Part Two: Chapter X, The Fly Summary and Analysis

In September, the Trapps begin their third American tour. An engagement at an unspecified New York college under F. C. Schang's management is the first of sixty-five. They will travel coast to coast. Schang advises to enhance their programs to satisfy as many tastes as possible. They no longer sing entirely Latin and German. There are English madrigals and folk songs. After the first performance, Schang contends there is something they are "lacking". He has faith that they will discover it for themselves. Mr. Schang, Maria explains, has a talent for saying the right thing at the right time in order to charm people. This ability comes in handy in getting them return engagements

Finally, during a performance in Denver, the family "discovers" the lacking ingredient. In mid yodel , Maria can't...