by JESSICA SAnTInA
We’ve got
issues.
Band aid
Thank you, Marian Paroo (Abby Rosen) and Mrs. Paroo (Melodie Gander), for having helped us forget about the elections for a couple of hours. PHOTO/ERIC MARKS
His job is made all the easier by the gullibility of the locals—from Mayor Shinn (Daniel Owens) and his vain wife, Eulalie A good musical is a balm for the soul, Mackecknie Shinn (Morgan Moesinnger), enveloping you in merriment and scrubto the bickering school board members bing away the hard edges of the real whose repeated attempts to shut Hill down world. As the election cycle comes to its are derailed by his constant encouragement bitter, misery-inducing conclusion, and my to sing. But one person isn’t impressed by personal stress is at its peak, I needed the Hill—River City’s librarian and resident escape of an evening wrapped in the warm music teacher, Marian Paroo (Abby Rosen). blanket of The Music Man, on stage now And as Hill works hard to sway her, she at the University of Nevada, Reno. eventually stops digging in her heels, and Of course, any time you’re mounting a his affections stop being an act. musical that was a TonyUNR hits the right winning Broadway show notes with pitch-perfect and iconic film—could production elements, there be another Harold from Eve Allen’s stirring Hill besides Robert choreography to authenPreston?—you have your tic, turn-of-the-century work cut out for you. costuming, to a stage University of nevada, Reno Department of But as soon as the first featuring a revolving Theatre & Dance presents The Music Man at notes of “Rock Island,” riser that morphs into Redfield Proscenium Theatre at 7:30 p.m., the rhythmic a capella the Paroos’ home, a Oct. 26-29 and nov. 2-5 and 1:30 p.m. Oct. overture, came pattering 30. Tickets are $5-20. Call 775-784-4444 or romantic footbridge, visit www.mynevadatickets.com. out, I knew this train a town square and would easily carry me the local library. I’m away with it to River equally impressed by City, Iowa. director Rob Gander’s ability to coax On that train is “Professor” Harold Hill, comedic timing, fine acting, impressive known throughout the Midwest as a gradedancing and singing from his actors, A huckster whose “bang beat bell-ringin” some of whom are children. The smallest has left a swath of empty pockets and touches—Midwestern accents and subtle broken hearts. Jason Pitak plays the iconic gestures—all combine for an effect that con man who arrives in River City claiming truly transports the audience. to have the cure to all the town’s ills—the Rosen’s voice in particular is strikingly tools for forming a boys’ marching band. In beautiful. Gander couldn’t have found a truth, he plans to swindle them out of their better Marian. The school board singers uniform-and-instrument money without (Camden Mauer, Thomas Chubb, Sam ever teaching them a note. Crabtree and Matthew Simmons) are rousAfter bumping into Marcellus (Malivai ingly good. Are all vocal performances as Meyer), an old friend who’s acquainted iron clad? Not necessarily. But what Pitak’s with—and admiring of—Hill’s scheming Harold Hill and other performers may lack ways and who gives him the tip that the in raw vocal ability, they make up for with town’s billiard hall just purchased a new charm, wit and lots of enthusiasm, and I pool table, Hill has all the ammo he needs totally bought what they were selling. to strike fear of “Trouble in River City” As the curtain comes down on River into the hearts of all and easily sell them on City, you’ll certainly find yourself wishing his band con. life was more like a musical. Ω
The Music Man
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10.27.16
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