‘Music Man’ at Light Opera Works

EVANSTON, Ill.—Light Opera Works has done it again! Each year, it brings us uncut versions of some of the greatest musicals, played with a full orchestra as they were meant to be performed. This year is no exception as they present Meredith Wilson’s The Music Man.

A full orchestra and a brilliant cast of singers and actors fill the stage with this wonderful story of a con man arriving in River City, Iowa, to sell the town on the idea of building a “boy’s band.” And families can’t help being enchanted with the wonderful songs— Seventy-Six Trombones, Ya Got Trouble, Marian the Librarian, Til There was You, and Goodnight My Someone—as well as some marvelous pieces written for Barbershop: Lida Rose, Sincere, and Good Night Ladies (all brilliantly handled by Christopher Richard, Alex Shotts, Alex Honzen, and Timothy Wolf).

Professor Harold Hill (beautifully portrayed by Larry Adams) has come to town to sell instruments and uniforms to the locals with the plan to get out of town before the band actually has to play. Along the way, there are skeptics he must convince or avoid, and a love story with Marian, the librarian (and piano teacher) who doubts him.

Marion’s attitude changes after she sees the hope that the professor brings to people with his “pitch.” Alicia Berneche as Marion brings an operatic quality to this role but also brings the charm of the spinster lady whom we see evolve into a woman in love. In fact, one of the strong parts of this show is that director Rudy Hogenmiller has cast people in the right age bracket, which makes the story more believable.

There are some standout performances by Jo Ann Minds as the Mayor’s wife, Barbara Clear as Marian’s mother, and young Brooks Whitlock as Winthrop. Joseph Tokarz is solid as Marcellus, and his dance number Shipoopi is a showstopper (The ensemble is bigger than life in this one). I found the Pick-A-Little ladies (Jody Goldman, Sara Stern, Erin E. Thomas, and Rachel Renee, along with Ms. Minds), adorable with a capital “A” and that rhymes with “play”!

This is the full version of the show—almost three hours—but every second is special. It also has brilliant choreography by Kevin Bellie—just spectacular (Bellie, who is known for his work on a small stage, shows that he can handle anything, and the local students he has used to fill in the ensemble are up to the task).
 
The Music Man
Cahn Auditorium on the campus of Northwestern University
600 Emerson, Evanston, Ill.
Tickets: 847-869-6300 or online at LightOperaWorks.com
Closes: Jan. 4

Alan Bresloff writes about theater in the Chicago area.