The Music Man

Strathfield’s The Music Man is an enjoyable production, ably directed and musically directed by Cathy Boyle (assisted in musical direction by Natalya Aynsley), and choreographed by Cameron Forwood.

This was a production in which the support roles really shone. Mayor Shinn and his wife (Brian Sadler and Christine Pech), Mrs Paroo (Felicia Harris – lovely Irish accent), Marcellus Washburn (Peter Reid), Charlie Cowell (Richard Creek), and the Quartet (Robert McCloskey, Gary Selby, David Lang, and Richard Heagren-Gibbs) were all scene-stealers. Natalie Elliott was perfectly cast as Marian Paroo, and sang beautifully. She had the unenviable job of holding our attention while the set changed behind her – but hold it she did. Oscar Beard as young Winthrop acted well, and brought out his character’s speech impediment without sounding fake. Tim Martin as Harold Hill sang the role acceptably but I felt he didn’t have the right charisma and presence; it was the townspeople, not he, who whipped up the hysteria that normally surrounds this Pied Piper character.

My favourite was The Quartet. Those familiar with the show will know the Quartet must get their barbershop harmonies right or else the flop factor is massive.  This group nailed them perfectly. It was worth seeing the show just to hear the Quartet- either alone or when they were ably joined by other Cast.

What was also enjoyable to watch was the chorus creating a sense of being in a country town with all the cliques and relationships between the townspeople that one may find there. They weren’t just coming on stage to sing or dance; when a chorus member came on they were a character.

There were a few little technical hitches on opening night (shadows over faces, lines rushed in nervousness, slight tuning anomalies from the band, solo lines being overpowered at times by the chorus), but nothing to the extent that wasn’t overcome by the cast’s performance. The American Gothic sight gag was a nice touch, and I need to get me some of those Grecian Urns.

Peter Novakovich