The Music Man Shines!
Written: Jun 24 '00
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Product Rating:
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Pros: toe tapping music, uplifting feeling, great family entertainment
Cons: too much like the original, a few flaws in the orchestral delivery
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| kwsbanker's Full Review: The Music Man |
The Music Man is a great, and I mean great, family theater outing. It has a few flaws, which ironically don't detract from the overall feeling you get from this "feel-good" show.
Craig Bierko is terrific. Close your eyes, and you'd swear it was Robert Preston warbling out the tunes that made him famous. Rebecca Luker is also great, as always, with a sweet lilting soprano voice as Marian the Librarian. The music, lyrics, and staging have been purposefully reproduced exactly as it was in the original production - which for some was a little disappointing (myself included). While I went wanting the old, I found myself also wanting something fresh, a "new" feel to an old classic. While I did not find it, what I did find instead was an upbeat, fast moving production with all the favorite musical numbers (Marian the Librarian, Trouble, Pick-a-little Talk-a-little, River City, the barbershop quartet songs, Shipoopie, and of course, Seventy-Six Trombones to name just a few). Max Casella was not Buddy Hackett, but held his own nonetheless, and the entire ensemble (especially the kids!) made the show complete.
The sets and costumes, too, were almost identical to the original production, down to the band uniforms, Marian Paroo's flowing dresses, and the amazing grecian gowns worn by the River City's dancing women!
Dance scenes were joyous (especially ones involving the kids), and the barbershop quartet stole the show. But above all, Craig Bierko recreated the role of The Music Man with such panache, and finesse, you would think he had been practicing for just this role his whole life. Hats off to the entire cast and crew for a production that leaves you singing for days, and smiling at the memory for many more!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
kwsbanker
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Member: Karen
Reviews written: 41
Trusted by: 5 members
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