Music Is The Real Star Of The Music Man
I know what you’re thinking. How could I not know that music would be the star of Broadway At Music Circus’s production of The Music Man, running through Sunday, July 16.
Walking into last evening’s opening performance, I realized I knew nothing of the story, and just a bit about the music. Somehow, I dredged “76 Trombones” from my memory just as the lights dimmed. I think my grandma taught me that tune when I was a kid.
So over the course of two and a half hours last night, The Music Man went from relative obscurity with me to one of my favorite musicals. I loved it!
The story tracks a traveling shyster of a salesman, Harold Hill, who reminded me, perhaps, a little too much of a younger version of myself. Harold tries to convince the citizens of 1912’s River City, Iowa (I loved that Sacramento “touch”) to buy a ton of marching band instruments and uniforms, and hire him to teach them to play.
There’s only one problem: homeboy knows nothing about music. That set up reminded me of my second sales job, decades ago, selling National Public Radio. I’d never listened to it before my interview! I remember telling my soon-to-be boss “Look at this face! I can sell anything!”
And so can Harold. But just like any good musical, a love interest threatens to upset the apple cart. You’ll have to stick around ’til the very end to see whether ol’ Harold follows his heart or his bank account.
Sacramento’s own James Snyder shines in the title role, as does Julia Udine as Marion (The Librarian — it’s hysterical, isn’t it). Udine’s voice is nothing short of heavenly, as are the voices wielded by “The Quartet”: Olin Britt, Ewart Dunlop, Oliver His, and Jacey Squires.
I’ve been a fan of Boykin’s since he wow’d me a few years ago as The Cowardly Lion in Broadway At Music Circus’s production of The Wiz. When the four of them come together with Udine, they create moments to remember. Ditto for Udine and Snyder on “Till There Was You.” Only the lucky among us get to be loved like that.
Other standout performances include Broadway At Music Circus favorite Ron Wisniski as Mayor Shinn, and Benjamin Pajak as Winthrop Paroo…although you may want to brandish a splash guard during his perfomance if you’re sitting in one of the first few rows of the venue. But after his solo, I want to visit Gary, Indiana!
I don’t want to spoil the show’s rousing ending, but hat’s off to the Sacramento Youth Band and the Citrus Heights Community Marching Band for last night’s performance! I was singing and marching all the way back to my car!
Last night’s only head scratcher was why the folks at Broadway Sacramento didn’t open this summer’s season with The Music Man, so that its wonderfully patriotic “76 Trombones” would have been able to walk us right up to Independence Day a few weeks ago. Ah, well. There’s always that soundtrack for next year!
I’m told that this show has sold very well, so you’ll want to move quickly to grab a couple of the few available tickets before it wraps on the 16th. Pick your tickets up at broadwaysacramento.com.
Connect with freelance writer MPC at michaelpcoleman.com.
