PRESQUE ISLE, Maine – The first performances of “The Music Man,” held Feb. 23 and 24, were met with much enthusiasm as seats filled quickly on both nights.
“Everything went very, very well. We were a little anxious after rehearsals but the cast really came through. We had a good audience on Friday night, with nearly a full house for Saturday’s performance,” said Co-Director Dan Ladner. “We were very pleased with both performances.”
Ladner, along with his wife, Barbara Ladner, co-directed this year’s performance put on by the Presque Isle Community Players. With one weekend session behind them, the Ladners look forward to this weekend, with the show taking the stage once more at the Presque Isle Middle School on March 2 and 3 beginning at 7:30 p.m.
The musical based on the book, music and lyrics of Meredith Wilson, originally opened on Broadway in 1957, starring Robert Preston and Barbara Cook and ran for an amazing 1,375 performances. The local production features a cast of approximately 60 area thespians, ranging in age from 7 to 70. It is the first full musical production put on by the PICP.
The storyline goes as follows: In 1912, ‘Professor’ Harold Hill (played by local attorney Jeff Ashby) travels from town to town, taking pre-paid orders for musical instruments and uniforms, promising in return to teach youngsters to play in order to form a town band. Upon arriving in River City, Iowa, Hill’s scam is complicated when he falls for Marian Paroo, the local librarian (played by Governor’s Restaurant owner Sherry Sullivan). Though the fraud is realized, Paroo falls in love with Hill.
Rival salesman Charlie Cowell (played by Charlie Smith, employed at the Veteran’s Home in Caribou) exposes Hill, who is then apprehended and stays to face the consequences. The band performs to the pleasure of parents, causing them to believe in Hill again. Hill and Paroo end up the happy couple.
Ladner said putting such a production on has had its difficulties, since it’s a relatively large cast to work with.
“It’s a big cast. Logistically, to move that big of a cast and place them appropriately on stage is very challenging. And then there are big pieces of scenery to move on and off stage. It’s all a matter of choreography,” said Ladner.
The middle school auditorium has proven to be a perfect facility for such performances, said Ladner.
“It’s a nice facility and we enjoy performing there,” he said.
The cast will hold a pick-up rehearsal on Thursday, giving them one more chance to go through their lines before this weekend’s shows. Ladner is confident the cast will do great again this weekend.
“We had a successful first weekend. Everyone’s looking forward to it (performing again). This weekend should be a bit easier. Everyone’s more at ease on stage, more rehearsed,” said Ladner.
Ladner indicated arrangements have been made should weather prevent either Friday or Saturday night’s performance.
“We’ve made arrangements with the middle school to use the facility Sunday afternoon for a matinee show, should we require it in the event the weather causes a cancellation on either Friday or Saturday night. We hope it doesn’t come to that, but we have to anticipate the inevitable. We have people in the cast and audience alike coming from all over,” said Ladner.
Cost is $10 for adults and $8 for students 18 and under. Tickets can be purchased at the Aroostook Centre Mall or at the door. Proceeds go to benefit the PICP and future theatrical endeavors. If you are unable to attend but would like to donate to the organization, contact PICP Treasurer Sally Derosier at 764-4757.
