Holroyd Musical & Dramatic Society (HMDS) took some big swings with The Music Man.

As you enter the theatre, the first thing you’d notice would be that they’ve staged the majority of the show in the round and the audience is split between both ends of the theatre. This had promise where this allowed the large ensemble to shine, but there were also several moments where you wouldn’t get a good view of Harold Hill (who would be the focus of a song) which then would make you feel that you were missing pivotal moments.

The show opens with ‘Rock Island’ on the train. The way the ensemble were positioned with briefcases as their seats was a visually clever choice, delivering a fresh take on this scene. Plus, the use of body percussion was smart and served the scene well. There were many moments like this that showed innovative and creative decisions, like the reveal of the band on stage during ‘Seventy Six Trombones’, and it would have been great to see more moments like this.

I really enjoyed a lot of the set design which helped a lot in the worldbuilding. There were some impressive set pieces that only appeared for one scene or song and I would’ve liked to have seen them be utilised more throughout the show.

The two leading characters, Marcus Hurley as Harold Hill and Melanie Sestic as Marian Paroo stood out as professionals in this production. With each scene they were in, they brimmed with confidence and charisma.

One critique I have was the escalation of the romance between the two main characters. It felt like it came out of nowhere. Potentially, the staging didn’t help with this as it made it hard to see micro-moments that would’ve helped propel the love story. 

Standouts include Chris Rutter as Marcellus Washburn whose high energy was palpable in this show, Kaz Astill as Mrs Paroo who nailed the character as the warm, loving mother figure, Louise Corbin as Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn who was hilarious in physicality and delivery, and Clive Hobson as the bass member of the quartet who stood out for his great vocals.

The Music Man features several classic songs in the musical theatre canon. The band did an admirable job, but it often felt like the tempo was dragging, particularly in the dance numbers, some of which seemed to be cut short.

Despite some minor stumbles, this production was willing to experiment and take risks which is to their credit, and shows HMDS isn’t afraid to challenge itself whilst also showcasing standout performances.

Holroyd Musical & Dramatic Society’s The Music Man runs until 6th July at the Wentworthville Community Centre. Get tickets here.