This Week in Palm Springs
Special Events
08/05/2010 - Idyllwild Summer Concert
08/05/2010 - Ringo Starr/All Starr Band
08/07/2010 - Tribute to Nickelback
08/07/2010 - Rob Thomas
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 "The Music Man"Palm Canyon Theatre Palm Springs October 9, 2009 By Jack Lyons, Palm Springs Guides Theatre and Cinema Critic/Reviewer Iowa’s “Music Man” Lands in Palm Springs What is it about mid –America and its the down-to-earth-values that seem to set people yearning for a time in the past, a time in a gentler and simpler America, when the country rewarded hard work and honesty, honored traditions, and genuinely valued family and a sense of community? The larger question is: Are those times and values really a thing of the past? I don’t think so. Of course, charming rogue types like composer Meredith Wilson’s iconic traveling salesman/con man, Professor Harold Hill, will always be with us. The notable difference is today they’re working the Internet or Wall Street instead of the Iowa prairie landscape of 1912.. Whether it’s 1912 or 2009, it’s still “Buyer Beware” in America. The Palm Canyon Theatre of Palm Springs mounts a handsome looking production with a cast of more than thirty-six performers under the direction of Scott Smith. The now familiar story basically concerns con man Harold Hill (Dane Whitlock), who poses as a young person’s band organizer and leader selling band instruments and uniforms to naïve townsfolk before skipping town with their cash. When Hill, having just fleeced half of Illinois, lands in River City, Iowa, a prim Marian the town’s librarian (Se Layne) sees through him, but when Hill helps her younger brother Winston (Jeremiah Rhoads), Marian begins to develop feelings for Harold. Harold, in turn begins to return the feelings; falling in love with her. It’s a case of can the lovely young librarian reform a scoundrel of a con man and find true love in the Midwest? It’s light and frothy stuff with touches of romance, comedy, and it brims with a multitude of clever and wonderful songs. How wonderful? Enough to run on Broadway for 3 and half years! Songs like: “Ya Got Trouble, Right Here, In River City”, “Goodnight My Someone”, “76 Trombones”, “Marian The Librarian”, “My White Knight”, “Lida Rose”, “Til There Was You”, and others which are still favorites on radios all over America. With such a large cast, it’s impossible to list them all, however, Steve Fisher as the Mayor, Tom Warrick as an old friend of Harold Hill, Terry Huber as Charlie Cowell, a fellow traveling salesman who has the goods on Hill and willing to tell all, Wendy Cohen as Marian’s mother, Pat Melvin as the Mayor’s wife, and Art Healey as Ewart Dunlop, leader of the Babershop Quartette, have nice moments. Se Layne, always a delight to see and hear as Marian, and Dane Whitlock, as a scampish Professor Harold Hill, head the cast. In the technical credits department the Set and Lighting Design by J.W. Layne is up to his usual high standards of quality and functionality, which allows the dancers, singers and actors the room they need to perform. However, the same cannot be said for the sound quality. If the producers are going to“mike” their performers, then for heaven sake, make sure they work properly. The popping sound I heard, off and on, all night intrudes in all the wrong places. Derik Shopinski’s costumes, however, have a nice rural Early- American look to them, and the hats look good too. “The Music Man” performs Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, through October 25th. Call the box office for tickets and information at 323-5123. Thank you Palm Canyon Theatre for a great program. For more information about the Palm Canyon Theatre and future productions, click here. | |||||||
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