The Music Man puts a song in your heart

The Music Man opens with one of those universal truths: beware of slippery, fast-talking con men trying to charm their way into your pocket.

But that’s exactly what happens in this razzle-dazzle depiction of turn-of-the-century American life performed by the Grant MacEwan University musical theatre program. This two-hour-plus musical runs at the John L. Haar Theatre until Saturday, Jan. 29.

Meredith Willson’s Tony-award-winning musical takes us to River City, Iowa where the simplicities of 1912 provincial life glow with an energetic innocence. Many of Willson’s rousing tunes are full of passion, and choreographer Jacqueline Herbst has adapted these rhythms to create rural dances with fairly sophisticated language and movement.

The Music Man is the story of Professor Harold Hill, a charlatan travelling as a salesman. He can neither read nor write music, yet persuades the residents of River City to buy instruments and uniforms for a boys’ band. Although Hill plans to abscond with the money, he falls in love with Marion Paroo, the local librarian, and transforms a lacklustre town into a singing and dancing community.

In addition to writing catchy tunes, Willson has created a patchwork of eccentric characters that are as bright and colourful as a well-designed quilt. Under the skilful hands of director Janice Flower, the 47 characters blend into a seamless pattern.

The cast, a combination of first and second year musical theatre arts students and a dozen St. Albert Children’s Theatre (SACT) actors, deliver in spades. By including SACT actors under the age of 12, Flower has added an extra layer of infectious energy. Judging by the number of “ahs,” the audience fully approved.

As the overconfident Hill, Corey Schmitt tackles the music with gusto and swaggers around with a sneer on his face, a man used to habitually seducing naive townsfolk into parting with their coin.

The role of the prim Marion Paroo is custom made for St. Albert’s Arielle Ballance. Her voice is lush and romantic, and as the family breadwinner, Marion is a high-spirited, outspoken delight. Ballance manages to blend Marion’s femininity and feminism into a harmonious mix, the perfect counterweight to Hill’s blarney.

At every instance there are examples of really good theatre. Molly Wilson as Mrs. Paroo is a matronly confection with her broad Irish brogue. And Tristan Tolley as the stubborn Mayor Shinn and his drama queen wife Eulalie, played by Julia Seymour, are a compatible, over-the-top couple.

A barbershop quartet composed of Luke Hamilton, Chris Scott, Kurtis Nawrot and Lorenzo Damiani elicited loud applause and dance couple Brittany Hunter and Jordan Mah gracefully floated across the stage.

Whether it’s 76 Trombones or Till There Was You, The Music Man puts a song in your heart.