How big is the role of Ralf in "The Sound of Music"?

Question:I was just wondering how big or important the role is of Ralf, who sings "Sixteen going on seventeen"...?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: I was just wondering how big or important the role is of Ralf, who sings "Sixteen going on seventeen"...?

Except for some bad spelling, the first answerer was on track.

The character is Rolf, not Ralf. He starts out as Liesl's beau in the first part of the play, then has become a Nazi collaborator by the end -- and functions as the pivotal villain towards the end.

Though the film's screenplay is about 95% different from the original stage play, Rolf's participation is largely the same -- two scenes in Act One [including the song], then mostly gone until near the end. In the stage play he's MENTIONED a few times in between [to keep him in the audience's periphery], but in the film he has an additional appearance to establish that he's joined the Nazis [like many things in the film, this is an improvement over the stage original].

So the bottom-line is that Rolf is very much a supporting character, but is essential to the plot's conflict toward the end [Herr Zeller handles the conflict earlier on].

If you're asking this because there's an audition coming up, go for it. :-)

He is a minor character who has a big role in the musical. Ralf is the male interest of the oldest daughter Lesile. His delivers telegrams then as he gets older he is recruited in to the military. Through him you see the changes made in Salsberg during the Hitler era and he plays an important role in the end of the movie as the Von Trap Family tries to escape.

Oh how I love that movie. lol

He doesn't have a HUGE role...however it's a good role :)
In the movie he only makes I believe 2 key appearances. Once singing sixteen going on seventeen. And near the end when he discovers the family hiding.
As to how "important " the role is... that's a matter of opinion.
He's cute... therefore...he's a key figure ;)

Rolf is a great supporting character. I'm doing SOM currently here in Dallas, Texas. His big moments are singing to Leisl "16 going on 17", delivering a telegram to Max (Act 1, sc 9), warning Maria and Leisl (act II) and allowing the Von Trapps to escape at the end of the play.

Usually he's a younger teen, baritone voice, good looking type....

No small Parts,Just Small actors. ( Old Saying ) Take the part and make it big and re memorable. Rolf is a Strong part. Not real Big but very Strong.

Rolf Gruber:

male

Liesl's confident, seventeen-year-old boyfriend who eventually fights for the Nazis.

age 16 – 20

supporting

not terribly big role. He's in about 4 scenes and has a vocal duet with leisel.