The musical “The Music Man” has a special place in my heart for many reasons. It has a comfortable feeling to it, like an old friend who tells great stories coming over for a visit. It takes us back to an easier, simpler time which may have not existed, but we think of it with longing. And it reminds us of the joy we feel when hearing music that makes us want to march and sing along. These reasons and more make me happy I saw Rockwall Summer Musicals production of Meredith Willson’s great American musical. The cast wonderfully conveys all the energy and nostalgia which make this musical a classic and makes for an evening of rousing entertainment.

Meredith Willson’s homage to his home state of Iowa tells the story of Harold Hill (Erik Segovia), a flim-flam man who has found a profitable niche by selling boys’ bands to unsuspecting town and skipping town once he gets the money in his hands. After hearing a salesman (Jacob Thomas) on a train say that even a con artist like Harold Hill couldn’t make a sale in Iowa, Harold gets off at the River City station to take the Challenge. What follows is a tale of deception and transformation. Harold Hill moves from seeing the citizens as chumps and the local librarian/Music Teacher (Kally Duncan) as one of a long line of brief dalliances to feeling, for the first time perhaps, the twinges of a conscience. And the rownspeople of River City change also from a place where everyone knows each other but doesn’t necessarily like each other to a town where all are valued. And along the way we get some great music to tap our feet to and hum along with.

As with most musicals, it has a large cast and I would think it would be an impossible task to direct so many people. Barbara Doudt has done an admirable job in pacing the show and in creating good stage pictures with her actors. She understands the energy needed to drive the action and this production exudes it in every scene. The choreography by Suzanne Toler is fun. I especially enjoyed the work in “Marian the Librarian” which goes from library silence to wild dancing and concludes with “Shhhhhhh!). All the group numbers are very well done, and all the dancers shine in “Seventy-six Trombones” and “Shipoopi” to name two more songs.

This is set in middle America, circa 1912, and the costumes, designed by Maureen Cruz, believably take us there with the hats, coats and skirts of the period. I would have been happy with more sets of knickerbockers, but that is my problem. Set designer Phyllis Johnson created a wonderful main street River City with a midwestern feel to it, using backdrops to hide set changes while the action continues allows the show to flow easily from scene to scene. From Mrs. Paroo’s parlor, to the Madison gymnasium, and the simple and elegant foot bridge set, all had a comfortable and welcoming feeling to them. Tamara Harris’ lighting provides the appropriate atmosphere for the proceedings.

The orchestra, conducted by Melissa Williams, kept the show going with flair. With numbers going from the deceptively simple “Rock Island” where the lyrics are spoken to the rhythm of the train to the brassiness of “Seventy-six Trombones” and on to the tenderness of “Goodnight My Someone” and “Till There Was You”, the orchestra supported every song with skill.

Eric Segovis has the necessary swagger and confidence as Harold Hill. Mr. Segovis seemed to emphasize the confidence-man side to the character and sometimes lacked the bluster and energy needed to come across as a “spellbinder”, to use the mayor’s word for him. He is a very likeable actor with a very good voice and he moves with ease and precision. In the end, he won my heart, along with the heart of everyone in the audience. It is a very good performance of a monumental role.

The town librarian and music teacher, Marian Paroo, is beautifully played by Kally Duncan. Going credibly from an icily reserved critic of Harold Hill in the beginning to falling in love with him and facing the future with a worldlier view than Harold. Marian comes across as the stronger character because of Ms. Duncan’s performance. This musical has two gorgeous songs in “Goodnight My Someone” and “Till There Was You” and Kally Duncan more than does them justice with her crystal-clear voice. I also enjoyed the duet with Marion’s mother (played with the proper Irish accent by Mary Duncan, Ms. Duncan’s real-life mother) “The Piano Lesson”.

Marion’s brother Winthrop is winningly played by Aidan Ragsdale with lisp and all and sings his two main numbers with gusto. Hunter Lewis is an endearing Marcellus Washburn, a former colleague of Harold Hill (who Marcellus calls “Gregory”) but now he walks the straight and narrow. Mr. Marcellus has a good singing voice and with his energy helps us join in on the fun of the song “Shipoopi”. Linda Vaughan has a wonderful time with the role of Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn, the mayor’s wife. I must commend her and all the women in Eulalie’s dance troupe for some of the funniest dance moves and facial expressions I have seen in quite some time. They were wonderful.

My thanks to the entire cast for providing a strong and heart-felt production of one of my favorite musicals. My wife and I had a lovely evening. I hope this review helps in some small way to get a good crowd for your closing weekend. You certainly deserve it.

THE MUSIC MAN
Presented by Rockwall Summer Musicals
August 10-12 & 17-19, 2018
August 17 & 18 – 7:30PM
August 19 – 2:00PM
Performances at Rockwall High School Performing Arts Center
At Herman E. Utley Middle School
1201 T L Townsend Dr, Rockwall, TX 75087
For Tickets and Information go to
RockwallSummerMusicals.org