Date: Fri 07-Aug-1998

Publication: Bee

Author: DONNAM

Quick Words:

Richter-Music-Man-McMahon

Full Text:

(rev "The Music Man" @Musicals at Richter)

Richter's "Music Man" Is Toe-Tappingly Fun

(with cut)

By Julie Stern

DANBURY -- It's August. Summer days are long, school is a good ways off, and I

can't think of a better show for a community to put on, or for adults to take

kids to, than Meredith Wilson's nostalgic paean to small town America, The

Music Man .

And happily, Musicals at Richter has put together a rich, fast-paced,

charmingly choreographed production that makes the most of its large cast,

many of whom are parents working with their own children. Music Man continues

at the outdoor theatre atop the hill that is Aunt Hack Road until August 15.

If you've ever seen the stage -- or the award-winning movie version -- then

you are already familiar with the story of the con-man, "Professor" Harold

Hill, who descends on River City, Iowa, with the aim of ripping off the local

population by selling them instruments and uniforms for a phony marching band

he has neither the ability nor the intention of actually creating.

In this variation on the Pied Piper theme, Hill succeeds in capturing the

hearts and minds of River City's youth, but he hasn't reckoned on the wit and

will of Marian Paroo, the town's virginal librarian and piano teacher.

For Musicals at Richter, director George Vollano has succeeded perfectly in

capturing the fabric of a Midwestern community, complete with bickering school

board, gossiping matrons, restless teenagers, and a self-important mayor who

doubles as the owner of the local billiard parlor. Although they fancy

themselves as "Iowa stubborn," they quickly fall under the spell of the fast

talking Hill, who first spreads alarm with his warning that they've "got

Trouble, right here in River City..." and then goes on to reel them in with

his luminous vision of the greatest marching band he ever saw, led by

"Seventy-six Trombones" (with a 110 cornets right behind...).

The show mixes gentle satire with a genuine recognition of the transforming

power of music, best evidenced in the way Hill deftly organizes the quarreling

school committee into a harmonious barbershop quartet. The singers, who in

real life are all members of the Everyman Guild, an a capella group

specializing in medieval music, go on to provide a lively counterpoint to the

main auction.

Richter has also assembled some excellent talent for the principal roles,

particularly the beautiful voice of Betsy Kohl, for Marian the Librarian,

especially in the two romantic ballads, "Goodnight my Someone" and "Till There

Was You," and a very lively Ed Rosenblatt as the fast-talking professor. Other

standouts were Suzanna Nemeth, who doubles as Marian's mother and school board

member Ewart Dunlop.

Newtowner John McMahon as Hill's crony, Marcellus Washburn, is delightfully

droll, and Rob Ferzola, playing Tommy, the toughest kid in town, are both

great selections. Mr Ferzola, who plans to major in English and drama at

SUNY/New Paltz when he begins college this fall, is an actor and dancer with

such assured stage presence he is a joy to watch.

Since The Music Man is a portrait of an entire community, it is fitting it has

a lot of patter songs and choral arrangements for large groups. Beginning with

the jerky "Rock Island," sung by jolted salesmen on a moving train, through

the catty 'Pick-a-little, Talk-a-little" by the gossipy matrons, to the

spirited "Wells Fargo Wagon" sung by the whole company as they await the

arrival of the promised band instruments, the musical score moves right along,

alternating ballads and melody with comic novelty.

For a lively, happy, foot tapping evening's entertainment, I strongly

recommend taking the entire family to The Music Man .

(Performances are Friday through Sunday at 8:30 pm. Tickets are $14, $12 for

seniors. Bring blankets or lawn chairs for seating. Call 748-6873 for

details.)