the music man

December 8, 2013 - 8:41pm
Review: The Red House's production of 'The Music Man' suffers from the small space but is a triumph overall thanks to a talented cast.

There’s little new to be done with The Music Man. The 1957 Broadway classic is as uncontroversial as apple pie and as populist as Frank Capra.

That said, there’s a lot of charm in its wholesome story of a con man redeemed by love and a small town lit up by the excitement he brings. It’s a natural fit for community theaters that can cast and stage it well. The Red House’s production only gets about halfway there on both counts, but that can’t totally negate the musical’s strengths.