STAGE REVIEW : ‘The Sound of Music’ Shines at Moonlight : Classic: Amphitheater production does credit to the musical that has become one of the standards in America.

Moonlight Amphitheatre doesn’t offer any new twists on “The Sound of Music,” playing at Brengle Terrace Park through Aug. 30.

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But when you’re dealing with a musical as well-made as this one, you don’t really have to do much more than re-create what has worked so well for 33 years.

It’s like using a packaged mix. Blend a capable cast with appropriate scenery and costumes, pop it in the oven and voila! You may not make the cover of Gourmet, but the cake will taste just fine.

The power of “The Sound of Music” comes from its basis in truth and from the Richard Rodgers/Oscar Hammerstein II score.

Based on Maria von Trapp’s autobiography, “The Trapp Family Singers,” the story is set in Austria in 1938, just before the Nazis take over. The musical tells the story of Maria Rainer, who is studying to be a nun, but whose high spirits don’t mesh with abbey life. Her abbess, unsure of what to do with her, sends her to be the temporary governess for the seven children of the widowed Captain Georg von Trapp.

Capt. Trapp does not allow music or play in his house. Maria brings love and music to the children’s lives, winning their love and, ultimately, the captain’s. The Nazis take over and, after they marry, Von Trapp is ordered to fight for the Third Reich. He is opposed and the family leaves everything they own behind to escape under the cover of giving a family concert.

The musical was a star vehicle for Mary Martin on Broadway and Julie Andrews in the movie version.

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But Moonlight’s great contribution to San Diego theater is not in the presentation of stars, but in the nurturing of those with potential. Under the guidance of its founder and artistic director Kathy Brombacher, who directed this show, Moonlight has evolved into a community theater that takes pride in giving young performers a chance.

The lovely Shawna Nolan seemed vocally and dramatically tentative in her early scenes as Maria, but gathered confidence and power through the course of the show. Ed Hollingsworth, a good singer who tends to give a rather wooden stage delivery, did better with the captain as disciplinarian than as a man in love.

Brombacher’s direction draws attention to the company’s bucolic surroundings: Maria sings her first song, “The Sound of Music,” on a hill to the right of the stage area; the wedding procession goes down the center aisle of the seating area; the Nazis also stand in the seating area, turning their spotlights on the audience itself when the Von Trapps escape.

It is a wise directing choice, because it takes advantage of Moonlight’s greatest asset--its setting in lovely Brengle Terrace Park, a cozy enclave where some sit in chairs, but most stretch out on the grass with their picnic baskets and sleeping babies.

Other bright spots include Noelle Kenney, a young Moonlight regular, who shows great presence as Von Trapp’s oldest daughter, Liesl. In that role, she also does well as the vocal leader of an exceedingly cute troupe of Von Trapp children played by Tyler Stinson, Brittani Abshier, Jeremy Roswell, Erin Johnson, Lisa Guzman, and tiny, adorable Elise Lappin.

Theresa Layne, who played hapless Agnes Gooch in one of the few pluses in Moonlight’s season opening “Mame,” surprises with her stern control as housekeeper Frau Schmidt. Marci Anne, the one Equity actress in the cast, establishes her character of Elsa Schraeder, who hopes to marry the captain, with immediate wit and style. Charles Combes does a funny turn as Max Detweiler, a man skilled at going whichever way the wind is blowing.

Charles Lehrer, a set designer new to Moonlight, does a capable job with several complicated shifting sets--moving from the Abbey to the Trapp villa, to terraces, bedrooms and cloisters--with a minimum of fuss. Carlotta Malone’s costume coordination is invariably appropriate; the use of actual Nazi uniforms and weapons lent to the production by a Ramona collector gives chills. James Cook’s musical direction establishes a higher standard in the chorus than Moonlight has had in previous productions.

“THE SOUND OF MUSIC”

Music by Richard Rodgers. Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. Book by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse. Director is Kathy Brombacher. Musical direction by James R. Cook. Choreography by Dee Ann Johnston. Conductor is Kenneth Gammie. Sets by Charles Lehrer. Lighting by Walt De Jong. Costume coordination by Carlotta Malone. Technical direction and sound design by M. Andrew Currey. Stage manager is Hugo Evans. With Shawna Nolan, Lisa Pagan Carlton, Amy Griffin, Lisbeth Abramson, Susan Pedersen, Jody Sampley, Ed Hollingsworth, John Iocolano, Theresa Layne, Noelle Kenney, Tyler Stinson, Brittani Abshier, Jeremy Roswell, Erin Johnson, Lisa Guzman, Elise Lappin, Jeffrey Stephens, Marci Anne, Mattie Ullrich, Charles Combes, Ken Kanniard, George Roswell, Fred Tracey and Victoria Bobbett. At 8 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays through Aug. 30. Tickets are $6-$14. At Brengle Terrace Park, 1200 Vale Terrace Drive, 724-2110.