Photo by Raina Chazankin of Shipoopi dance by the ensemble
THE MUSIC MAN: Book, Lyrics & Music by Meredith Willson; Directed by Holly Vinson; Choreography and Music Direction by Jeremiah Ginn at the 6th Street Playhouse, GK Hardt Theatre, 52 West 6th Street, Santa Rosa, CA 95401. (707) 523-4185 or www.6thstreetplayhouse.com. Running time: 2 hours 40 minutes. Through September 14, 2008.
THE WELLS FARGO WAGON BRINGS JOY TO RIVER CITY AND SANTA ROSA
The 6th Street Playhouse has a tradition of opening a new season requiring a multi-generational cast and The Music Man is a perfect selection. The show was a Broadway hit in 1957, a spectacular movie in 1962 and is still thrilling audiences with professional and amateur theatre productions. The Playhouse is taking full advantage of a great new technology (OrchEXTRA®) that “creates” a professional orchestra synchronized with the live performers under talented Music Director/Choreographer Jeremiah Ginn’s capable hand.
With a few caveats, Holly Vinson’s competent direction keeps the action perking along on the colorful, charming utilitarian set (David R. Wright) depicting River City. There are façades of the library, billiard hall, Mayor’s house, horse stable and a front porch of a house leaving ample room on center stage to handle the entire 34-member cast who sing and dance with enthusiasm dressed in spectacular costumes (Pam Enz). For scene changes, musical interludes play as the facades seamlessly open up revealing their interiors without delaying the shows action.
For those who do not know the plot: It is the turn of the century, traveling salesmen are a way of life, “You’ve got to know the territory,” and Iowa is the toughest state in which to do business. One salesman, who doesn’t know the territory, accepts the implied challenge and hops off the Rock Island Railroad in River City. He assumes the name of Professor Harold Hill (David Yen), passes himself off as music teacher/band leader to sell band instruments and uniforms to create a boys marching band, before skipping town with the cash. To begin, he convinces the “Iowa Stubborn” townspeople that the “Ya Got Trouble” because of the new pool table in the billiard parlor. Eventually he meets secretly loved starved (Goodnight My Someone) Marian the librarian (Heather Lane ) who sees through the scam but relents when he helps her younger brother Winthrop through an emotional withdrawal. Professor Hill meets an old accomplice Marcellus Washburn (Gene Abravaya) as they reminisce on experiences “The Sadder But Wiser Girl.”
Interspersed with the plethora of memorable songs ( Seventy Six Trombones, Marian, The Libraian, My White Knight, The Wells Fargo Wagon, It’s You, Till There Was You ) there are rousing specialty numbers (Ice Cream/Sincere, Pick-a-Little, Talk-a-Little, Eulalie’s Ballet, Shipoopi, Lida Rose, and Gary, Indiana) and ensemble dancing galore.
The romantic leads David Yen and Heather Lane are well-paired, sing with authority and clarity. Lane’s over-miked soprano voice appears harsh singing My White Knight. During the early scenes, there is only a modicum of charisma that finally blossoms in their final duet ‘Till There Was You despite the cumbersome staging of the meeting on the bridge. The bridge prop should be dumped.
The entire production deserves a big bouquet plus individual ones to many standouts. Troy Evens’ role as lisping Winthrop matches Ron(ny) Howard’s movie performance. Diana Grogg as Winthrop’s mother would make any Irishman proud with her understated humor. Zoe Conner as leader of the pack must share her accolades with all the “ladies” with their hysterical Grecian Urn dance number and the tricky Pick-little, Talk-a-Little patter song. Eric Chazankin, Eldon Guinn, Bill Morgan, Jon Rathjen, the Barber Shop Quartet, although occasionally off key, add a great deal to the fun. Last, but hardly least, Gene Abravaya is fantastic as loyal, slow-witted Marcellus with a skip in his step, just the right amount of shtick and double takes.
The ensemble singing and dancing to the OrchEXTRA® music under Ginn’s choreography is alone worth the price of admission. Consider all the other great moments as a bonus.
Courtesy of TheatreWorld Internet Magazine
Photo by Raina Chazankin of Shipoopi dance by the ensemble