Theater Review: 'The Music Man' at Musicals at Richter

By Nancy Sasso Janis

“The Music Man” has come to town, this time as part of Musicals at Richter’s 2023 season. Meredith Willson’s classic musical is presented under the stars on the newly renovated stage in Danbury. David Halliwell, who has directed “Music Man” several times, directs at Richter for the first time. Halliwell was a founding director of Two Planks Theatre Company in Monroe and as an actor played Herr Schultz in Sherman Playhouse’s production of “Cabaret.”

David Henningsen Photography Members of the cast of "The Music Man"

The story of traveling con man Professor Harold Hill and lonely librarian Marian Paroo was written by Willson and Franklin Lacey. The director agrees with Hill’s line that “I always think there is a band, kid,” for this “band is all around us, in the air…, in the joy of laughter” as we experience this “true American classic.” Halliwell brings out the humor, poignancy and hint of wistfulness in the story, interspersed with the beautiful and beloved melodies of the score.

Veteran musical theater performer Mensah Robinson plays Professor Hill with plenty of the requisite charm and a great singing voice. He proves himself to be a true “song and dance man” in this role. A real estate agent by day, Robinson does, in fact, “know the territory.”

At the performance I attended, Meaghan Elliot covered the role of Marian with a little over one day’s notice. Thankfully, she once played this role in a Curtain Call production and had clearly remembered how to perform the interactions with her scene partners. With a paper script in hand, she rose to the challenge with aplomb and a magnificent soprano singing voice. Elliot bravely asked to start over “My White Knight” and earned the applause that followed.

Priscilla Squiers is a delight to watch as the wife of the mayor, Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn. Patrons seated near me laughed along with me at all of her comedic turns. Rob Mayette (Von Trapp in “The Sound of Music”) matches her as Mayor Shinn. What fun to see Patrick Spaulding back on the stage as Charlie Cowell.

Austin Kriegel is a fine Winthrop Paroo and Joan Velez Roberts is an adorable Mrs. Paroo. MAR historian Dolly Conner appears as a farmer’s wife and River City citizen. UConn BFA student Dayo Garritano plays Tommy Djilas with grace and charm in his Richter debut. Steven Taliaferro plays Marcellus Washburn and retired professor Dr. Thom Rosati covered the role of Olin Britt.

Chris Hetherington, who played Herr Schultz in “Cabaret” with Squiers at Downtown Cabaret, is quartet member Oliver Hix, and Denise Milmerstadt is lovely as his wife Alma. Danbury actress and singer Karen Robinson, the wife of Mensah, stands out as Maud Dunlop, as does Daisy Stott as Ethel and Denise Milmerstadt as Alma Hix. Tiny performer Quinn Skalet, who at the age of six already has four theatrical credits, makes her MAR debut as Gracie Shinn and manages to steal her scenes.

The director and Robert Bria collaborated on the old-time set design, with small moving storefronts that slide to allow the Paroo home to come forward as needed.

Music director Peter Randazzo of Trumbull, who I have often seen conducting the student orchestra at Amity High School, leads the group of musicians seated under a tent. Choreography by Lindsay T. Miller (“The Addams Family”) adds to the charm of the production and is executed well by the dancers, led by dance captain Viola Minor. I loved the dancing in “Shipoopi” and watching Harold and the teens dance in the library.

David Henningsen Photography Members of the cast of "The Music Man"

The costumes provided by costume coordinator Gina Rea and Renee Purdy and the Warner Theatre Costume Shop help bring us to the era, with especially lovely millinery for the ladies. There were few minor sound issues, although most of the outdoor technical aspects worked very well.

Future phases of The Renaissance of Richter will include an orchestra pavilion, a back wall/costume barn, a building for prop storage and a scene shop and a roof over the stage. Donations are being accepted to help make all of this happen.

“The Music Man” is presented on the lawn with one intermission and continues through Aug. 12. Bring chairs and a picnic to enjoy, as well as bug spray and/or citronella candles and a jacket. musicalsatrichter.org

Nancy Sasso Janis has been writing theater reviews since 2012 as a way to support local venues, and she posts well over 100 reviews each year. She became a member of the Connecticut Critics Circle in 2016. Her contributions of theatrical reviews, previews, and audition notices are posted in the Naugatuck Patch as well as the Patch sites closest to the venue. She is also a feature writer and theater reviewer for the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper. Her weekly column IN THE WINGS and theater reviews appear in the Thursday Weekend section of the paper.

Follow the reviewer on her Facebook pages Nancy Sasso Janis: Theatre Reviewer and Connecticut Theatre Previews and on Twitter @nancysjanis417 Check out the CCC Facebook page.