Forty-five years ago, I paced a similar stage:
\nplayed Harold Hill contemplating Death’s Valley,
\nbreathed through the Overture and chatty train scene,
\nready to push “The Think System” uphill to the Finale.<\/p>\n
Now “Sincere”, “Lida Rose” and “It’s You”
\nI baritone behind him, serene in the Quartet;
\nwhile his “Seventy-six Trombones” and “Trouble”
\ncast spells that haunt me yet.<\/p>\n
Miked backstage, I sing in the “orphan chorus”, The air is rare on that spellbinder’s cloud: At last I march our Quartet out for the Finale: In 1967, I played Harold Hill in The Music Man. Soon after, I heard movie star Van Johnson (live in Montreal), who had just played it on the road, call Harold Hill the Hamlet of musical theatre roles. I would tend to agree with that assessment; it sure was a challenge. Many years later, I am in the show’s Quartet, watching someone else perform the role. A perspective through the passage of years. (#1104) Continue reading
\nYes, we\u2019ve got trouble<\/em>! \u2014 Theatre of the Absurd:
\nI must resist the sticky reflexive tick that
\nwould simulcast my ghosting of his tricky words.<\/p>\n
\nHope overwhelms doubt, sweeps Harold and Marian
\nand Winthrop and Mama and all the “River
\nCity-zians” up to Boys’ Band Heaven tonight again.<\/p>\n
\nwe flash the easy smiles and bow in line;
\nyes I’ve been here before\u2014 and again I rally:
\nthis stage is his; the memory is mine.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"