The premise is simple: a traveling salesman calling himself Professor Harold Hill and known among other salesmen as "the music man" convinces a small town in Iowa that the new pool table in their billiards hall spells trouble, and the only way to protect their way of life is to keep the youths of town busy by buying them musical instruments from him.
Not only do they buy the instruments, but they also buy band uniforms and instructional booklets, with the promise that Hill will teach the children how to play. He does this in every town he visits, fleeing the moment the money is collected. But what happens if the instruments arrive before he can make his escape?
Tiffan Borelli is wonderful as Marian Paroo, town librarian and piano teacher who sees right through Hill and his lies. Despite knowing Hill is a charlatan, and disliking his persistent pursuit of her, Marian suddenly falls for him when her shy brother is vocally excited about his new instrument -- even though she knows Hill will never teach the boy to play it. Borelli rises to the challenge this character brings, using her strong, clear voice to convince audiences that Hill will have found his match with the independent Marian.
Tiffan Borelli as Marian and Jason Ostrowski as Harold Hill
Despite his flaws, it's no wonder why Marian falls for this music man. With the smile and charm of Gilderoy Lockhart, Jason Ostrowski's version of Hill could sell a glass of water to a drowning man. In his song "The Sadder-But-Wiser Girl" we learn that Hill enjoys the company of more worldly girls because they don't have the expectations that innocent girls have. Yet somehow he still manages to win us and Marian over during the song "Marian the Librarian" even though the whole time he is flirting with the clearly annoyed Marian, who is trying to work. Without Ostrowski's charm, the role of Hill would fall flat, and audiences would surely be silently hoping the louse would be tarred and feathered in the final act of the show.
Hill's old friend and sales-associate Marcellus Washburn is skillfully played by Michael Perrie, Jr., providing Hill with a funny sidekick to run his schemes by. In a dream world, Theatre By the Sea would cast Borelli as the talented Kathy Selden, Ostrowski as the dashing Don Lockwood, and Perrie as the hilarious Cosmo Brown in a production of Singin' in the Rain.
As always, the Theatre By the Sea's children performers are fantastic. Bobbie Celine Doherty is Amaryllis, who has a crush on Marian's little brother Winthrop, played by Patrick Conaway. Both young actors have a lot to be proud of in this production.
Borelli as Marion and Doherty as Amaryllis
Last, but certainly not least, is the four men who at the end of the day steal the show every time they're on stage together. The barbershop quartet of Joe Connelly (as Ewart Dunlop June 21-July 2), Jamie Jones (as Jacey Squires), Mike Maino (as Olin Britt), and Bob O'Connell (as Oliver Hix) are fantastic, as well as funny. Their songs include "Goodnight Ladies," and "Lida Rose," which audiences will surely be humming for days after seeing the show.
Jamie Jones (as Jacey Squires), Chad Putka (as Ewart Dunlop July 5-15), Mike Maino (as Olin Britt), and Bob O'Connell (as Oliver Hix).
During opening night, owner Bill Hanney announced the 2018 musical season, which will be Ain't Misbehaving, Mamma Mia, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Chicago. Additionally, the theatre announced that they are currently collecting musical instruments for donation to the Rhode Island Rhythm and Blues Preservation Society's Instruments for Children Scholarship Program, which provides instruments to children. Anyone wishing to donate an instrument should bring them to the lobby during a show.
The Music Man is playing at Theatre By the Sea Tuesday's through Sundays until July 15th; tickets are $46-72, show times vary. For tickets, contact the box office at 401-782-8587, or visit their website at http://www.theatrebythesea.com.
Photos by Steven Richardson Photography
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