I'm a sucker for
The Music Man. There's something so joyful about this story of the charming con man who comes to a closed-up Iowa town and sells them not a band, but the power of music, community, and a common goal. The band may not be real, but the joy and newfound togetherness in the town is very real, and even more valuable. Lyric Arts' fine new production is sure to sell out just based on the name recognition of the beloved musical, but it also lives up to expectations and provides a joyously fun and heart-warming experience that reminds us that we're better when we work together.
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You all know the story - a con man comes to a small Iowa town to sell them band instruments, uniforms, and a false promise of musical instruction, bringing music and new life to the stolid town, all the while planning to skip town after he collects the money, until he unexpectedly "gets his foot caught in the door on the way out," realizing that he needs these people to believe in him as much as they need someone and something to believe in. Professor Harold Hill is an expert salesman with a knack for knowing exactly what people need to hear and telling it to them in the most appealing way. He wins the town over person by person, giving the children something to focus on and look forward to, convincing the bickering school board to become a barbershop quartet, prompting the busybody ladies to form a dancing society. But music teacher and librarian Marian, a proud, guarded, and bookish "old maid" with high standards is not so easily won over. She knows the truth about Professor Hill, but when she sees her troubled and withdrawn little brother begin to blossom under his friendship, and the town come together as one, she sees that "the truth" about Professor Hill doesn't really matter. What matters is the joy that he's brought to the town, and even if he does skip town, he will leave them better than he found them.*
Highlights in this production include:
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Professor Hill (Tony Potts) and Marian (Nadia Franzen)
on the footbridge (photo by Molly Jay) |
Our Professor Hill and Marian are very well cast, with Tony Potts, whom I've only seen in operas, and Nadia Franzen, whom I've only seen in plays. Tony's gorgeous opera-trained voice brings new layers to this score, and Nadia has a beautifully strong soprano. Both are charming and spirited, with a believable chemistry. - The strong supporting cast includes Margaret Reid as Mrs. Paroo, Andrew Newman as the Professor's buddy Marcellus, Paul Reyburn as the befuddled mayor, and Lisa Vogel as his wife, with some hilarious intentionally bad singing.
- Everyone loves a barbershop quartet, and Ben Glisczinski, France A. Roberts, Alex Stokes, and Cole Strelecki fill the bill quite nicely with lovely spot-on harmonies and humor.
- There's nothing cuter than kids in musicals, just singing and dancing their little hearts out, and this one has a bunch, including Maddox Tabalba as Winthrop and Ava Fox as Amarylith.
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"You've got trouble!" Tony Potts as Professor Hill
with the ensemble (photo by Molly Jay) |
Speaking of dancing, choreographer Lauri Kraft makes her directing debut here, infusing the entire show with light and movement and joyful energy. Even scene transitions are done gracefully and purposefully. And the dance numbers, particularly "76 Trombones," "Shipoopi," and the library scene, are a delight to watch.- The set is very early 20th Century Americana, with whitewashed doorways, fences, and platforms, trailing ivy, bunting, and the sweetest footbridge (scenic design by Greg Vanselow, with warm lighting by Alyssa Kraft).
- Costumes (designed by Eleanor Schanilec) are also beautifully of the era, with three-piece suits, slim skirts with flounces, and so many great hats!
- Last but not least, when the whole show is centered around building a band, you need a great band, and they've got one! Music Director JJ Gisselquist leads the 10-piece off-stage orchestra and they sound great (sound design by Paul Estby), with a few instruments making their way to the stage in the hands of some of the cast.
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| photo by Molly Jay |
