Empty Nest -Whimsical Journey to Survive and Self Actualize : Day 413- Pittsburgh CLO- Music Man-It’s a Hit Parade of Romance, Music, Comedy and Choreography

Wednesday, July 10, 2024

Day 413- Pittsburgh CLO- Music Man-It’s a Hit Parade of Romance, Music, Comedy and Choreography

Pittsburgh CLO brings this oldie but goodie rat- a- tat- tat tapping musical to Pittsburgh with a fantastic crew of Broadway performers (Charles Esten as Harold Hill and Nikki Renee Daniels as Marian Paroo) and local talent. When Harold Hill, a travailing con artist, arrives in a small Iowa town, he brings excitement with his promise to create a boy’s marching band. His plan to take their money and run is altered when he unexpectedly falls for the town’s spinster music teacher, Marian Paroo. It’s a hit parade of romance, fun music and a show sprinkled with comedy and fantastic choreography.

Rumour spreading town biddies add humour

Reflection

The Music Man is set in 1912 but opens on a railway car with the song Rock Island that seems to take on a hip hop beat in sync with the clicks and clacks of the train. The show keeps the band banging with Esten’s sharp speedy melody Trouble and the rumour spreading town biddies’ rapid firing song Pikalittle. A barbershop quartet adds periodic harmonies to the show. Daniels soars with her smooth operatic sound in Goodnight, My Someone, My White Night and Till There was You.

The show keeps a band like pace with fantastic choreography. There is high stepping, jumping, and twirling. Partners are lifted in the air and dancers perform on tables. Even the children in the show do not miss a beat.

Show keeps the band like pace with the choreography

The Music Man has that classic musical theme: “boy meets girl, falls in love and lives happily ever after.” This show is also a testament to the power of positivism. Hill lavishes complements on the towns people, a reminder that focusing on the positive can produce confidence and hope in a community. It’s a hit parade of musical joy.