Posted: 12/6/17 at 11:12am
I've always been curious about this production for 2 reasons: 1) Because it starred Dick Van Dyke, and 2) because it was 1 of a handful of productions from City Centre that were eligible for Tony Awards.
Posted: 12/6/17 at 11:39am
Although on paper you would think that Dick Van Dyke would be perfect casting as Harold Hill --- in reality he was surprisingly terrible! At 55 years old, he was about 20 years too old for the part --- and his performance was humor-free and stiff as a board. Meg Bussert was a wonderful Marian, and Christian Slater was Winthrop!
Posted: 12/6/17 at 11:55am
Posted: 12/7/17 at 7:08am
Can't see Mr Van Dyke as Harold Hill. Who would you have cast?
Posted: 12/7/17 at 9:45am
For your viewing pleasure, here's about 7 minutes of footage of Dick in City Center's 1980 Broadway revival of THE MUSIC MAN:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=29XZCBAX0Qs
Posted: 12/7/17 at 12:54pm
I saw Mr. VanDyke in this in San Francisco. All I remember is that it was dull and dreary and very disappointing. I can't say whether VanDyke was drunk that night or not.
Posted: 12/7/17 at 1:10pm
Posted: 12/7/17 at 1:19pm
Delete
Updated On: 12/7/17 at 01:19 PM
Posted: 12/7/17 at 2:55pm
Van Dyke was totally miscast in the role. He played Harold Hill as if he was playing Albert Peterson in BYE BYE BIRDIE. More a happy go lucky type with absolutely no sign of growth in the role. His negative qualities were nowhere in sight. He was much more suited for the role of Marcellus Washburn performing SHIPOOPI. IIRC his reviews were not good in Los Angeles and New York.
Posted: 12/8/17 at 12:42am
God, I was bored (and it's one of my favorite shows)!
But to demonstrate how clueless the entire production was, when
it finally came time for the boys band to play a barely recognizable
"Minuet in G" at the end, Winthrop let loose with a jazz riff worthy of
Wyntom Marsalis, totally violating the reality of the play.
It isn't Mary Poppins and Willson is isn't pretending that the Think
System will make world class musicians out of small town boys.
Jeeze! It's a show about the power of faith.
Posted: 12/8/17 at 2:03pm
