CONTRIBUTOR Article Last Updated: 05/08/2007 02:44:09 AM PDT
"The Music Man," Music and lyrics by Meredith Willson; Story by Willson and Franklin Lacey. PERFORMED BY: Hillbarn Theatre WHERE: 1285 E. Hillsdale Blvd. WHEN: 8pm Thurs.-Sat.; 2pm Sunday. Closes June 3. TICKETS: $17 - $30 CONTACT: 650-349-2336 or www.hillbarntheatre.org -----------------------------------------------------------
Well, Hillbarn Theatre proved me wrong again. I was unable to see how it could possibly mount a production as expansive as "The Music Man," in its limited space, but, even at that, it was able to blow a whole new life into this 50-year-old theatrical masterpiece.
And, it did it with impressive movable sets by Lee Basham, choreography by Joe Duffy and Beth Ann Wells, costumes by Deniz Twelves, an uninhibited, fun-loving adult cast, and a bunch of super-talented, super-enthusiastic kids, all staged with great elan by co-directors, Toni Tomei and Musical Director Greg Sudmeier.
It made me feel as if I were viewing "The Music Man," for the first time, with new eyes and new appreciation.
This is a work of musical and theatrical genius, one that will endure for the ages. Meredith Willson poured all of his experience in formal orchestral music, scoring for marching bands and the spirit of opera and theatrical musicals into the melodies of this show, utilizing styles from Baroque canonical through 19th century barber shop quartets and all between.
Some segments are unforgettable: The brilliant opening counterpoint exchange between the traveling salesmen on the Rock Island RR train; the songs "Ya Got Trouble," the brilliant chicken-clucking- like chorus of "Pick-a-Little, Talk-a-Little," the engaging "Marian the Librarian," the foot-stomping and rousing "The Wells Fargo Wagon" and "Shipoopi" and, of course, a march tune that matches anything John Phillips Sousa ever composed in "Seventy-six trombones!"
The little town Harold Hill descended upon with his bag of commercial trickery in 1912, is the fictional River City, Iowa, ruled by the pompous Mayor Shinn, done with a Shakespearian turn by John Musgrave.
In the role of the ubiquitous, shady, fast talkin' Harold Hill is Russ Bohard. As I have written before, I don't believe that there's any acting, dancing or singing role that Russ is unable to do well and, here, he does them all at one time, as he tries to convince this sleepy little town what it needs is a boys marching band.
The big surprise of the evening was 21-year-old Mindy Lym as Marian Paroo, the town librarian, with a soprano voice on such numbers as "Good Night My Someone," and "Till there was you," that may only be described as "glorious," possibly the best I have ever heard in the role. And, she is a darn good actress, to boot. What a talent!
Claudia McCarley, is Mrs. Paroo, her Irish mother, struggling to convince Marian to be less chosey about the men in the town. And, get ready with a handkerchief when her younger brother, Winthrop, traumatized by the death of their father before being inspired by Harold Hill, brings a shock of joy to his worried family with a knockout song and dance routine in "Gary, Indiana." Little Hunter Lowdon will tear your heart out with that one, if you aren't forewarned. Arriving in town, Harold finds an old cohort in crime, Marcellus Washburn (Danny Broome), who fills him in on the vulnerable and gullible in this sleepy little town and there are many.
Among the townsfolk, there are the four town board members, played by John Shoaf and Paul Sinasohn (rotating with Fred Merrick and Owen Doyle), Pete Wanger and Gerald Chu, whom Hill disarms by conning them into becoming a barber shop quartet. Others are the town's "ballet ladies" led by the mayor's wife, played by Dee Bailey with Lee Foster, Sheryl Abbott, Joyce Jacobson, and Daina Maria de Torok as the hapless would-be dancers.
All goes well for Harold until he falls hopelessly in love with Marian, a vengeful fellow salesman Charley Cowell (Dan Shilstone) arrives in town to expose him and he needs to prove the kids he'd decked out in uniforms and instruments can really perform or else he gets locked up by Constable Locke (Robert Snedegar) and, would likely be tarred and feathered and ridden out of town on a rail. Tune in at Hillbarn and see how this thrilling melodrama plays out.
Hillbarn in recent years has mounted a number of productions that cast many young players. And, it is their unrestrained enthusiasm and advanced performing skills that have made so many of these shows memorable. As a result, it has become my personal pleasure watching how many, some from Hillbarn's own conservatory, have progressed in skills. I wish I had enough space to give credit to all of these heartwarming talents, but I must mention Trevor Meacham, who moved up to a full role in this production as Tommy Djilas, the town juvenile delinquent, who has eyes only for the mayor's daughter, Zaneeta, played by Amanda Andrews. As a singing and dancing actor, Trevor is proving he's got the "right stuff." It's true what they say, that performing "The Music Man," is a slam dunk because it's virtually impossible not to do it well. But, it is also true that some do it much better than others and the Hillbarn production is right up there with the best.