Theater Review—

When The Weather Cooperates,

‘Music Man’ Is Wonderful Under The Stars

By Julie Stern

DANBURY —Sometimes it takes a determined effort to teach an eight year old to play the Minuet in G on a cornet, and sometimes it takes a determined effort to catch a complete performance at Richter. The downside of an outdoor theater is its dependence on the weather: Those of us who braved the clouds last Saturday night were forced to wait through a couple of 15-minute rain delays, while the production staff frantically mopped all the dripping surfaces. Even then, after the first three scenes, the producer appeared on stage to give a rueful apology: It wasn’t a matter of thunder or lightning, but rather, it was too dangerous to have a large cast be dancing on a stage that was slippery and wet. We were sent home, with the promise that our tickets were good for a full year.

Happily, for those of us who returned the next evening, the show was definitely worth coming back for (and the weather was balmy!).

Most people are familiar with The Music Man, Meredith Willson’s paean to small town innocence, either from the Robert Preston movie or from various productions. It’s such a crowd pleaser that it gets produced at venues all over the country. Of course here in Newtown, where the High School Marching Band is a particularly beloved tradition, it is perhaps even more meaningful than elsewhere.

Set in pre-World War I Iowa (beautifully recaptured in Andy Salom’s backdrop and sets), the inveterate conman “Professor Harold Hill” sets out to bilk the townspeople with a promise to set up a boys’ band, that will offer a wholesome alternative to the creeping evil influences of modernity… as exemplified by the new pool hall. (“You’ve got trouble, right here in River City, and that starts with T and it rhymes with P and it stands for Pool”).

Claiming to be a graduate of the “Gary Conservatory,” Hill will sell them the instruments — and the uniforms — and he will then teach the kids to play. But his antagonist — and eventual love interest — Marian Paroo, town librarian and piano teacher — knows he is a fraud, who plans to run off with the money as soon as he collects it.

This is enough plot to be the vehicle for a delightful collection of musical pieces, ranging from stirring group numbers like “Seventy Six Trombones” and “The Wells Fargo Wagon” to ballads (“Goodnight My Someone” and “Till There was You”),  from comic set pieces like the wonderful opening “Rock Island,” in which the salesmen on a train discuss their trade as they jolt and bump their way into River City, or the “Pick-a-Little, Talk-a-Little” meanness of the town matrons as they gossip about people they don’t like, to the barbershop harmonies provided by Danbury’s own Mad Hatters quartet.

Under Donald Birely’s direction, the large cast does a fine job, led by Damian Long as Harold Hill, and Laura Blackwell as Marian the Librarian. Laura Kennedy also has a lovely voice as Marian’s mother, Mrs. Paroo. Carl LePere is a proper curmudgeon as Mayor Shinn, joined by Cat Heidel as his appalling wife.

Ted Schwartz does well as Hill’s pal, Marcellus Washburn, while his daughter, Jessica Schwartz is convincing as the piano student Amaryllis, who is sweet on Marian’s brother, Winthrop (played perfectly by eight-year-old Jack Morris).

Newtown’s Dick Zang is perfect in his multiple roles as train conductor and school board member Olin Britt, along with fellow Mad Hatters Jim Hopper, Joseph Hudson and Chuck Krieger.

There will be extra benefit performances, to accommodate all the people who want to see this show. You’ll have a lovely time- just check the weather report beforehand.

(The Music Man will continue, Thursday through Saturday evenings, until August 16, at Richter Arts Center, 100 Aunt Hack Road in Danbury.

Visit MusicalsAtRichter.org or call 748-6873 for reservations and further information.)