With that said, her horrible acting should come as no surprise. The Sound of Music is a love story. Here is a woman who leaves the safety and security of a life given to God for a life on the run from Nazis, with a family of seven adorable, yet terrifying children, without a penny to their names. Her connection with Captain Von Trapp MUST be powerful. Yet I felt nothing between them whatsoever. Carrie has her fans, and does quite well with them. I don't think she is going to make any new ones as an actress. How is it that the most important character in the show, a character that virtually develops herself, can be so flat and one-dimensional? And yet Laura Benanti creates a wonderfully rich, dynamic character in Elsa Schrader, a smaller role.

There were some gems in the cast, namely those who were chosen for talent rather than marketing appeal. As mentioned, Laura Benanti... also Audra McDonald (Mother Abbess), Michael Campayno (Rolf), and Sophia Caruso was wonderful as Brigitta.

Other positives include the sets and the orchestra (although sometimes too loud during dialogue). **edit** I was apparently not aware that the orchestra was pre-recorded. Risky.

Rating: Carrie Underwood - 2/10 Everything else - 8/10 Overall - 5/10

When I first saw the promos for this show, I thought sarcastically 'oh great, a country version of a classic. Just what we need.' I never particularly like the singing of Ms. Underwood, finding her voice rather harsh at times. But, as I flicked through the channels and noticed it was on (I had no intention of watching it), curiosity got the best of me and I tuned in. Well, I stayed until the end. While all of the performances were excellent, I want to give special recognition to Ms. Underwood. This was an extraordinarily brave undertaking in the face of preconceived notions, and she basically said 'in your face' people. Whatever voice training she went through worked, and the harshness and twang that accompanies some of her country stuff was virtually gone. So, congrats to all involved, and especially to Carrie Underwood. Many would never have attempted what she accomplished.

After I saw twice the live version of this outstanding Rodgers and Hammerstein musical classic, based on the true story of the Von Trapp family of Austria about 1938, which became a singing family, I felt impelled to order the DVD of it, and did. Carrie Underwood, who has always screamed out singing "Are you ready for some football?!" was as adorable as adorable can be as Maria. Carrie Underwood in this showed that she is a versatile actress. Audra McDonald, who has always been so sweet in any production in which she has acted, was so excellent as the Reverend Mother, so very caring; and it goes without saying that she has a strong, beautiful, singing voice. Steve Moyer, as Captain Gaylord Von Trapp, did so well in virtually two roles, that of a firm, staunch retired widowed navy captain and then someone who, thanks to Maria, became a bit mellowed and loving. The children were adorable as well. The artificial snow-capped mountains in the background were very beautiful and picturesque. Again, Carrie Underwood was wonderful as the lady who was a source of comfort and strength to the proud Austrian Von Trapp, which he needed during the time of the late 1930's when Hitler was coming to power and Austria was threatened by the Gestapo. It has all the basic elements I want in a drama-beautiful color, excellent acting, and a warm story. This musical is tops.

I am so tired of all the negativity on social media. I understand that everyone is entitled to their opinion but I thought the whole production was terrific and considering it was live with all that could have happened--amazing to me. Carrie Underwood blew me away with her performance of a more innocent Maria than perhaps some of her predecessors. I thought the entire cast including Stephen Moyer were excellent. Carrie had a lot of courage to do this role. Unfortunately we treat movies, theatrical events as sporting events with clear winners and losers. It is indeed possible to like the movie and to like this Broadway production. As Audra McDonald said, no one person owns a role and as she also said on twitter, Carrie Underwood will knock your socks off as their are no socks left on the set. Laura Benanti, Stephen Moyer, Audra McDonald and Christian Borle all spoke highly about Carrie. They all could have underplayed their support but their support was resounding. Please search the internet for Seth Rudetsky talks to Laura Benanti and hear for yourself what Laura says Carrie's performance.

Shame on the twitter twits who badmouthed Carrie Underwood weeks before this live production of the 1959 Broadway musical aired on NBC. Did 1965 audiences badmouth Julie Andrews for taking on the role originated on Broadway by Mary Martin, or for that matter, the real deal herself? The real-life Australian Maria Rainier Von Trapp was a former postulate in a convent who left her ambitions of becoming a nun to take on the job of nanny to the seven children of Captain Von Trapp (Stephen Moyer), a retired naval commander who ran his home like a battleship after the death of his wife.

