Lcp’s ‘music man’ marches on with verve

By MARILYN JOZWIK

Published Oct. 1, 2019

It’s hard not to think about Robert Preston when seeing a production of “The Music Man.” Who can’t hear Preston’s distinctive voice as he charms his way through the stubborn Iowans, trying to convince them to buy instruments and uniforms for a youth band that he’ll lead? And he doesn’t know a single note of music!

Meredith Willson – and Franklin Lacey’s – story contains so many scenes that are simply unforgettable. Plus, there are all those Willson tunes and lyrics familiar to so many, including “Good Night, My Someone” and “76 Trombones” (with identical melodies at different tempos), “Shipoopi,” “Till There Was You” and “The Wells Fargo Wagon,” not to mention all the barbershop quartet tunes like “Lida Rose.”

Lake Country Playhouse, under the direction of J.W. Anderson, presents the show with Jim Skiba as Prof. Harold Hill. Skiba is no Preston clone. No, Skiba has his own unique skill set, creating an unforgettable character who is slick, slippery and smarmy.

Most everyone is familiar with “(Ya Got) Trouble” scene, in which Hill manufactures a problem – the presence of a pool table in town that will lead to youth degradation – that he can fix by starting a  wholesome youth band. Skiba’s Hill nimbly navigates the fast-moving lyrics as he slithers his way through the townsfolk, not missing any effective pauses, gestures or inflections. Once Skiba aced that early test, you knew the show was in good hands.

Even before we meet the professor (we first see him hiding behind a newspaper on the train to River City), we meet Charlie Cowell (Jeffrey Seelig) and several other traveling salesmen in a cleverly done scene (“Rock Island”) with rolling scenery as a backdrop to the men bouncing and swaying in unison to the railcar’s motions. With no musical cues, the men kept up their chatter with the familiar refrain of “and he doesn’t know the territory” with just a couple of nearly imperceptible bobbles. It was a visually impressive scene, nicely executed by the fellows.

Skiba’s Hill is wonderfully paired with Amanda Satchell as Marian Paroo, the town librarian and spinster Hill is after. We saw Satchell recently as Donna in LCP’s “Mamma Mia!” and she again displayed pitch perfect pipes and a professional operatic quality to go along with a marvelous characterization. Satchell also served as the show’s music director.

Satchell is nicely expressive as she gradually melts Marian’s icy façade toward Hill. Marian knows he’s a fraud, but she also realizes his scheme has given the town and its young people a shot in the arm. I loved how she kept dancing with Hill in the early library scene, wincing at the involuntary cavorts.

As Marcellus, Hill’s sidekick, Zachary Klahn is wonderfully expressive. When he reunites with Hill, his face lights up with genuine delight at Hill’s schtick. As always, Rebecca Richards adds her fine comedic talents to her Mrs. Paroo role, and a convincing Irish brogue.

This is a fine cast with many young people who inject lots of youthful energy into the show, especially through their very capable dancing under choreographer Parker Cristan’s tutelage. A real crowd-pleaser was the “Shipoopi” dance number that showcased this fine group, who kept their leg kicks and lifts high and even added some impressive gymnastics. The young men, including Sam Dembiac as Tommy Djilas, provided great support for the female ensemble. Dembiac was joined by Demi Dieringer – his girlfriend in real life – as his onstage gal, Zaneeta Shinn, and they proved an appealing pair.

We’ve learned in recent years that no musical is too big for Lake Country Playhouse. Who would think that they could recreate the taverna and the Greek Island setting for “Mamma Mia!” and who would think the tiny LCP stage could be turned into all those wonderful locations in River City – the Paroo home, Madison Gymnasium and Library and, of course, the scene of the lovely “Till There was You,” The Footbridge, a clever, multi-purpose – though a bit shaky – structure that even rotated!

As with “Mamma Mia!” Terri Field provided the marvelous set design, while Linda Sheremeta created appropriate costuming for the 1912 Midwest setting.

Just a few minor flaws including a somewhat noisy set change distracting from Satchell’s beautiful rendition of “Goodnight, My Someone.” Also, while the mayor’s four henchmen-turned-barbershop quartet provided a good sound, tenor Thomas Hess maintained a high-pitched, squeaky speaking voice throughout that proved a bit annoying. Although it would have been nice to have live music, instead of canned. Yet I understand that the small staging area simply could not give up that space for musicians.

It should have been noted in the program or pre-show announcements that Michael Crowley was playing the role of Mayor Shinn – a rather large role -- rather than Kelly Vance, who was credited in the program.

Nonetheless, this is a marvelous, faithful rendition of one America’s most beloved musicals.

If you go:

Who: Lake Country Playhouse

What: “The Music Man”

When: Through Oct. 13

Where: 221 E. Capitol Drive, Hartland

Tickets/Info: www.lakecountryplayhousewi.org