I didn't intend to see The Music Man on this trip. It was certainly on my list, but I had other shows above it and Stacy and I had been over and over deciding which shows we would see when (5 shows in less than 48 hours does take quite a bit of finessing!). However, part of the fun of going to New York with no tickets already in hand means all kinds of strange and wonderful things can happen. I wasn't able to see the show I intended to see that night, so I decided to go over to TKTS and just see what caught my fancy. I knew that Robert Sean Leonard was playing Harold Hill, which I thought would be fun, and I had forgotten until I picked up a flyer for the show that Rebecca Luker was playing Marian, and I adore her. So when I walked up to TKTS and saw that the show was available, my decision was made. And was I ever glad I chose to see this show!

I've been a fan of Robert Sean Leonard for ages - Dead Poet's Society is a long-time favourite, and I've followed his career off and on ever since. So I was very interested in seeing what he could do with a musical, especially one that is a favourite of mine and a role that I've always had a soft spot for (for lots of reasons that we don't need to get into now :-). He was absolutely terrific. Sure, he doesn't have the finest singing voice I've ever heard, but for this role that's not necessary, and he absolutely commanded the stage. His Harold was a slightly different interpretation than others I've seen, but it really worked for me. There was less slickness and smooth-talking, and more vulnerability. I felt more like his Harold had gotten caught up in the scam as much as any of the townsfolk, and he was truly amazed that he was pulling it off. And I really felt that he had fallen in love with Marion, and that was separate from his scam (which I never, ever got from Robert Preston in the movie!!!). And who wouldn't love her???

I had vaguely known about her before, but I first really became aware of Rebecca Luker when I saw her play Maria in The Sound of Music the first time I was in New York, and have since become a huge fan. She has one of the most glorious voices I've ever heard, and just lights up the stage whenever she's on it. Her Marian was a pretty straightforward interpretation - and there's nothing wrong with that. Intelligent, spunky, a little lonely but secure enough in herself to not want a man just for the sake of having one ... basically the person I want to be someday. :-) Marion is one of my favourite musical theatre characters, and one I very strongly identify with, and Ms. Luker was perfection in the role.

I really enjoyed the entire production. It was the first show I had seen with the famous Susan Stroman choreography, and I spent most of the musical numbers with my mouth hanging open - it was that enjoyable and impressive. It was a big, brassy, beautiful production, from the overture played on stage by the orchestra to the finale with the entire cast playing trombones and marching. There weren't really any surprises in the production, but that's ok - I love this show and wouldn't really want them to mess with it! The supporting cast were all terrific, the music was incredible, the sets and costumes were perfect. A great night in the theatre, and one I would really have kicked myself over if I had missed it. I did do the stage door thing afterwards and met both Robert Sean Leonard and Rebecca Luker, which was a huge thrill. You can see pictures of that here.

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