While Underwood is not as sugary sweet and feisty as Andrews was in the classic Oscar Winning movie, she's very natural in the part and as a result, she never seems to be acting. Her chemistry with the seven children is noticeable from the moment they meet and learn music from her with "Do Re Mi". Like the original Broadway version, the songs are all where they originally were, "My Favorite Things" being a duet between Maria and the Mother Abbess (a wonderful Audra McDonald) and "The Lonely Goatherd" sung during the thunderstorm on the night that Maria arrives. Two songs for the Baroness and Max Detweiller have been restored, obviously not necessary for the original movie but certainly interesting in this version. I refer to this as the original movie version of the Broadway show, not a remake, for this reason. The only song written for the movie and retained was "Something Good" which replaced the staid "An Ordinary Couple".

It is ironic that a Broadway Maria, Laura Benanti, has been cast here as the Baroness Elsa Schraeder, getting to sing two songs with with Max (Christian Borle). In "How Can Love Survive?", Elsa and Max question how a pending marriage between two wealthy people can be exciting, stating that all famous love affairs were between poor people. Later, as the Nazi subplot escalates, Elsa, Max and the Captain express their differences over the German's take-over with "There's No Way to Stop It", which basically reflects the failures in Elsa and George's romance and Max's unapologetic selfishness. Elsa and Max are not one dimensional characters; In fact, Max becomes more likable because of his brutal honesty about himself, his determination to survive the Nazi takeover similar to the Danish term "Quisling", referring to natives of Denmark who switched their loyalty to the Nazis and betrayed their own people. But Max is definitely out for himself and you have no doubt that he'll betray them later too, if he survives.

The beautiful Audra McDonald gives a heartfelt, gentle performance as the Mother Abbess, bringing tears to my eyes with the profound "Climb Every Mountain". Unlike the original movie, there is less of the other nuns and certainly no business involving a carburetor. The children and servants are perfectly cast, the Nazi's absolutely frightening and the obvious mountain backdrops gorgeous to look at. My only qualm was the obvious overage of Michael Campayno, the actor playing Rolf, who is certainly not 17 going on 18. What did become clear from this in terms of society today is that during World War II, the evil of Nazism was obvious, while today, the blatant evil is so hidden through technology that it makes the world a bit scarier in terms of previous wars.

If you're going to broadcast a live production of a much-loved, iconic classic (whether it's the stage or film version of ANYTHING), you had better prepare to hit the ball out of the park… NBC didn't even buy us a ticket to the game… And, that's sad, because kids today who've never before even seen such an animal (live production broadcast), now have their bar set so very low, it's a wonder they'll ever again even bother to reinvest the grueling, 2 ½ hours it took to get-through this challenging rendition.

Here's why… Since NBC's live version of "The Sound of Music" was a rendition of the Broadway PLAY, one really cannot compare 'apples to apples', since the play has never been broadcast live before, and today's TV viewers have only seen the movie version (which one cannot compare to the play). So, to be fair, let's compare live TV of a play to live TV of a play. If you use Roger's and Hammerstein's TV production of Cinderella as a comparison (broadcast by CBS in 1965), you'll see why NBC's Sound of Music, blew-it.

You see, the TV 'suits' of the 1960's realized that, if you're going to present an iconic story, and you're going to broadcast the show live, in prime time, during the holidays, you have to bring big names with big talent. That's why "Cinderella", for instance, showcased Lesley Ann Warren, Walter Pidgeon, Celeste Holm and Pat Carroll, to name a few. Those actors could not only sing, but they could act, too (and the '65 Cinderella required a lot of both). Having the ability and talent to do both, makes a huge difference when vying for the highly critical, ever bored, TV audience of today. So, when NBC of today hired a country singer who cannot act (even slightly), and cast the rest of the production with names who aren't generally known, a flop was not expected, it was guaranteed (The exception here, of course, was the amazingly talented, Audra McDonald as the mother superior (Superior's an understatement) – what NBC SHOULD have done was broadcast 2 ½ hours of HER singing whatever she wanted).

