Music+Man+Review



Moran Middle School’s production of the “Music Man” just finished its off-off-off-off Broadway tour at Rossomando Theatre in Wallingford, CT. Meredith Wilson’s timeless gem features a fast-talking, women in every station, slick salesman and examines his transformation from devil’s son to town hero. The show was a first class ticket to laughter and all who attended had a good time. Except for the little girl who lost her mom and cried for ten minutes after the play.hasgdjhsagdhjsa
 * By Paul Bogush** March 11, 2007, Sunday
 * By Paul Bogush** March 11, 2007, Sunday

This production of The Music Man is highlighted by star-studded performance by Team 8-2 students who clearly hold this production together. kasjdkajshdklashkajshlkaxx

Tyler Saloman cut the rug with his first role as a lead man. Tyler more than convinced the audience that Dr. Hill was a Teflon coated professor of scam who would leave River City penniless and despondent. Hill is a traveling salesman whose nefarious sales gimmicks create a nightmare of consumer anger toward all salesmen as a group. The amoral Hill sells musical instruments to parents of unmusical high school children by promising to teach them how to play in a marching band. Once the instruments and the band uniforms are paid for, Hill collects his money and runs, leaving the fleeced parents and bewildered children staring at the useless trombones, piccolos, tubas and trumpets.

One of Hill's stops is the small town of River City, Iowa, where he proceeds to convince concerned parents that without a band their children will succumb to the evils of pool, alcohol and worse. River City, however, has something Hill's other stops lacked, and that's a secret weapon known as Marian the Librarian.

Marian, here played by the sparkling Kelli Johnson, sees through Hill's tricks, but she also notices how his presence has infused River City with excitement and camaraderie. She sees his positive affect on River City's teenagers and notices how he has turned the squabbling city council into a barbershop quartet. Her vision of Hill ultimately changes all of their lives.

The costumes left the audience wondering if they had been transported back to the year 1912. While one of the traveling salesmen did appear a bit feminine, the rest were well rehearsed in the fast talking quick quipped snake oil sales delivery. Monica Croce played a fiery Maude who was very, very red. Alicia Gansley played Mrs. Shinn, an ignorant, racist of a showboat whose rise to popularity would last as long as her husband’s political career.

Other spectacular performances was Ethel played by Mary Solomon, a pick-a-little lady, and her boyfriend Marcellus played by Andrew R(6th grade). He lead the best dance called shipoopi which Mallory Croce danced to with her boyfriend in the play named Dan Belcourt. The dance was a blast and got people up and going and all the townspeople joined in. Mallory Croce also played as a traveling salesman in the play changing into a boy for a couple of scenes.

Talking about boys, TAYLOR GRAY(8-3) filled in for a guy part of Tommy who falls in love with Zeneeta. She did a great job as filling in for a guy and a traveling salesman which she rocked in for the song rock island with her friend Mallory Croce. They started off the performance on a train doing a really cool scene.

For me the highlight of the night was __Rosie Garcia’s(8-3)__ six octave performance in scene four as Mrs. Paroo. Her voice strong, her body language reminiscent of a young Carol Burnett. Rosie got a two whoo-hoo cheer from this patron's eight year-old daughter.

Music man also showed that cronyism is alive and well in the world of theater. One of the directors, Cynthia Fries, cast her own son in the role of a child from the town. In the words of Professor Hill, "Either you're closing your eyes to a situation you do now wish to acknowledge, or you are not aware of the caliber of disaster indicated...Ya got trouble, my friend, right here, I say, trouble right here in Wallingford." One wonders if he had to even audition for the role even if he was cute and adorable.

It is reported that the Music Man tour was suppose to include 32 more cities but stopped in its tracks by the American Humane Society. Apparently 56 rare Connecticut Whooping Swallows were killed to create the Pick-a-Little Ladies flamboyant scarves and several rare Fatcwkian Eagles were de-feathered to create Mrs. Shinn's headdress.

While the moves of the dancers feet were precise, so too was the movement of the spotlight. Tricia Bartel used laser like perception to highlight the nights performances, and Andrew Pegg(8-1) helped move the piano on and off stage..without him Rosie Garcia would of had trouble doing her highlight scene of the night! Kurt T. also did alot of moving as well....with the props on and off stage

Finally a huge gigantasaurous high five to the two directors Laurie Brandle and Cynthia Fries. Putting on production of this size dwarfs the stress and responsibility of most jobs in the world. It was sinful how easy they made it look, appearing as though anyone could step into their shoes and direct a play of equal stature. Let this reviewer go on record as saying, their shoes cannot be filled by any mere mortal in this town. One often gives all the accolades a production deserves to the actors and actresses, but we must not forget that is the directors heart and spirit that bring the paly to life.

The Music Man is an old-fashioned American musical with a happy ending. The Wallingford production, which continues through this week, also boasts one of the best finales that any musical could have. If you leave early to get to the parking lot, you will miss what The Music Man is all about.