By Deirdre Parker Smith
dp1@salisburypost.com
Judging by the enthusiastic opening night audience, Piedmont Players has a hit on their hands with “Barnum.”
The exuberant musical celebrating humbug (not Bah! Humbug, but the fun kind) stars an energetic cast that’s called on not just to sing and dance, but juggle, tumble, walk the high wire and swing on a trapeze.
Steve Pharr, a Piedmont veteran, takes on the role of P.T. Barnum, the ultimate showman, the perennial dreamer, the purveyor of the preposterous.
Pharr has a good voice and strong stage presence. Some of his songs include mighty fast singing and you may miss a few of the words as he flies through, but he manages to keep the show going all night.
Robin Allen is his sweet, sensible wife, Charity, also with a strong voice and a steadying presence.
Daniel Breuer is the ringmaster, Mr. Bailey, and a host of other characters, all played with aplomb and another nice singing voice. He, too, has several challenging circus bits and is a fair juggler.
Alexis Greer earned loud applause on opening night as Joice Heth, the oldest woman in the world, and a dynamite blues singer.
Hats off to Dan Mikkelson, among the ensemble cast and Gen. Tom Thumb. Mikkelson performs feats of derring-do that had several audience members holding their breath.
And Micah Cottingham plays Jenny Lind, the famed opera singer that Barnum brings to America to add class to his humbug.
Among the ensemble cast you will find jugglers, tumblers, walkers on wire, singers, clowns, gullible citizens and stiltwalkers.
The best thing about the show is the pageantry and the excellent staging. A close second is the top notch orchestra, which includes frequent Piedmont contributors.
The only problem ó and it pops up in every musical ó is some singers are drowned out by the music. Even strong singers need amplification in the Meroney in order for everyone to hear them. It’s a shame to miss something.
Director Reid Leonard knows everyone loves a musical and “Barnum” is a good choice. Most people recognize the name from Barnum and Bailey’s Greatest Show on Earth, which actually came late in P.T. Barnum’s life.
What the audience may not know is how he started, showcasing things that were slightly exaggerated. Could Joice Heth really be 160 years old? How did that other lady get a beard? A whale in the basement? Seriously?
His first great attraction, the American Museum, burns, and that’s when he takes his show on the road.
As he sings “There’s a Sucker Born Ev’ry Minute,” you know he has learned the secret of making big money ó everyone is curious about the bearded lady and the mermaid. Question is, is it worth 10 cents or $1? Barnum gets the premium every time.
“Barnum” is suitable for all ages, save for a few four-letter words, and runs at two hours, including a 20-minute intermission. It’s non-stop action, too.
Come early and see the amazing flea circus in the lobby and the sleight of hand by Glenn Yost.
“Barnum,” underwritten by C.F. Parks & Co., continues tonight and Saturday and Nov. 19-22 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, Nov. 16 at 2:30 p.m. at the Meroney Theater, 213 S. Main St. For tickets, call 704-633-5471.