The Music Man

Brian Norber as Harold Hill

It may be 48 years since Meredith Willson's The Music Man won all those Tony Awards and the first Grammy awarded to a Broadway show, but the vibrancy of the music and the tenor of the story remain relevant, and Boulder's Dinner Theatre's (BDT) new production of this classic, directed by Broadway vet Michael J. Duran, is dazzling.

A master of many genres, Willson peppered his love story—between a fast-talking traveling salesman and a romantically-challenged librarian—with the rap-like pulsations of "Rock Island" and "Trouble," the bombastic and brassy "Seventy-six Trombones" and "Wells Fargo Wagon," some clever ditties in "Marion the Librarian" and "Gary, Indiana," and a couple of first-class love songs in "Goodnight My Someone" and "'Til There Was You."

Brian Norber as Harold Hill and Teresa Cope as Marion Paroo

When BDT vet Brian Norber, as the irresistable Harold Hill, first casts eyes on comely BDT newcomer Teresa Cope, the immovable Marion Paroo, it's a classic matchup of optimistic salesmanship versus sceptical research. But before too long, the friction turns to heat and then fire as the confirmed bachelor is converted and the ice queen turns to ice cream.

Wayne Kennedy's blubbering Mayor Shinn and Barb Reeves' kindly Mrs. Paroo, keep the principals on their toes, while the sincerity of the Ladies Dance Auxilary and a host of talented kids prove Harold is more than just a ganef.

Alicia Dunfee's energetic and inventive choreography brings the irrepressable music to life, conveying the storyline with a wall-to-wall, non-stop rhythmic flow of color and movement.

Brian Norber as Harold Hill, Kaleb Tank as Winthrop Paroo, and Teresa Cope as Marion Paroo

The choral work from the ensemble is top-notch, not to mention the fabulous barbershop quartet, all backed by the crisp, well-textured seven-piece orchestra under the direction of Neil Dunfee.

Yes, folks, there's a barrel of fun right here in River City!

Boulder's Dinner Theatre's production of The Music Man runs through August 19th. 303-449-6000.

Bob Bows