Pacific Sun Weekly 05.25.2012 - Section 1

Page 21

›› THEATER

Capital N, stands for ‘nostalgia’ Musicals man Dunn bids farewell to the mountain with ‘Music Man’ by Charles Brousse

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t. Tam’s Cecil B. DeMille. That’s how I’ve always thought of Jim Dunn, whose grand scale outdoor productions of popular Broadway musicals have entertained Mountain Play audiences for the past 30 years. Now, here we are, bidding goodbye to the Dunn era with The Music Man, Meredith Willson’s homage to yesterday’s America. The setting is River City, Iowa (a ďŹ cDunn, above, is leading his final theatrical expedition up the mountain. tional substitute for Willson’s hometown of Mason City), circa 1908. As the opening O O O O train scene tells us, places like River City were favorite targets for traveling salesmen Anchored by Eric Burke’s commandhawking their wares, some genuine, some ing performance as the dissolute Rev. T. bogus. Among the latter is one Professor Lawrence Shannon, Ross Valley Players’ justHarold Hill, purveyor of musical instruopened production of Tennessee Williams’ ments, band uniforms and associated items. The Night of the Iguana is an exceptional Everything about the man is phony, from example of community theater at its very his name to his academic background and best. All of the elements that contribute to a claimed musical knowledge, but the local successful revival of this 1961 Tony Awardfolk are easily charmed by someone who winner—from directorial restraint in scenes promises to inject some life into the town’s which could easily slide into sentimental sleepy atmosphere. When Hill’s fabrications melodrama, to the quality of the supportare exposed, there is a rush to judgment ing cast and atmospheric scenic values—are that evaporates when he is redeemed by present to a degree that is rare on professionlove for Marian Paroo, the local piano al stages, let alone in a venue where most of teacher, and the band he pledged to deliver the participants work for love of their craft magically appears to play a rousing chorus rather than ďŹ nancial reward. of “Seventy-Six Trombones.â€? But it’s Burke’s passionate embodiment of It’s all about nostalgia—and so is the a man who, like the tethered iguana scratchMountain Play production, which not only ing in the dust outside a decrepit Mexican celebrates Dunn’s lengthy involvement but tourist hotel, is literally at the end of his rope also features many of the people who have that gives the production its emotional heft. made it memorable. There’s Ken Rowland, For the iguana, torture and a cooking pot who contributes another in a long list of await. For Shannon, it’s a nightlong struggle impressive sets; Pat Polen, with her periodbetween Eros and Thanatos, with sanity appropriate costumes; Debra Chambliss, hanging in the balance. director of a backstage band whose sound This is not to say that all the credit keeps getting better and better; and Rick should go to Burke. Far from it. Among the Wallace, the choreographer who has masprincipals, Kristine Ann Lowry provides tered the art of dancing on dirt. a luminous portrayal of Hannah Jelkes, Among performers, only Robert Moor- the itinerant portrait artist whose gentle head (Harold Hill), a veteran of Woodmin- wisdom helps Shannon escape his demons. ster (East Bay) summer musicals, is a new- Wood Lockhart brings a touch of pathos as comer. Others among the principals will be Nonno, Hannah’s ailing poet grandfather. familiar to those who have attended previ- Cat Bish is the recently widowed blowsy/ ous shows: Susan Zelinsky busty Maxine, proprietress (she of the marvelous voice) of the hotel, whose cure NOW PLAYING as Marian, always hilarious for what ails Shannon is a The Music Man runs through Randy Nazarian (Marcellus couple of tropical cockJune 17 in the Cushing Washburn), Sharon Bouchtails, followed by sweaty Memorial Amphitheatre er (Eulalie Shinn), Stephen rolling around on whatatop Mt. Tamalpais. Dietz (Mayor Shinn). That’s ever at surface presents Information: 415/383-1100 only a beginning—the cast itself. The expert staging is or www.mountainplay.org. numbers 54! Mix all this asby Cris Cassell, Malcolm The Night of the Iguana sembled talent with a brilRodgers contributes a ďŹ neruns through June 17 in liant spring sun, fresh air, a ly detailed set design and the Barn Theatre, Marin Art picnic lunch, and gorgeous Ellen Brooks is responsible and Garden Center, Ross. views and you have the perfor the spot-on lighting. < Information: 415/456-9555, or www.rossvalleyplayers.com. fect recipe for a relaxing Charles Brousse can be reached at outing “on the mountain.â€? cbrousse@juno.com

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