Floris UMC: The Music Man
Floris United
Sadie Jones
Drove over in storm threatening skies to see the Floris UMC
first full length musical only because I had read in the Centreview Mike Cash
was playing the mayor. Loved Mr. Cash as the Scarecrow, Cogsworth, Grandpa Joe
and Wilbur Turnblad in previous Alliance
theatre productions and was not disappointed here. Actually saw quite a few TAT
actors and familiar faces from 11 other local theaters. The director, Barbara
Carpenter, used a well rounded adult cast to its full potential and polished
the teens and children as bright as pennies.
Floris UMC has one of the longest stages in the area,
allowing for seamless scene transitions from one side to the other. The set
design, dressing and props were rivaled only by the costumes. Everything was
top notch. The orchestra was a little loud for some of the younger voices to
sing over as they played the old, well known tunes to a happy, swaying, toe
tapping audience.
Newlyweds Ward and Katie Ferguson as Harold Hill and Marion
Paroo, had us on the edge of our seats waiting to see what we knew would
happen. Mike Cash and Laura Kelmelis as tongue tied Mayor George Shin and his involved
wife Eulie had us laughing out loud. The squabbling School Board, Alex
Bhargava, Ron Kronz, Jim Edwards, Jim Daily, transformed into a charming barbershop
quartet right on key. John Totten was a wronged and righteously indignant
Charlie Cowell.
The large cast acted not only during monologues and snappy conversations
but also as they danced and sang, which is expected from a more established
theatre group. It was a pleasant surprise for so young a company. Great
choreography, staging, musical direction, hair and make up. It would take pages
to describe in detail how good the production was and neither you nor I have
time for that. So, I’ll only mention one more person.
Samuel Elliott played the shy, awkward Winthrop Paroo who
comes out of his shell when Prof. Harold Hill brings the promise of a boy’s
band to town. My theatre buddy, Cookie, is of the opinion this little boy stole
the show. I disagree. But I will say he stole my heart.