06/21/2024
Today y Mañana Review: “The Music Man”
Today y Mañana fans are in for a treat, a new challenge, to walk out of the Paramount theater following the Charlottesville Opera’s performance of Meredith Wilson’s “the Music Man” without humming one of the many melodies that the wonderful orchestra, under the baton of conductor Brian DeMaris, tickled your ears with for the past two hours. Go ahead and try it.
In all seriousness, “The Music Man” is a family-friendly musical, filled with comedy, drama, and heartwarming moments strung together by jazzy music. The Charlottesville Opera produces yet another hit with their production, led by Daniel Belcher as Professor Harold Hill and Lindsay Ohse as Marian Paroo. Everything from the choral moments, led by Conductor Michael Slon, and the choreography, choreographed by Casey Turner, was simply magnificent.
LEADS: The stars of the show, Daniel Belcher and Lindsay Ohse, were veteran masters, and were marvelous singers, but the best part for me, was their electric chemistry together. It’s rare to see two performers with such harmonious personalities and singing styles.
DIRECTOR: Kathleen Belcher’s vision for the work was suffuse with nostalgia and joy. All the props and backdrops were a perfect blend of props and projection. There was no stiffness or stilted movements in the actors, not even from the child actors and singers who due to their inexperience can, on occasion, lead to some adorable but inauthentic moments. Quite to the contrary, the children were very natural and energetic and that translated so well to the audience that I found myself smirking through the whole performance.
Director Belcher’s eye for key moments definitely had its impact on the audience, as a seamless weaving of characters led to these beautiful tapestries of moments that really manifested Meredith Wilson’s musical work. Soloists popping out of the chorus was unbelievably organic. And what better compliment to an artist, like Kathleen Belcher, than to take something ordered and make it beautiful and yet seem completely natural?
STAGE PRODUCTION: The color scheme for the whole production really stood out to me for this performance. While not overbearing, the colored lights and use of projections against a simple backdrop of a barn door was brilliant. The scene truly transforms with a minimal amount of change, especially with the use of the colors which set the mood immediately for all the major scenes.
CONDUCTOR: Brian Demaris was a welcome return for lovers of musicals. His command of the orchestra, and his talent for highlighting the jovial orchestration of Wilson’s score while not overwhelming the rest of the orchestra is deserving of praise.
EMERGING ARTISTS: The Ader Emerging Artists program is paying off in dividends for the Charlottesville Opera. Everything from the supporting cast to the Barbershop Quartet is studded with future operatic stars and talented youths whose dedication to their craft is palpable in their performances. One can feel the enthusiasm and youthful vigor they bring to their parts, and one would be hard pressed to find a lackluster performance. I dare anyone to call these artists amateurs. They are anything but.
I'd especially like to point out the fun performances of Max Cook, Dylan Davis, Samuel Enriquez, and Adam Wells as the hilarious barbershop quartet who as a foursome were simply stunning, Edward Ferran whose performance of Marcellus Washburn nearly stole the show, and Janani Sridhar, who, as "the mayor's wife" commanded the stage with her hilarity.
SUMMARY: In conclusion, the Charlottesville Opera’s performance of “The Music Man” is a riot. It’s tremendous fun, filled with catchy tunes, great heartfelt moments, and a world of fun for children of all ages, including yours truly. You can be sure to catch me again at opening night and I hope to see you all there as well! Tickets are still available, so grab yours!
Definitely want to thank Dr. Leanne Pettite-Clement and Dr. Caroline Worra for their hard work and dedication
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