So, to 'review' NBC'S 'Sound of Music', I can only suggest that they start over (It was THAT bad). Instead, I say, think big, as those in Hollywood should. Cast Hugh Jackman (who can sing AND act) as the Captain. Pull one of the well-known witches who played "Wicked" on Broadway as Maria (singers, dancers, actors). Throw in someone a' la Timberlake as Rolf (and make him blond, for God's sake—it's a Nazi play), and you've got yourself a show. Otherwise, you're stuck for nearly 2 ½ hours with a big-named singer who not only can't act, but can't save the cast she's burdened with carrying...Shame on NBC.

Well Carrie Underwood can sing if you like your "Edelweiss" with a touch of drawl but her acting makes the wooden puppets of the lonely goatherd look like Oscar contenders. And you can't place someone like Audra McDonald in the cast and then decide Underwood will be able to climb the mountain to be her equal. Wasn't going to happen and it didn't. Hopefully NBC will shelve this product and if they feel the need to reintroduce the world to the Sound of Music they will think, let's show the original film with Julie Andrews. The rest of the cast was adequate but if anyone is thinking Emmy, they should be thinking Razzie.

Terribly disappointing television production of the Rogers and Hammerstein classic.

While you can't show as much scenery on television, to me, the entire production seemed to be rushed.

Gone was the scene when the captain comes in to interrupt the children and Maria singing my favorite things. In this version, Rolf merely capitulates to Lisle when she pleads with him not to hurt her father. He merely lies and says they are not there.

Audra MacDonald, as Mother Superior, has the voice but lacks the intensity shown by Peggy Wood in the 1965 masterpiece film. As far as I'm concerned, she sounded like Dear Abby giving advice to the lovelorn.

Our fair producer, Max Detweiler, winds up in Nazi handcuffs when it has become apparent that the Von Trapp's have fled from the music festival.

The main leads have decent voices, but the guy playing the Captain shows no feelings when he supposed to change his attitude regarding his children. Baroness Von Schrader is made in this version to break up with the captain as she wanted cooperation with the Third Reich.

This was an unsettling production. I expected far better.

A stage production is almost never as good as a movie. This was a wonderful stage production. The movie has been my favorite musical for 50 years and still is. Carrie Underwood was great. It was very enjoyable for me. The staging was excellent and the changes in the script are understandable as not everything can be staged as it is in a movie. I must say that the baroness was much prettier than in the movie. I believe that the casting of the children was very well done. They looked close to their ages and believable. So, I may be prejudice because I do love this story so much and have such fond memories of the first time that I saw the movie at the Loews Theater in Indianapolis in 1965. I felt like Annie at the Radio City Music Hall going to the movies.

IMO the negative reviews and comments are way off. This production was exquisite considering the live semi-stage venue (sans audience for audible feedback). Truly a joy to watch. My wife noted Maria stumbling in the opening song while prancing down the hill; I missed it and had to observe it during my viewing of the DVR recording. Some line flubs by the butler. No way these gaffs make it into a movie (or the to be released DVD) but the fact that you can enjoy a live production and appreciate what a difficult task that is made the viewing mesmerizing.

Carrie was a true joy to watch; reminding me of the several times I watched TSOM on Broadway and at Jones Beach outdoor theater with my parents as a youth. Real innocence and the sincerity came through in spades. I hated watching Julie Andrews as Maria - IMO didn't come close to measuring up to the stage Maria. Loved that it was mostly true to the original musical and not a truncated version to satisfy self-important critics. My wife was noting several songs she had never heard and I remembered the words and melodies of the (two omitted movie) songs from the musical over 50 years ago The supporting roles of mother superior and the Baroness were wonderful; as were the children. I initially didn't think Von Trapp was up to the task; but on later reflection his stern manner and strong facial features won me over.

The highlight for me was the Maria dance with the captain. That was truly superb and touching

It's inevitable that this this production will be compared with the Julie Andrews movie, and a young Julie Andrews is hard to top when you are casting someone for a singing nanny who is knowing and wise. But in her scene with the mother superior (the "Climb Every Mountain" scene) Carrie Underwood, as the nun/nanny named Maria, does something that the unflappable Julie Andrews can't - Carrie's eyes glisten with tears as she comes close to crying in despair. And in that moment, I suddenly came to care about the character of Maria and I wanted happiness for her. And, so, for me, the last hour of the TV production of the Sound of Music with Carrie Underwood gained a sort of emotional power that the movie version never reached.

