Venue: The Vancouver Playhouse, Hamilton Street
Date(s): November 19 - December 15, 2001
Reviewer: Jane Penistan
All the elements of a good musical comedy are here in spades in this
splendid production of The Music Man. Director, Michael Shamata pulls out all the stops and is aided and abetted by a large cast of dedicated dancing and singing actors, and by an orchestra perfectly in tune with the romantic comedy.
Internationally known Jeff Hyslop charms his way to all hearts as Henry Hill, the dream making Music Man, while his magical flying feet bewitch and bedazzle.
The good folk of River City, Iowa, fall for this enchanting visitor, as he brings so much inspiration and excitement to their humdrum existence. These people all love music and practice it in various forms, from Marian the Librarian, (Rebecca Poff), who also gives piano
lessons to the local children and sings like an angel, to crusty
suspicious Mayor Shin (Kevin McNulty) and dogged Constable Locke/Charlie Cowell (Dean Paul Gibson).
The school board bursts into the harmonies of a Barbershop quartet at the drop of a note, while their wives and daughters sing and dance given any opportunity. As for the children, who aspire to be big band
leaders, a more professional chorus line would be hard to find.
Glynis Leyshon's warm, maternal Mrs Paroo is a wise though romantic, stable figure in the midst of all the chaos the Music Man manages to stir up among the good citizens while he quietly evades trouble. He is ably assisted by his old buddy, Marcellus Washburn, beautifully played and danced by Shawn Macdonald.
Under the direction of Lloyd Nicholson the orchestra performs with exhilaration and polish - here is a true collaboration with the cast.
The choreography of Lisa Stevens is witty and appropriate and impeccably danced.
If music alters mood, so too does light, and here the lighting is always in harmony with the other elements of this joyous entertainment.
Musical comedy is to be enjoyed and disbelief suspended.
Enjoy the Music Man before he leaves town.
The Music Man runs at the Vancouver Playhouse Theatre November 19 -
December 15, 2001, Monday through Saturday at 8.00pm, with matinees
every Saturday and selected Wednesdays at 2.00pm
Additional performances have been scheduled for Tuesday, December 18 at 8.00pm and Wednesday, December 19 at 2.00pm and 8.00pm.
Adult tickets range from $42.00 to $56.00, seniors from $36.00 to $48.00, students from $22.00 to $28.00. Rush tickets ($19.00) are available one hour before show time, subject to availability. Group rates are also available.
Additional performance ticket prices: Adult tickets range from
$42.00 to $51.00, Senior tickets range from $36.00 to $44.00, and
Student tickets range from $22.00 to 26.00. Rush tickets ($21.00) are
available one hour before show time, subject to availability. Group
rates are also available.
Monday nights talkback, following the show.
To order tickets contact The Playhouse Customer Service Office at 604-873-3311 or contact Ticketmaster at 604-280-3311
© 2001, Jane Penistan