‘Music Man’: 50th Summer Musical Shines With Pride
By Scott Whited, The Pueblo Chieftain, Colo.
Jul. 20–”The Music Man” has come to Pueblo, and our city is the better for it.
The classic family musical by Meredith Willson opened Saturday afternoon at the Sangre de Cristo Arts and Conference Center. Set in Willson’s home state of Iowa, the lively, charming story tells the tale of Professor (credentials pending) Harold Hill (Zach Friberg), who comes to the small town of River City (pop. 2,212) with the intention of selling the locals a bunch of band instruments and uniforms for their kids, and then getting the heck out of town before they realize he’s a sham.
Things take a turn toward tar and feathers when his con is discovered, but the town — notably local librarian and lead skeptic Marian Paroo (Kimberly Sewell) — turns out to value his offerings much more than he ever might have suspected. The good-sized opening crowd was treated to a fine production, which has come to be the norm for the music triumvirate of Wayne Genova, Donna Stinchcomb (co-directors) and Michael DeLuca (orchestra director).
There were several high-quality performers. Friberg was energetic as a wily salesman, figuring out his customers’ needs and dreams and then fulfilling them. His con was not too smarmy, though, so his underlying charm had a chance to captivate the audience. His voice was appealing, but he was more actor than singer. One hopes his enunciation of the challenging, fast-paced lyrics will improve as the show goes on.
Sewell was more singer than actor, especially with her beautiful rendition of the signature love ballad, “Till There Was You.” She was quietly effective as the love interest — something of a trick while wearing her high-waist, ankle-length gray skirt — and especially in making the audience believe the show’s main thematic conceit: She can love Harold, even though she knows he is deceitful and will leave her behind, because he has brought previously unknown joy into her life. Robin Holzrichter and Nate Adams were quite entertaining as the mayor and his wife. The former was bursting with ebullient eccentricity as she led the local ladies through a variety of historical dances and cultural contortions. The latter was small-town bluster defined, bellowing out “Four score and seven years ago” whenever he sensed the need for official pomposity.
The most vocal fun was the town-fathers-turned-barbershop-quartet of Chris Dobson, David Jesik, Mathew Comden and Matt Dieringer. They did such a good job with their close harmonies that crowd members could be overheard saying, “I wish those barbershop guys had more songs.”
But the real star of the show was the overall ensemble, both the thespian troupe and the well-rehearsed orchestra. Over 50 performers were on-stage in the big numbers, and they had a chemistry and enthusiasm that brightened the auditorium beyond the ability of the sometimes under-performing lights. The orchestra was led, not surprisingly, by the powerful brass section, especially the trombones played by Dan Wiley, Josh Ammeter, and David Moore. And everything was topped off with the climactic entrance of the Pride City Band playing the signature “Seventy-Six Trombones.”
This play resonates well in Pueblo, which has at least one major similarity with River City: a town filled with young people complaining that there’s nothing to do and parents wishing there were more positive and productive outlets for their children’s adolescent energy. This 50th annual summer musical, as with its predecessors a collaboration between Pueblo Parks and Recreation Department and Pueblo City Schools, provides a response to this glaring need admirably. It is not only excellent entertainment, but is also a wonderful, positive way for the young people in our community to find out just how good they can be both as individuals and part of a group.
One can easily imagine a parent looking up at her child on-stage in the ensemble and thinking proudly, “There’s my kid in the black bowler hat. That’s my boy!”
“The Music Man” continues at 7:30 p.m. today, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. It is one of the most family-friendly shows in existence. Call 295-7200 for tickets.
The writer can be contacted at WSWhited@aol.com.
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Copyright (c) 2008, The Pueblo Chieftain, Colo.
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