Arena Stage "Music Man"-set in the 1930's... — Page 6

Why do I picture a steamer trunk and bowl of Japanese goldfish?

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Marian is Winthrop's mother? Jesus save me! Later-in-life babies weren't unusual in times when the only commonly available form of birth control was the rhythm method.

Given what the River City matrons make out of nothing, imagine the gossip if Winthrop had been born under suspicious circumstances! No, Mrs. Paroo was very obviously pregnant and gave birth in front of the town doctor or we would hear about it from Mrs. Shinn.

If Marian is Winthop's mother, then the story is about two con-people, not just one. And Harold Hill is redeemed by what, exactly? A liar as crafty as he is?

If SonofRobbiej buys a ticket, he has the right to imagine any old story he likes. Mrs. Shinn is a madam and the Pick-a-little Ladies are really prostitutes (River City being a railroad town and all) who hate Marian because she works at a rival brothel called (wink, wink) "The Library"!

Updated On: 5/25/12 at 02:55 PM

In 2009, The Music Man was done at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival directed by the Artistic Director, Bill Rauch. In his program note he wrote, "Chock-full of cultural specificity, the show proves its author does know the territory. It's a time of economic transition, not unlike our own. The traveling salesman will soon be a thing of the past. This adds poignancy to Willson's clever conceit of a conman who embodies the uniquely American archetype. Through Hill, Willson presents us with this paradox: Sometimes the truth is most effectively revealed through deceit.

With this production, we've set out to ask these questions: How is River City transformed by Harold Hill? How is Harold Hill transformed by the community?"

The production was set in 1912. Visually, at the beginning of the show, all the costumes, set pieces props were black and white. Harold Hill was the only character "in color." As the show went on, color was added: first the young people, then the women and then the men. Marion was in black and white until the final moments of Act I. The last character who "added" color was Mayor Shinn. There was a flag pole upstage. At the beginning of the second scene of the show, a man raised a black and white American flag. At the end of the show, the man lowered a red, white and blue flag.

The cast was multi-ethnic: African-American, Asian-American, Hispanic and white. The actor who played Marcellus is deaf. He and Harold signed their exchanges. It was like they had a con man way of talking.

The show began with the train conductor playing the overture on a harmonica. It was a simple way to let the audience know the production was not going to be a big splashy show.

I liked the production so much, I saw it twice. I sort of recall hearing Rauch wanted to make a change in the order of two scenes in the second act. Mrs. Willson said no. On the other hand, she did approve the orchestra reduction to seven musicians. At the beginning of the show, the sound was spare, but as things transformed in River City, the sound grew.

I just want to go on record that I'm not advocating a darker interpretation. This show is a musical comedy and should remain so. But there are small things that bubble under the surface that give weight to the show. I would never want to see it made explicit that Marian is Winthrop's mother. The beauty of it is we don't know. There's something different about this woman...and it doesn't need to be defined for the audience. I'll never forget the day when I had my 'aha' moment about Winthrop's paternity (or is it maternity?). It was a fun little nugget that let me appreciate the show even more than I already did. Of course, I might be entirely wrong. But the show is sophisticated. It's not cornpone, even though that's how it can be played sometimes.

And now I'm going to say something that might be controversial. But I'm an advocate of honoring what's on the page (and all the subtext that can be found within the text). I am not, however, an advocate of honoring a playwright's stated intentions. Simply because I once wrote something and performed it, and someone came up to me to discuss it, going on and on about a certain aspect of the piece. I nodded politely, and accepted what they found. The problem was, I had no idea that this one thing could be interpreted from the piece I wrote. I certainly had no intention of it being there. But, there it was. And I understood why, after it was pointed out to me.

I absolutely will...It will probably be the beginning of July if I do make it!

Given what the River City matrons make out of nothing, imagine the gossip if Winthrop had been born under suspicious circumstances! No, Mrs. Paroo was very obviously pregnant and gave birth in front of the town doctor or we would hear about it from Mrs. Shinn.

The Paroos weren't River City natives, though. Miser Madison didn't have a friend in that town until SHE came there.

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A Director---thanks so much for posting that.

It's exactly the sort of thoughtfully re-conceived production I wish would end up on Broadway. I would buy a ticket to that in a heartbeat.

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Updated On: 5/25/12 at 04:49 PM

Let me go on record as saying I absolutely love this discussion. It's brought these characters alive for me again and reminded me of how rich they are (were?) to begin with.

Thank you, Meredith Willson, for writing (through eight years and some 40-odd drafts) a brilliant show that still invites speculation, criticism, doubt, and a wealth of possibilities over 50 years after it made its way into the world.

EDIT: Oh, yeah ... and don't forget joy.

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Updated On: 5/26/12 at 04:58 PM

The brilliance of Meredith Willson is that he turns us all into "Pick-a-Little" ladies. It becomes "our business," and we're as bad as they are. A bunch of gossipy hens.

This helps draw us into the Iowans. Without this, its so easy for us to criticize the town folks for their judging and their speculation and their seemingly small minds. We can separate them from ourselves and shake our heads.

But ...

By not giving us the whole story, we are stuck with "chatting" about it and thinking about it, until our heads lean forward and we pick the seed right off of the ground and cluck at the same time.

That's our connection to the citizens. We're no better (or worse) than they are.

EDIT: The best part of The Music Man is that it not only allows us to laugh at and celebrate these River City---ziens ... it allows us to laugh at and celebrate ourselves.

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Updated On: 5/26/12 at 05:20 PM

I don't mean to pit this show against West Side Story. I have just as many superlatives for that show as I do for this one.

And I really would love to see a "reinvigorated" revival of Music Man on Broadway again.

What I don't want to see is another candy-colored, Lawrence Welk Dinner Theatre version.

They oughta be tarred and feathered.

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Kate's Marion was pretty clear: Uncle Maddie was her father's best friend. He wasn't extravagant and he saved his money to put only to good use. He died within 2 years of Hill's arrival and apparently after mr. Paroo making Winthrop 8 or so. "he never had a friend in this town until she came here.". When Kate was asked about Winthrop possibly being her child she debunked first with facts. Then she said in her back story she read to him as he lay dying as one would a father's old friend and for that he left her the books so shed have a way to help out the family financially. Actually, perhaps all art and giving died with him. As for innocence, there was sl some in the 1930s. Remember The Wizard of Oz?

I just want to say, this has been my favorite discussion I have ever read here on BWW.

If you know the real Annie Oakley's past ... she was repeatedly molested by her father. When her mother found out, she left her out in the snow to die.

Fun musical fact.

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