Music Man Missing. Trombone and a Couple of Cornets

Retriever, September 12, 1978 9 oo~wa~w~ . Music Man missing. trombone and a couple of cornets By Sharon Adamitis There is something missing on the stage of the New Mechanic. Despite the presence of Meredith 'Willson's "The Music Man'' as the lead-off play in what promises to be an exciting 1978-79 season, and the talents of the ever-versatile Tony Randall, the magic is somehow not there. I'm talking ·about the magic that comes from an audience's total involvement and (considering this particular play's premise) total gullibility in what is happening on that stage. For this play to succeed as well as it can, that con-man extraordinaire, Harold 'Hill, has to put the audience, as well as the people of River City, Iowa, under his spell. We also have to believe that there are "seventy six trombones and a hundred and ten cornets close at hand." This particular production fails, not because of any fault in plot, which is still a lively blend of Iowa stubbmness confronted by the charming guile of the classic traveling salesman, and the changes both undergo as a result, but because of a number of minor ones. The first fault lies with the multi-talented Tony Randall. Here he sets out to prove just how talented he really is, and to a large degree, he is successful. But it is this success that probably diminishes rather than adds to his characterization of Harold Hill. For the non-singer he professes himself to be, he handles all his vocal tasks with a voice that is sure, strong an very melodic. His renclition of "Trouble~' in the first act is among the best, as is the famous "Seventy Six Trombones." And he is as nimble and light-footed as any dancer on the stage. as Marian Paroo, has problems to really quite dull, the costumes at times lisping Winthroop Paroo. Where Mr. Randall trips himself up is contend with that are largely beyond her uncoordinated (although happily the Perhaps the problem lies in attempt that in his efforts to prove his versatility, solving. She has many traits that should reverse was also true) and the dancing at ing to mount a production of a show that he adds character facets to the roguish have made this part a large success. her times uninvolving, and you have taken a is still a vivid memory t-o a large part of Hill that seem to diminish rather than voice (Peabody-trained) is strong, clear, little bit of the luster off of what is one of the audicence. No matter how good a job enhance his charm·. ·and beautifully resonant so that it is a joy the American musical stage's classics. you do, what you are ultimately The rascally charm that is capable of to hear her sing "Till There was You," competing against are not other shows, selling an entire band to an unsuspecting "My White Knight," and "Goo'dnight This is not to say that there were not but the sometimes over-glorified me public is there, yet Mr. Randall has also My Someone.'' Her acting is also moments that, because a song was mories of past performances and past added, at times, an elfin-life, almost capable of handling the outrage that especially well performed, a joke well productions of your show. spritely charm that is too fragile a thing soon melts into attraction under the spell told, a line precisely delivered that there What it takes to overcome this is for an opportunist like Harold Hill to of Harold Hill. But whether it was her wasn't a sort of magic. This was something happening on the stage that contend with. For Harold Hill, as wardrobe, especially her first costume, especially true of Mr. Randall's borders on almost absolute perfection. charming as he is, and must be, is or the fact that she was the only one on rendition of "Trouble," Jack Washburn No flaws allowed, however minor, that almost cold-bloodedly opportunistic. stage wearing ballet slippers, or her own as the lecherous salesman Charlie might intrude on the spell you are trying And it is only when he finally "gets his obvious maturity, the· resulting Marian Cowell, Marcie Stringer as the lively to conjure up. If you fail, what will foot caught in the door'' by falling in love Paroo, instead of being a maidenly Irish matron, Mrs. Paroo as well as happen is what happens here, the that he is capable of forgetting that fact. innocent, became a matronly one. Nancy Cushman as Eulalie MacKecknie audience is left at least one trombone Gaylea Byrne, who is appearing for Add this to the fact that the scenery Shinn, Barney Martin as ,Marcellus and a couple of cornets shy of what they the first time this week in this production was nothing more than functional and Washburn and Oliver Morris as the expect and deserve. Dan Hill Suffering love songs fill the night By Bari Bridge Still, his C!rtistic descriptions are really See" is not particularly subtle. And the his lyrics will want to stop and think about "Frozen in the Night" (20th Century Fox) worth listening to. Dan Hill paints lyrical tune of ''Till the Day I Die" will make you what he is saying. When you sit down to listen to Dan Hill's pictures of emotions that most people can think that you may just be listening to a understand, emotions that most people reproduction of "Sometimes When We If Dan Hill's writing can be classified latest release, "Frozen in the Night," you with Bruce Springsteen's, his singing will feel as if a personal message is being have felt. In "When the Hurt Comes" he Touch.'' However, some of the similarities sings in his songs do not weaken their emotional should be classified with Daryl Hall and delivered to you by a poet. The deep raspy John Oates'. His tunes are simple and low voice that brought you ''Sometimes When power. For example, when Dan Hill "When the hurt comes watches a girl grow up in "When the Hurt key, with variations in volume and tempo. We Touch" has filled a new album with You close your eyes The best tune can be found in the cut entitl mellow love songs, and has tied them Comes," it doesn't really seem to matter As if to drown out the pain that he already watched her grow up in ed "Friends" . which also happens to together with a theme: pain. You're losing a piece of your soul be the shortest cut. "When the Hurt "Now I know you've been hurt, you've Longer Fuse's "14 Today." And his con And you fight like a fool to find it again cern for Indian rights in "Indian Woman" Comes" will probably also appeal to your been Broken, " emotions. Life just ain't real without pain ... " is not affected by his concern for racial equality in "McCarthey's Day." The word "pain" appears on this album Many of the songs on "Frozen in the eleven times, and the word "hurt" appears Night" are almost identical to songs on The quality of Dan Hill's writing is a lot seven times, but Dan Hill sings Dan Hill's first album, "Longer Fuse." like the quality of Bruce Springsteen's "I'm s~ damn tired of hearing songs The resemblance between the titles "All I writing. His descriptions emphasize About pain . '' Can See is your Face" and "You are All I details, not facts, so that anybody reading .

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