THEATER REVIEW:

You can’t help leaving the Newport Beach Repertory Theater’s production of “The Sound of Music” with a warm feeling, whether it be from the true story of the triumph of faith and love, or from the temperatures still clinging to the 90s as the clock approaches 10 p.m.

This final Rodgers and Hammerstein collaboration, which inspired a Best Picture Oscar winner a few years later, is G-rated entertainment overshadowed by the specter of Nazi Germany just prior to World War II. It’s not revived often, and the Newport production is an ambitious project that succeeds on many levels.

Staged outdoors at the Newport Coast Community Center, director Robert Michael Conrad’s production encounters some rough patches in the areas of scenic transitions and actors’ timing. Yet at its heart, this is a faithful reconstruction of one of the most familiar shows in the theater, one with which doubtless every kid older than 4 is familiar.

“The Sound of Music” is the dramatization of an actual story, in which a young prospective nun, Maria, is sent to be a temporary governess for an Austrian naval hero’s seven children. Along the way, there’s a lot of singing and gee-whiz cuteness, overshadowed in the second act by the Nazi occupation, which makes Captain Von Trapp an offer he shouldn’t refuse.

Danielle McGinley brings a lovely voice and an effervescent personality to the role of Maria, and she works well with the youngsters. Her only drawback is a lack of force when called upon for determination.

The authoritarian captain, whose attitude and, later, heart are soon melted by Maria, receives a strong performance from Frank Aranda, particularly when standing up to the Third Reich. One would cross him, it appears, at one’s own risk.

The obstacle Maria must overcome to win the captain’s affection, the Baroness Elsa Schrader, is richly enacted by Tara Meyer. Screen and ice-skating star Lynn-Holly Johnson has some sizable shoes to fill when she takes over the role for this weekend’s closing performances.

Bill Westlund is somewhat hesitant in his depiction of impresario Max Detweiler, while Kathleen Talafus may be a bit young for the Mother Abbess, but she has a glorious voice, a requirement for her “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” solo.

The Von Trapp children — five girls and two boys — are infectiously played by an all-female contingent, with Catherine Allen and Danielle Bui assuming the roles of Friedrich and Kurt, respectively. Cari Senour is particularly impressive as the oldest girl, Liesl, wavering on the cusp of womanhood, and little Destiny Kuhle will steal many hearts as the youngest, Gretl.

Jason McDonald and Mark Scott Renfro carry off the menace nicely as Nazi officials, while Jared Smith has some strong moments as Rolfe, Liesl’s messenger love interest who later dons the swastika.

Technically, the Newport production is understandably deficient, with lighting cues often failing to catch the soloists in time. Production of a full-scale musical on an outdoor stage is difficult at best, and this one is no easy task.

This weekend’s final performances are dinner theater shows and will be staged inside the theater where Lynn-Holly Johnson will be featured.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: “The Sound of Music”

WHO: Newport Beach Repertory Theater

WHEN: Closing performances 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday

WHERE: Newport Coast Community Center, 6401 San Joaquin Hills Road, Newport Beach

COST: Call for dinner theater prices

CALL: (949) 633-1580

TOM TITUS reviews local theater for the Daily Pilot. His reviews appear Thursdays.