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13 Area Grapplers Gain Top Seeds

By MARY THERESE BIEBEL marytb@leader.net
 Friday, February 23, 2001 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 13 





Here's the story, of a man named Brady, who was busy with three boys ... &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Oops. Wrong theme song. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; This is the tale of Georg Von Trapp, his seven motherless children and
their high-spirited new governess. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Actor Barry Williams, known to millions as the oldest son in the popular
1970s sitcom ``The Brady Bunch,'' is enjoying his turn as patriarch in ``The
Sound of Music,'' to be presented tonight through Sunday at the Scranton
Cultural Center. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``The most fun I have is being in the wings, watching Maria and the kids
singing `My Favorite Things' and jumping on the beds. I have a breather then,
listening to the frightening sound effects. I've never heard thunder like that
in my life.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Though all that rumbling will likely impress theatergoers, they're probably
more interested in the familiar tunes created by Richard Rodgers and Oscar
Hammerstein. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``Most shows have one memorable song. This is just hit after hit after
hit,'' said Williams, who is grateful that his role gives him a chance to act,
sing, dance and play the guitar. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``I do all of those,'' he said. ``Christopher Plummer (who played Captain
Von Trapp in the 1965 movie version) didn't sing. He lip-synced. That's one
thing I get to bring to it. And many actors are not really singers. Of those
that are, many don't play the guitar.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Local audiences may remember Williams' 1974 performance as the young prince
Pippin when the show of the same name opened its national tour in Scranton.
Perhaps more people will see in him remnants of the earnest youth who used to
get along so well with his easy-going television parents, Mike and Carol
Brady. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The play's Captain Von Trapp is, of course, a much stricter father. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``He doesn't know how to handle all these kids,'' Williams said. ``He
thinks being a disciplinarian, and a stern one at that, is the best way to
teach them to take care of themselves.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Fortunately for the fictional family, the character softens under the
influence of Maria, the children's music-loving nanny. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``He doesn't realize how deeply he's been hurt by the loss of his first
wife. I think Maria brings that out. She causes him to discover, or
rediscover, who he is ... and Maria goes from being a girl to a woman.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Researching the real Von Trapp, Williams found out the wealthy Austrian
naval officer was ``probably recognized there the way Eisenhower was here
during his day.'' After his English aristocrat wife died, Von Trapp brought
all of her money to Austria despite the threat that Germany was about to annex
the smaller country. ``His friends told him it was not a smart move.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 In truth as well as fiction, the family left behind a fortune as they
escaped Nazi oppression. But they had what they needed - each other. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ``This is a very authentic reproduction,'' Williams says. ``The guy still
gets the girl. And we all leave singing.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 IF YOU GO &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 WHAT: ``The Sound of Music'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 WHERE: Scranton Cultural Center, 420 N. Washington Ave., Scranton &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 WHEN: 8 tonight, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, and 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Sunday. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 TICKETS: $47, $37, $25. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 INFO: 342-7784 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 BOOK-SIGNING: 4 p.m. today at the Wall in the Mall at Steamtown, Scranton.
Barry Williams will sign copies of ``Growing Up Brady: I Was a Teenage Greg.'' &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

`sound Of Music' Comes To Scranton Barry Williams Of ``the Brady Bunch'' Fame Plays Captain Von Trapp In The Rodgers And Hammerstein Hit Musical.