THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 27, 1994 TAG: 9410260174
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 16 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SMITHFIELD LENGTH: Medium: 68 lines
LOCAL STAGE VETERANS Karen Willard and Jim Abicht retired from performing in 1986. ``The Music Man,'' the Smithfield Little Theater presentation opening Nov. 3 brought them back.
He is Professor Harold Hill, con man extraordinaire, and she is prim, proper, pretty Marian, the librarian in River City, Iowa.
Willard left when she was pregnant; Abicht's job required more travel then than it does now.
``The last play I did was `Frankenstein,' '' Willard says. ``They tried to age me in that. Now they're trying to make me look younger.''
Willard often held center stage as an ingenue and still looks the part.
Abicht's last part was the lead role in ``Barnum,'' which he describes as ``the hardest character I ever portrayed. . . . This is probably the second hardest.
``There's something interesting about con men,'' he said, looking every inch the leading guy who could talk a small nation into laying down its arms. ``And, the leading lady is fun to work with.''
Shirley Jones worked with Robert Preston, the ultimate ``Music Man'' con man, in the hit movie version.
``Everybody kept saying, `Well, in the film . . . ,' so I finally rented it,'' Abicht said. ``The movie didn't influence me, but it let me know how the songs went.''
The Meredith Willson songs - gems, all - have become standards. The best-known is probably ``76 Trombones.'' Other recognizable pieces include ``Til' There Was You,'' ``Marian, the Librarian'' and the barbershop quartet offering, ``Lida Rose.''
Those songs were heard at the Cotton Gin Theater in 1975 when the Smithfield folks first presented ``The Music Man,'' starring the late Harry Goodrich. No one in that cast is connected with the current production.
Karen Norman has appeared in many productions over the years, has worked as choreographer in others. This is the first time she has parked in the director's chair.
``I'd rather be onstage. I'm amazed at the amount of work involved,'' she said. ``Sometimes it's frustrating seeing an idea that doesn't work. But when it comes together, it's exciting.''
Abicht offers her a verbal bouquet. ``She's doing a remarkable job, especially when you consider this is her first time directing.''
Norman is starting out big time. ``The Music Man'' has a cast of 36, including 18 youngsters.
``More than 60 people auditioned,'' she said, ``including 36 kids, mostly girls.''
Even the stars, in spite of their veteran status, had to audition.
It meant another bite of the acting bug for Willard, who notes, ``I'd like to do more plays. I'd love to do `The King and I.' ''
Will Abicht return to acting after this production?
``I'm not sure.''
Until he makes up his mind, make plans to see this middle-America musical offering. You have three weekends. MEMO: The Smithfield Little Theater presents ``The Music Man'' at the Cotton
Gin Theater at 8 p.m. Nov. 3-6, 10-12, 17-19 and at 2:30 p.m. Nov. 13.
Reserved-seat tickets are $8. Call 357-7338. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by FRANK ROBERTS
After an absence of seven years, Jim Abicht and Karen Willard are
returning to the Smithfield Little Theater stage in ``The Music
Man.'' The show opens Nov. 3.
by CNB