The Music Man

This was a very happy and exuberant production of The Music Man,  owed entirely to the dedicated involvement of everyone participating, and the combined music and directorial skills of Andrew Nicklin,  and  Jackie O`Brien`s excellent choreography.

You may enjoy the brash bouncy marching score with its hint of Sousa, particularly the most durable number, `Seventy Six Trombones`.  You are more likely to be mesmerised by the salesman`s patter which spills from the mouth of the leading character in an unstoppable wave of persuasion.  The show stands or falls by the title role of plausible con man, Harold Hill, and Chris Grantham fitted the bill.  Superb singing and a laid back interpretation of the part paid off.  He was extremely well supported by Sharon Stringer`s endearing interpretation of Marian,  the librarian.  She was exactly right for the part, and sang absolutely brilliantly.  Particularly  telling in `Goodnight My Someone` and `Till There Was You`.   Joan Self made considerable impact as the zany Eulalie, a   role in which  all her experience come  to bear.  I liked Alan Smith as Charlie Cowell, the Anvil Salesman, making comedy out of every line, with perfect comic timing.  All the children impressed enormously, especially Hugo Carter as Winthrop, with his rendition of `Gary, Indiana`.  The `Barbers Shop Quartet` of Andrew Dennis, Stephen Godward, Richard Miller and Ian Thomson, were faultless throughout,  and their harmonies were excellent.

The whole piece was complimented by the fine support from the chorus, quality singing in depth,  and finally what a joy to see a top quality dance line-up.  So rare in this day of `movements`  rather than dance.

The lighting at times was a little too dark for me and I thought that more could have been made of the central number `Seventy Six Trombones`, but a good production of a very happy feel-good musical.

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