This was a very ambitious production with amazing singers, world-class sets and 21 cameras filming the live production. It has some amazing strengths. I was taping it and only intended to watch the first 30 minutes last night -but once I started watching it I just couldn't stop and thus I watched the entire 3-hour-long production. So it obviously held my interest.

My major criticism was the in the quality of the acting. The individuals that produced and directed this are well- known for producing musical shows -they will be producing the Oscars Presentations this winter, for example. And thus they seemingly cast and directed this production with a heavy emphasis on singing and music but with little emphasis on acting. The Sound of Music is also a dramatic story -and one in which the tone of voice, the raised eyebrow and the facial expressions of its characters are important to the storytelling. Carrie Underwood has never claimed to be an actress and clearly the director was less interested in scenes in which there is talking rather than singing. So, much of the humor and human interest in the story were lost due to actors who spoke their lines brightly and clearly, but without the right inflection and timing.

Despite the 'acting issue,' I thought this production had enough going for it that I enjoyed it. I gave it a 8/10.

In 1962, when I was nine years old, I saw The Sound Of Music which was my first live play. It was at the old Shubert Theater in Chicago, and I was very much enthralled with this production. I knew that this NBC production would be taken more from the source play, rather than the film version (which I have also loved for nearly 50 years). The fact that this show was presented live did transmit a bit of excitement to me. I have seen the film umpteen times and own the DVD of it, but it was indeed a treat to see again the stage version, with it's differences from the film after all this time. I did remember the two tunes which had been cut from the film, reinstated here, and the position changes of some of the other tunes. Carrie Underwood had difficult shoes to fill, indeed, as Maria. Her singing was flawless, and that overcame her unsureness in her acting. (For me). Audra McDonald blew me away as the Mother Abess. Her "Climb Ev'ry Mountain" was beautiful and moving. Did anyone else notice the resemblance between the actress playing Liesl and Angela Cartwright who played Brigitta in the film version? Or the disquieting resemblance of the gentleman who played Max (Sorry, I don't know all the names of the cast) to cult director John Waters? This was a glittering production, with superb direction, beautiful settings and an excitement that only a live telecast can exude. I can only hope that NBC, as well as the other networks will see the successful ratings of this production as a beacon of hope that we can expect more quality programming like this in the future. Perfect? Maybe not. But pretty darn good.

Kudos to Carrie Underwood and Audra McDonald for sterling performances which carried this production. Ariane Rinehart also gave a memorable presence and is sure to be a rising star. As Max, Christian Borle almost stole several scenes with his unapologetic maneuvering. The only disappointment was that of of Stephen Moyer. He came across as stiff and lifeless, definitely not the deeply introspective, romantic Capt. Von Trapp. Also, his voice did not rise to the level presented by Underwood and McDonald. The music was gorgeous although I was surprised by the static caused by the sound system when there was a pause. I thought those days were long behind us. Overall, it was very enjoyable, and I would like to see more of the same.

I loved it, recorded it and waited till I was home alone, well except for the dog who left the room five minutes in, so that I could sing along till my hearts content! My dad took me to see the Julie Andrews version when I was 9 years old, it was our first and only movie date because he died soon after so memories of that night when I felt so grown up and special will never be forgotten (neither will the box of chocolates and choc top ice cream at intermission!) but I truly enjoyed this production,the performances by all the cast, the sets and the costumes were great ..... I'll save it and watch it again on a rainy day.

Unfortunately, only a few of us were around and can remember live musical performances on TV. I was lucky enough to see the Sound of Music live on Broadway. I find this TV version to be fresh, seamless and with a breath of realness that is missing from youtube, vine, and edited movies and TV shows. I hope live musicals become a tradition for a new generation. Could Music Man be next? We hope that Carrie and crew enjoyed making it as much as we did watching it. We feel that this was a worthwhile experience, especially for anyone who has ever been part of a live performance. We wish they would bring Smash back. It gave a great behind the scene view of the blood, sweat, and tears that make up the stage experience.