Follow Spot Blog of the Day™ - Music Man

The Music Man has ended its interminable run at Pensacola Little Theater. The techies - managed by Carol Mankins - and the large cast rocked on this show.

The sets were nutty, like the two-sided set pieces. Stage right had a large living room set on one side and the exterior of a billiard hall on the other side, stage left had the exterior of a porch backed with the exterior of a Livery stable.

During scene changes the techies ran out onto the darkened stage to rotate the set pieces so that the appropriate side faced the audience for the next scene. Therefore the techies were as choreographed as the actors and dancers.

The lighting designer and follow spot operators also rocked. Sound was great despite technical difficulties like broken wireless mikes.

The cast really shined on the stage. Everyone brought life and joyous excitement into their repective roles.

For example, Scott Haring, who portrayed Marcellus, the Music Man's former partner in crime, acted with such gusto that we tech folk fell apart everytime he growled "Hey! Gregory!!"

The biggest plus of the production was the Barber Shop Quartet as portrayed by Pensacola Fiesta Barbershop Chorus. Listening to their delightful voices blend into a glorious harmony as they sang “Lida Rose” and “Sin in Sincere” made sitting through the show night after night tolerable.

Music Man ain't a bad show but some of those dialog scenes just went on and on...and on...

The music numbers: "Wells Fargo Wagon", "You Got Trouble", "Gary Indiana", "Pick-a-Little", and "Seventy Six Trombones" were spectacular. The orchestra was energetic, the dancing and singing by the large cast was perfect.

But thank the Lords of Kobol this show is finally over. Now, onto the next.