THE MUSIC MAN Previews — Page 8

Jordan Catalano said: "I kind of want to stand up for the backdrops. They gave the show a real “old school” vibe like it would have been back in the day and, for some reason, I appreciated that."

Not having seen the show yet, the backdrops look gorgeous in the photos - I'm wondering what the other set pieces are there like? Are there detailed interior sets for the library, Marion's house, etc?

The thing is, is that this is a production happening in 2021. It’s not a museum piece. For it to be relevant updates are welcome.

FANtomFollies said: "Not having seen the show yet, the backdrops look gorgeous in the photos - I'm wondering what the other set pieces are there like? Are there detailed interior sets for the library, Marion's house, etc?"

The backdrops are not flat. I can't describe it but they have rectangle patterns all over them.

Marian's house/porch is a detailed unit with stairs.

The Library has GIANT windows that look like something in Aspen.

The Madison Gymnasium is bizarre. Big lights and metal.

The footbridge looks like a mini golf course.

There's a weird balance of stylized + naturalism, and I wish everything was stylized or everything was natural.

There is one moment in act one with the CUTEST small piece of scenery I have ever seen and I would die for it. Spoiler below.

The backdrops are not flat. I can't describe it but they have rectangle patterns all over them.

Marian's house/porch is a detailed unit with stairs.

The Library has GIANT windows that look like something in Aspen.

The Madison Gymnasium is bizarre. Big lights and metal.

The footbridge looks like a mini golf course.

There's a weird balance of stylized + naturalism, and I wish everything was stylized or everything was natural.

There is one moment in act one with the CUTEST small piece of scenery I have ever seen and I would die for it.





And how about those gigantic trees that threaten to swallow the Billiard Parlor!

I agree with your spoiler scenery. ADORABLE!

I think we just expected some really wow moments and what we are getting is “I enjoyed it.” Which is great but nothing that would make me shell out big money. Unless of course you want to see Hugh. Which I get. But I’d rather some big cool production moments. I guess all the Lincoln Center revivals have spoiled us! And Company…

SouthernCakes said: "I think we just expected some really wow moments and what we are getting is “I enjoyed it.” Which is great but nothing that would make me shell out big money. Unless of course you want to see Hugh. Which I get. But I’d rather some big cool production moments. I guess all the Lincoln Center revivals have spoiled us! And Company…"

I mean, it’s from the same creative team as Hello, Dolly! I expected so much more.

The active involvement of Scott Rudin is a huge factor.

Yes, he put this revival of MM together, but he's not there in rehearsals and previews giving notes and micromanaging the creative team to fix things or revert to the original dance arrangements or cut the unnecessary choreography. There are some weird things in MM that he probably wouldn't have let fly on his watch. He willed DOLLY into existance and got Bette to sign on when she had said no to other offers to play the role for 25 years, and then he had a luxurious production built around her. That we hadn't seen Bette in a Broadway musical since becoming a star was also a huge part of the audience experience; we've seen Hugh sing and dance on stage and screen over the past 20 years. And DOLLY is a more glamorous show than MUSIC MAN, and book-wise it's a little tighter.

Would this revival be better if he was still calling the shots? Maybe! Is everyone in the building having a better time because he's not there? Definitely! Losing Rudin as a bully also means losing a producer of exceptional taste.

(Remember also there have been exactly 2 previews, and we're also dealing with a global pandemic so it's kind of a miracle the show is even running. Opening Night is set for February 10.)

Updated On: 12/22/21 at 01:45 PM

SouthernCakes said: "I think we just expected some really wow moments and what we are getting is “I enjoyed it.” Which is great but nothing that would make me shell out big money. Unless of course you want to see Hugh. Which I get. But I’d rather some big cool production moments. I guess all the Lincoln Center revivals have spoiled us! And Company…"



You're right. No WOW moments. Hugh is pleasant, but he's no Robert Preston. He reminds me of the favorite teacher who the High School Musical recruited to play the lead. Sweet and does his job. But no flair, there.

Buy the $99 seats if you must.

Updated On: 12/22/21 at 02:08 PM

bwayobsessed said: "The thing is, is that this is a production happening in 2021. It’s not a museum piece. For it to be relevant updates are welcome."

Exactly!

If the elements that are now considered problematic were intended to seem, it would be a different story but they weren’t. Yes, it can be argued that these elements are characteristic of the era in which the piece is set but they weren’t placed in the show for that reason.


Much like with Shakespeare the only way to get an audience to see the work as it was first intended, is to find what the author/authors wanted the audience to think and feel and work to recreate that. Or the other option is it’s a museum piece. Like Shakespeare, the show wasn’t written to be studied and revered, it was created to be popular and commercial.


What the writers of The Music Man are asking, is that you leave full hearted, your spirits lifted through a joyous story of love. There is a redemption angle and some writing for the leading that makes her much more interesting and complex than many others of the period but beyond that it’s nonsense to pretend the show isn’t meant to be an escapist musical comedy and not a deep commentary on sexism.


If the team were writing the show today would they create a number like Shipoopi with the original lyrics? No, they would not. They would be thinking commercially about a mainstream audience.


All this revival is doing is honouring their intentions.

Where are the $99 seats? All I see is lots of seats for $699 and $299.

poisonivy2 said: "Where are the $99 seats? All I see is lots of seats for $699 and $299."

It may be that they're sold out. Those move the quickest.

I don’t think Rudin’s involvement would change much. I mean I’m sure it was designed and being built by the time the pandemic happened.

Watched the HBO Shakespeare in the Park doc last night and was very surprised to see that they started but doing the sets/ preparing the space more than 12 weeks out.

Loopin’theloop said: "bwayobsessed said: "The thing is, is that this is a production happening in 2021. It’s not a museum piece. For it to be relevant updates are welcome."

Exactly!

If the elements that are now considered problematic were intended to seem, it would be a different story but they weren’t. Yes, it can be argued that these elements are characteristic of the era in which the piece is set but they weren’t placed in the show for that reason.


Much like with Shakespeare the only way to get an audience to see the work as it was first intended, is to find what the author/authors wanted the audience to think and feel and work to recreate that. Or the other option is it’s a museum piece. Like Shakespeare, the show wasn’t written to be studied and revered, it was created to be popular and commercial.


What the writers of The Music Man are asking, is that you leave full hearted, your spirits lifted through a joyous story of love. There is a redemption angle and some writing for the leading that makes her much more interesting and complex than many others of the period but beyond that it’s nonsense to pretend the show isn’t meant to be an escapist musical comedy and not a deep commentary on sexism.


If the team were writing the show today would they create a number like Shipoopi with the original lyrics? No, they would not. They would be thinking commercially about a mainstream audience.


All this revival is doing is honouring their intentions."

Plus if you used some of the original lyrics you'd have people protesting and the publicity being negative and about those lyrics, not the show itself. All shows have enough problems now without being talked about for "inappropriate" lyrics. (And while I understand the debate about whether they "should" be changed or not, its not the point. The point is they cause issues the show can do without.)

That said, I liked what Hal Prince (RIP) did with the 90's revival of Show Boat. Any racist/prejudiced term that was used in furtherance of the anti-racism plot was kept. They were not said by sympathetic characters and were meant to make you cringe. Where words that were "okay" when the show and all used in the script as "everyday words"- in a context where the character using it was sympathetic and not racist/prejudiced, the words were changed. Keep what you need to tell the story. Change language not needed for the story which is no longer acceptable and will distract from the story.