The Music Man

Last night David and I saw Meredith Wilson's The Music Man at the Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield. I saw the amazing Broadway production of this in 1957, which makes it difficult for me to review this production without vivid memories of the original.

Robert Preston was 'The Music Man' and went on to play the role again in the film version. Last night Rylan Morsbach took the role and did a very good job with it. He's a little young for the part, but so was  much of the rest of the cast.

    Rylan Morsbach

Kalyn Altmeyer was good as Mrs. Paroo, but also looked too young, more like Marian's sister than her mother.

  Kalyn Altmeyer

As Marian, Haley Aguero just couldn't hold a candle to Barbara Cook, who just retired from performing at age 89.  Ms. Aguero's voice has a flutter that seems persistent and bothered this voice teacher. But then, who could sound as good as Barbara Cook?

  Haley Aguero

The rest of the cast performed their roles well. I must point out Zack Marshall who played the parts of Jacey Squires and was the top voice in the Barbershop Quartet. Zack has just begun vocal study with me and is a musical scholar with the Ferris Burtis Foundation. He has a fine voice: a baritone, but he did the top part in the Quartet in a very acceptable falsetto.

The production was directed by Travis G. Daly.

Lots of eager children in the cast which made for a delightful evening.