By Alayna Een
Meredith Wilson’s The Music Man has delighted audiences since its debut in 1957, and for a limited time, South Jordan City, Utah, has become River City, Iowa, as the South Jordan Community Center presents The Music Man. Director Shawn Kidd drew inspiration for the look and feel of the famed (and fictional) River City, Iowa, from Main Street USA in Disneyland. And the fashionable facades of the storefronts and beautifully patterned wallpaper in the train car and homes add to the charm and magic of the city and the show as a whole. But no Main Street USA is complete without its Dapper Dans, and the school board-turned-barbershop quartet (Jake Hendriksen, Todd Horne, Ben Slaugh, and Jason Eldredge) certainly fits the bill. I was delightfully surprised to see the parts split up differently than I would have expected, and I was fully captivated by their performance every time they came onstage, but especially in “Lida Rose.” And the school board morphs more into a barbershop with each successive number, thanks to the clever costuming of (Nicole Scoubes). Once the stage and ambiance are successfully set, the brightly colored and beautifully tailored costumes finish the transformation, making the performance a visual treat as well as a musical one.
The ensemble in this show is diverse and strong, with citizens of all ages joining in the singing and dancing in old favorites such as “Iowa Stubborn” and “Wells Fargo Wagon” (which features a cleverly contrived miniature horse and cart). Many of the musical numbers had specific dance breaks, and the talented River City Teens really made Tara Richardson’s choreography shine. The Pick-a-little Ladies may seem frilly, but they’re the real backbone of the town. Their crisp, syncopated chatter in “Pick-A-Little, Talk-A-Little” is impressive, their Grecian urn interpretive dancing brims with well-controlled comedic movements, and their ultimate acceptance of Marian is truly touching.
The infamous Harold Hill is played by Nate Hallett. This fast-talking salesman is a difficult role to capture, but Hallett has all the right rhythm and connects well with the adorable River City kids (Henry Davies, Abigail Lash, Eliza Lash, Finley Pearson-Terry, and Brynn Gwilliam), who happily march along with their hoodwinking band director. Todd Davies’s Marcellus Washburn is especially engaging and fun to watch in group numbers in addition to being compelling in his individual scenes. He is an excellent accomplice to Harold Hill’s high jinks and a humorous counter to Tess Barth’s sweet and straightforward Ethel Toffelmier of player piano fame. Tyler Atkinson plays Tommy Djilas, the rebel who is given a cause, and he captures both the energetic ruffian and lovestruck teen elements of this character. Atkinson and Hannah Church (Zaneeta Shinn) make a delightful dancing couple and a charming pair, with Church’s doe-eyed doting and energetic “Ye gods!”
The no-nonsense Marian is a recognizable and demanding role that requires a clear, semi-operatic vocal style, and Amy Garrard does not disappoint! Her beautiful voice and reserved mannerisms bring this madam librarian to life, and the stunning sincerity she shows in “My White Night” is a musical highlight. Nicole Scoubes (Mrs. Paroo) is every bit the feisty but kind-hearted Irish lady you hope to see in a performance of The Music Man. She has authentic connections with her onstage children, Garrard and Ethan Warren (Winthrop Paroo), and the trio’s “Gary, Indiana” is a tender highlight of the show. This production is Ethan Warren’s theatrical debut, but I hope it won’t be long before we see him onstage again. He was absolutely charming as the shyly lisping and then brave and blossoming Winthrop. And Ella Larson is a picture-perfect Amaryllis, the piano not-quite prodigy who is sweet on Winthrop.
Eulalie MacKecknie Shinn, the stern matron of society who is easily flattered by Harold Hill, is brought to life by Rosalie Richards. She regally leads the Pick-a-little Ladies and other townsfolk in conjunction with her silly onstage husband, Mayor Shinn. It takes a good actor to be believably incompetent and fantastically flabbergasted, and Ross Reeder’s Mayor Shinn is exactly that.
The crew’s excellent execution and direction allowed the actors to shine, and the show continues smoothly from one scene to another, thanks to Kevin Van Noy (Stage Manager), Heather Smith (Production Manager), Josh Collings (Sound), and James Cox (Lighting). And the final scene, with each youngster dressed in uniform and proudly puffing on one instrument or another, each mother loudly praising the noisy performance, and the main couple securely held in each other’s arms, would melt the hearts of even the hardest of salesmen-hating audience members. This family-friendly production is running until July 13, 2022, in South Jordan, Utah. So if you’re in the mood for a fun community production, you really ought to give South Jordan City’s The Music Man a try!
South Jordan City and South Jordan Community Center Present The Music Man. Book, Music, and Lyrics by Meredith Wilson, story by Meredith Wilson and Franklin Lacey.
South Jordan Community Center, 10778 S Redwood Rd, South Jordan, UT 84095
Tickets: July 7–13, $8 General admission
City of South Jordan Website
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