Shirley Jones and The Music Man Wows the Music Circus Audience
A Review by Ken Kiunke
Staff Writer
When I was in fourth grade, a TV show debuted that instantly became my favorite. Imagine a musical family where everyone was part of a rock band, they lived in a suburban house and traveled to gigs in a psychedelic bus. I was hooked, and never missed a Partridge Family episode. Keith was cool, but he was really there for the girls. I was just getting old enough to think Laurie was amazing, but I really identified with Danny; he was about my age and shared my sarcastic sense of humor. Chris and Tracy were...Chris and Tracy. But that family had the coolest mom ever on TV. Shirley Partridge, as played by Shirley Jones, was a smart, funny, loving mom, who joined in her kids' dream of becoming a rock group, and then made it happen! She was there to raise her kids as a single parent, but she also became one of them, even playing second fiddle to her son, the acknowledged group leader and songwriter. Only later did I come to know Shirley Jones as a romantic leading lady herself. I came to appreciate her beauty and voice in Oklahoma!, Carousel, and of course, as Marian the Librarian in the 1962 film the Music Man. Photo by Charr Crail: Shirley Jones as Mrs. Paroo
So it was much to my delight that the California Musical Theater brought Shirley Jones back to The Music Man, not as Marian, but as her mother, the widow Paroo. As a bonus, her son, Patrick Cassidy (David's kid brother) is playing the lead role of Professor Harold Hill. The show is at The Music Circus at the Wells Fargo Pavilion in downtown Sacramento, a unique theater experience, presented “in the round”, with a circular stage, orchestra pit on one side, and four main aisles that the performers use to enter and exit the stage, often performing from the aisles amid the audience. With just over 2000 seats surrounding the stage, there is not a bad seat in the house. Courtesy Photo: The Music Circus at the Wells Fargo Pavilion in Sacramento
The Music Man originally opened on Broadway in 1957, winning several Tony awards, including Best Musical. With music and lyrics written by Meredith Willson, it is probably the best non Rogers and Hammerstein musical of the mid 20th Century. It tells the story of a shifty salesman coming to the small Iowa town of River City, convincing everyone that the town needs a boys marching band, and selling them instruments, uniforms, and instruction books. His goal is to have a quick fling, collect his cash, and get out of town before anyone realizes he doesn't know the first thing about music. But then boy meets girl, girl rejects boy at first...and, well, you know the rest.
Robert Preston played Professor Harold Hill in both the original play and in the 1962 movie. Preston wasn't a great singer, but Willson felt he could handle such fast songs as “Ya Got Trouble”, and act the charming con man. He made the role his own, and it became his signature part and personality; it seemed that all his other parts from then on had a little of Professor Hill in them. Though no one can ever live up to Robert Preston's Harold Hill, Patrick Cassidy does an admirable interpretation. Like Preston, he is not a great singer, but he can more than handle the songs of the Music Man, and plays a convincing sweet talking con man. Only in the song “Till There Was You” might you wish for a stronger leading man voice. But Cassidy does a great job with songs like the iconic “Seventy-Six Trombones” and “Gary Indiana”, while his smooth acting and sly facial expressions keep you half for him and half against him the whole time. Photo by Charr Crail: Patrick Cassidy as Harold Hill and the company in the Music Circus production of “The Music Man”
Brandi Burkhardt plays the conflicted Marian Paroo, who initially distrusts Hill, but then comes over to him in the end when she sees the good in what he has brought to her town and family. She has a wonderful voice, which she shows off in “Goodnight My Someone”, “Till There Was You” and many other songs. It must be a bit intimidating to play Marian while Shirley Jones is on stage with you, but Burkhardt shines, and there are some very nice moments when they get to sing together. And of course Jones plays the supporting part of Marian's mother, and though she doesn't have a lot of singing parts, she makes the most of them. She still has a nice voice, and is always a radiant presence when on stage, whether singing, reacting, or even just sitting with the crowd. Photo by Charr Crail: (L to R) Shirley Jones, Carter Thomas and Brandi Burkhardt
I am a sucker for a good Barbershop Quartet, and the inclusion of the quartet in The Music Man is what lifts it from a good musical to a great one. One of the most sublime moments in all of musical theater is when the quartet sings “Lida Rose” joined by Marian singing “Will I Ever Tell You”. The two songs blend together beautifully, and Burkhardt's voice floats effortlessly above the sweet harmonies of the quartet (J.D. Daw, Jack Doyle, Michael Dotson and Joseph Torello.) Like a Greek chorus, the quartet floats in an out of the show throughout, and are countered by the “Pick-a-little, Talk-a-little” ladies playing the busybody gossips of the town.
Carter Thomas plays ten-year-old Winthrop Paroo, Marian's lisping little brother, and surprises everyone with such a great voice from such a young performer. His biography shows, however, that he is stage veteran, and it is no surprise based on his performance. Michael McGurk as Tommy and Bradley Benjamin as Zaneeta (Ye Gods!) lead the young cast, whose dancing is a highlight of the ensemble scenes, and serve as the youthful romantic counterpoint to Harold and Marian. Marcellus, the only one who knows Hill's real identity, is played by a fun Jason Graae, though he looks and sounds nothing like Buddy Hackett, who played the part in the film. His character leads the ensemble in the wacky and wild “Shipoopi” opening act 2. And Kevin Cooney keeps the laughs going as the tongue-tied mayor who is always after Professor Hill. Photo by Charr Crail: Michael McGurk and Bradley Benjamin as Tommy Djilas and Zaneeta Shinn
The show drew a standing ovation as soon as Shirley Jones took her bows. And maybe it was just opening night, or maybe they will do this for every show (SPOILER ALERT!) but Jones followed the ovations with a story of when she was filming the movie and found she was pregnant with Patrick. It was kept a secret at the time, but during her embrace with Preston on the footbridge, the baby kicked and Preston felt it right in the gut. Cassidy then shared that when they later met, Preston backed off saying they had met once before. Shirley and Patrick then sang “Till There Was You” for a sweet ending to a wonderful show. Photo by Charr Crail: Patrick Cassidy as Harold Hill and the company in the Music Circus production of “The Music Man” at the Wells Fargo
Pavilion
The Music Man runs at the Wells Fargo Pavilion music Circus through August 5th. For tickets and information, www.CaliforniaMusicalTheatre.com. Music Circus productions are performed at the Wells Fargo Pavilion, 1419 H Street in downtown Sacramento. This season continues with Fiddler on the Roof (August 14 – 19) and Crazy for You (August 28 – September 2). Performances are Tuesday through Sunday evenings with matinees on Thursday and Saturday. Tickets start at $30 online at www.tickets.com or can be purchased in person at the Wells Fargo Pavilion Box Office. For more information, and group rates you may visit www.SacramentoMusicCircus.com or phone (916) 557-1999.
Back to Top
