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Also this issue: ICE, Baby Camping Trip Artsbeat To Sir, With Love Greek Tragedy |
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June 27-July 3, 2002
artpicks
If you feel like taking a drive on a summer weekend, you might as well take in a classic on the way. The Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope is mounting a three-week run of The Music Man, Meredith Willson's famous tale of con man Harold Hill (immortalized by Robert Preston in stage and film versions of the show), who comes to River City, Iowa, and tells the townspeople he wants to organize a marching band for the town's children. His swindle involves getting parents to pay him for uniforms and instruments that will never materialize, but this hardened crook hits a snag when he meets the town's lovely and lonely librarian, Marian. (His cool, wooing song to her, with its breathy chorus of "Marrrrrrrrrian, the librarrrrrrian" is one of the show's hits.) The Music Man has everything from barbershop quartets (the townsladies' hilarious gossiping in "Pickalittle" counterpointed by a gentlemanly chorus of "Goodnight, Ladies" or "Lida Rose") to sweet ballads ("Goodnight, My Someone" and "'Til There Was You") to sweeping production numbers ("76 Trombones," "Ya Got Trouble"). Bucks' production features Jim Lynch as Harold Hill and is directed by Michael Licata and choreographed by Stephen Casey. The show has seen a rise in popularity since Susan Stroman's recent Broadway revival with Will and Grace's Eric McCormack and then Robert Sean Leonard playing Hill. It's no wonder the show's still a hit -- even musical cynics have a hard time not tapping their toes through their snickers when the whole town sings the nonsensical "Shipoopi."
Through July 14, $20-$22, Bucks County Playhouse, 70 S. Main St., New Hope, 215-862-2041.
