‘EDELWEISS’—Tom Schmid, center, adds a new dimension to the classic character of Captain Von Trapp in Cabrillo Music Theatre’s “The Sound of Music,” which runs through July 31 in T.O.. ED KRIEGER/Special to the Acorn Rodgers and Hammerstein’s final collaboration, “The Sound of Music,” was a huge success when it made its debut on Broadway, becoming the second longest running musical of the 1950s. But the overwhelming popularity of the 1965 film version, starring Julie Andrews and Christopher Plummer, has all but obscured the original stage production.

Cabrillo Music Theatre’s current version, running through July 31, brings back the magic of the original, with a talented cast, a full orchestra and lavish sets, which have a history all their own.

Although the show starts in darkness (a candlelit choir of nuns at the Nonnberg Abbey in Salzburg, Austria), the rest of the musical displays the brilliance of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s score and the adaptation of the story of the famous Von Trapp Family Singers.

The lead roles in Cabrillo’s production are played by Shannon Warne as the postulate Maria and Tom Schmid as Captain Von Trapp.

Warne is a proven professional, able to play just about any female lead that exists in the Broadway repertory. Her Maria is charming and effervescent, with a voice approximating Mary Martin’s (star of the Broadway version) rather than Andrews’.

As good as Warne is, Schmid is a revelation, adding a totally different dimension to the Captain. He is obviously in pain due to the death of his wife, but instead of hiding this by reverting back to the militaristic personality of a naval officer, his is an existence of sadness, which makes his transformation into a warm and caring parent (thanks to Maria) not as abrupt as in the film. (The real Maria Von Trapp did not approve of Plummer’s harsh opening scenes.)

Alison Woods (Liesl), Michael Kennedy ( Friedrich), Lyrissa Leininger ( Louisa), Mason Purece (Kurt), Audrey Miller (Brigitta), Natalie Esposito (Marta) and Kristina Van Horst (Gretl) play the Von Trapp children, selected from more than 100 auditioners.

All perform admirably, but Woods, Purece and Miller are especially effective in their respective roles.

Tyler Burk is outstanding as Rolf, the Hitler Youth wannabe who doesn’t have the stomach to betray his friends. Marilyn Anderson glistens as the Mother Abbess while Laura Cable (Elsa) and Michael G. Hawkins (Max) exhibit a nice chemistry in their songs “How Can Love Survive” and “No Way to Stop It,” the latter featuring one of Hammerstein’s most biting and cynical lyrics. (Neither song was used in the movie.)

Producer Lewis Wilkenfeld chose to include two songs written by Richard Rodgers especially for the film version: “I Have Confidence” and “Something Good.”

Most of the familiar songs (played by Darryl Archibald’s top-notch orchestra) are performed twice, a concept that didn’t translate to the film version. (The show has no overture.) What makes the stage version so fascinating is that the songs take on different subtleties when performed the second time in a different context.

The title song, sung by Maria in an open field at the foot of the Alps, is repeated for a different effect when the children sing it for Captain Von Trapp, awakening his love for music. “Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” sung by the Mother Abbess to Maria as a metaphorical lesson in confronting challenges, takes on a literal connotation when the Von Trapps “climb the final mountain” to escape the Nazi usurpers.

The exquisite sets were built in 1972 for the L.A. Civic Light Opera and recently restored. Wilkenfeld’s direction includes more fluid onstage transitions of sets and minimizing dropcurtain interludes.

“ The Sound of Music” is a triumph from start to finish; count on the communicable songs not only to follow you out into the lobby but to chase you down the block as well.

For tickets, visit CabrilloMusicTheatre.com or call (805) 449-2787.