Register-Pajaronian 7-15-04

THE REGISTER-PAJARONIAN
July16, 2004
By Brian Spencer

Cabrillo's 'Music Man' does justice to classic musical

Bravo! Cabrillo Stage's "The Music Man" is a triumph. Following uncertainty of its future after budget cuts and the retirement of its producing artistic director, Lile Cruse, Cabrillo Stage has rebounded to present an outstanding production of Meredith Willson's well-loved musical.

The show sparkles from beginning to end with the professional polish that we have come to expect and even demand from our local musical theater producer. Skip Epperson, taking the reins from Cruse, was wise to choose a musical with broad, family appeal for his first venture.

But simply choosing the right production does not necessarily bring success. Epperson has many people to thank for the brilliant production that graces the Cabrillo stage.

The set design by William Strom is beautiful in its understated use of pastels to create the gentle feeling of River City, Iowa, where the primary action takes place. Making use of a modified wing-and-drop technique, Strom is able to change scenes quickly and efficiently.

Indeed, he might be a bit too efficient. There were times when a scene appeared to be ready but the stage remained empty for a noticeable period. Such slight gaps should work out as the show settles in.

The lighting design by David Dunning compliments and enhances the look of the scenes. Costume design by Maria Crush is perfect, and the audience is easily transported by her choices to small-town Iowa in 1912.

Choreography by Geri Carlson Sauls adds exuberance and movement to the show. Almost everyone dances at one point or another, and the movement of costumes and bodies punctuates many of the well-known musical numbers. Dance highlights are "Seventy-Six Trombones" (also a choice scene overall), "Marian The Librarian" and "Shipoopi."

Michael McGushin deserves a huge round of applause for his work as musical director. McGushin has assembled an orchestra that never misses a beat in some very tricky music and never covers his singers. His work with his cast and chorus results in truly fine diction and clarity in all of the songs.
Tying the production together is director Tom McKenzie, who has staged the production with a fine sense of humor and feeling. "The Music Man" pokes gentle fun at the citizens of River City, but McKenzie never allows us to feel that there is anything wrong with these people. We love them just as we come to love the con man who sets out to cheat them.

If there are readers who are still unfamiliar with the story of "The Music Man," they won't read it here. Opening on Broadway in 1957, it went on to play more than 1,000 performances. It won numerous awards and has been revived successfully, most recently in 2000.
Cabrillo Stage's large cast is led by Broadway actor James Patterson in the demanding role of Harold Hill. Patterson inhabits the role and truly makes it his own. For those of us familiar with the story, we willingly allow him to lead us down his deceitful path. For anyone not aware of the outcome, he gives us enough of the con man to worry a bit whether a happy ending is possible. Patterson is a charmer and exactly what is needed in the role.
As Marian Paroo, the librarian, Sheila Willey is gorgeous. Although her singing is enough to carry her through, her acting and dancing add to a total package that drew cheers from the opening-night audience.

Wiley N. Strasser as Tommy Djilas and Whitney Stock as Zaneeta Shinn portray the youthful counterparts to the older main couple and bring energy and talent to their roles. And they dance well and look great together.
Max Paradise plays Winthrop Paroo winningly, and when he comes out of his shell, you want to stand up and cheer. Jan McGinniss plays Mrs. Paroo and easily earns her laughs.

Mayor Shinn is played by Mark Bradlyn. Bradlyn has adopted a nervous stance that plays well against the more laid-back attitude of his townspeople. Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn, his wife, is played with flair by Wilma Marcus Chandler. Once again, she has made the role her own and found ways of delivering some of her more famous lines with a new gusto.

As Marcellus Washburn, Hill's sidekick, Daniel Galpin has some nice moments, particularly in "Shipoopi." However, he has a tendency to "bent-knee" acting, which throws his character slightly off kilter.

No review of "The Music Man" would be complete without mention of the barbershop quartet. Cabrillo Stage formed its quartet from auditioners rather than hiring a pre-existing barbershop group. The mix of Jesse Avsholomov, Nelson Salsa, Steven Walton-Hadlock and Ewart Caughey is a dream. By casting singing actors, Cabrillo Stage gets the best of both worlds: a quartet that sounds great together that can also act the roles required of it.
"The Music Man" is a proven audience favorite, and this production will only reinforce why it marches back onto the stage and into our hearts so many times.

"The Music Man" continues at Cabrillo Stage (the Cabrillo College Theater) through Aug. 15. Performances are Wednesday through Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. Charge by phone at 479-6154 or on-line at www.cabrillostage.com. Or visit the Cabrillo Stage Ticket Office on the Cabrillo campus Monday through Friday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.