Suzart’s “The Music Man” spreads a glow of excitement.

Sign for the production.

The Suzart slogan of “If you can dream it, you can do it” is a partial explanation of the reason that the company is successful in mounting ambitious, large-cast musicals that aim to entertain whole families on stage and off.

In the case of Meredith Willson’s 1957 musical The Music Man, director Kraig Paul Proulx, supported by musical director Mark Allen, the always resourceful set designer Elaine McCausland and costume designer Ingrid Hunt, brings a delightful warmth to the story of con man Harold Hill.

Hill’s goal of cheating the townsfolk is tripped up by romance, while he promotes the “think system” to develop a band. Strange to tell, after a summer of dreaming it, the band members find they can do it.

In the title role, Scott Shepherd is convincing in his characterization, while Madeline Busby as his love interest, Marian the librarian, is particularly noteworthy for her beautiful singing voice. (Greater contrast between her early primness — her hair in a bun, for instance — and her later blossoming with love would have helped to make her softening towards Hill even more believable.)

Griffin Brown is moving as Marian’s younger brother Winthrop, especially in expressing such joy at seeing his cornet and in singing Gary, Indiana.

Lesley Hammil is very funny in her exaggerated movements as the pretentious wife of the mayor and Gerry Jacques, though often hard to understand, is suitably blustery as the mayor.

Also noteworthy are the singing of the barbershop quartet and the movement of some of the dancers in the chorus, particularly Megan Hulan.

Although there were some problems with sound and other occasional glitches, the glow of enjoyment spread from stage to audience even without 76 Trombones marching through the auditorium (an impossibility in this space) as is usual in the finale of The Music Man.

Suzart Productions’ The Music Man played at Centrepointe’s Studio Theatre from December 3 to 6.

The Music Man

Book, music and lyrics by Meredith Willson

Suzart Productions

Director and choreographer: Kraig Paul Proulx

Musical director: Mark Allen

Set design and technical direction: Elaine McCausland

Sound: Shauna-Lee Thompson

Lighting: Jeff Schulz

Costumes: Ingrid Hunt

Cast:

Harold Hill………………………………………………Scott Shepherd

Marian Paroo…………………………………………….Madeline Busby

Mrs. Paroo……………………………………………….Holly Villeneuve

Winthrop Paroo………………………………………….Griffin Brown

Amaryllis………………………………………………..Maddie Fulford

Marcellus Washburn……………………………………Andrew Portolesi

Ethel Toffelmier………………………………………..Emily Seguin

Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn………………………………Lesley Hammil

Mayor Shinn…………………………………………….Gerry Jacques

Gracie Shinn…………………………………………….Kadence Bennett

Tommy…………………………………………………..Kieran Gerbis

Zaneeta Shinn……………………………………………Shira Silver

Jacey…………………………………………………….Dwayne Clipperton

Mrs. Squires…………………………………………….Shelagh St. John

Oliver……………………………………………………Jay Landreville

Alma……………………………………………………..Lynne Hamilton

Ewart…………………………………………………….Fenton Ho

Maud……………………………………………………Lynn Harper-Ciarroni

Olin……………………………………………………..Marc Seguin

Chorus: Isabella de Brienne, Zander Bone, Jenny Colbert, Katherine Colbert, Kate Featherston, Liam Gossom, Megan Hulan, Dahlia Meyer,Sophia Nikolakakos, Stella Puttick, Jason Sedlar, Andrew Simpson, Bella Szpala, Lizziee Warland, Reegan Woods

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