Review: MUSIC MAN a Smash Hit at Downriver Actors Guild, Thru May 17

Quick! Run out and grab your tickets to MUSIC MAN at the Downriver Actors' Guild in Wyandotte before the spectacle closes May 17. It's too good to miss!

Kevin Kaminski stars as Harold and Annie Kordas as Marion, with Jamie Pittman as Marcellus. One thing you notice quickly when you see the show is how unusually attractive the actors are. It's like the think system made everyone a model. Not only are they gorgeous, they are talented and charming.

The cast includes Maudd Donlop (Annie Mann of Southgate), Eulalie Shinn (Ashley Blevins of Allen Park), Mayor Shinn (Chuck Bollman of Wyandotte), Zanetta Shinn (Emily Nobile of Wyandotte) and Grace Shinn (Elyana Cecil of Southgate) and Winthrop Paroo (Evan Sartor of Canton).

Also making up the cast are Ewart Dunlop (Butch Plague of Dearborn), Alma Hix (Debbie Aue of Taylor), Charlie Cowell (Eric Paschke of Riverview), Tommy Djilas (Jacob Partrich of Taylor), Oliver Hix (Jay Carter of Taylor), Olin Britt (Jeff Powers of New Boston), Ethel Toffelmier (Kellie Runkle of Allen Park), Mrs. Paroo (Loretta Bullock of Southgate), The Constable (Nick Mullins of Woodhaven), Jay Squires (Ray Carter of Taylor) and Amaryllis (Sydney Robinson of Southgate).

As soon as the show opened I noticed the wonderful set, comprised of the library, the barber shop (with handsome barbershop singers emerging therefrom), the billiards hall and Marion's house. The clever design allows one exterior to swing open to reveal a library and the other to reveal Marion's piano studio. The set has an authentic 1910's look and feel to it - you almost feel like you are visiting The Music Man Square.

I love the fantastic costumes in this show, especially the outrageous and colorful hats worn by the town gossips. The men from the school board wore really classy suits that worked well when presented together. Marion was striking in her powder blue blouse and white skirt - she looked just like a china doll from an upscale boutique. Wait till you see the pre-school Wa Tan Ye girls of the local wigwam of Hiawatha and the boys in the marching band - their costumes are delightful!

These actors have spectacular stage skills; I loved the dancing, and thought Tommy was a professional. Agile and lanky Harold Hill jumped into Marcellus' arms like a feather light cygnet in Swan Lake. There is a clever foot dance in the library, and energetic Shipoopi ragtime routine that made me want to visit 1912.

Tommy led the boys band with a marching drum solo so impressive that left the audience speechless. And the kids in the band were absolutely precious.

John Sartor said, "I have never been involved with a cast that has been so dedicated to bringing this production to the level that it is with high energy and positivity to every single rehearsal. My goal was to offer a 2 hour Music Man by simply telling the story without pause and this is what we have. I can't imagine anyone opened their program to see how many scenes were left until intermission!"

Ye, Gads! The MUSIC MAN Marches Out of Town May 17. The last chance to see this delightful show is this weekend - 3:00 Sunday. For information kindly visit

www.downriveractorsguild.org

Friend Anton Anderssen at Facebook.com/teddybears

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