The Music Man

[araminta18]

So, I've finally seen "The Music Man" on stage!  Arena Stage, here in DC, opened their production of "The Music Man" last night, starring Burke Moses ("Gaston" from Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" on Broadway) as Prof. Hill and Kate Baldwin (Tony Award Nominee for her performance in "Finian's Rainbow") as Marian.  And guys, it was AWESOME.  Not

Comments

[revyrie]

So many things sound awesome about this production...it'd be so interesting to see it in the round, and your descriptions of the choreography sound amazing. I bet the leads were astoundingly good...but I agree that the costuming is odd and pants on Marian?? Just...no.

[araminta18]

I know, right? Pants? it's just weird. And apparently the Washington Post thought so too. They gave pretty much the exact review I did (only phrased better and with less videos. :D)

I booked tickets to go see it again from the opposite side--apparently the theater does this great program called "pay your age" if you're under 30...so I got $110 tickets for $24. :D Can't wait!

[sarita29]

Hee hee - finally, I have some time to check out this post! Sounds like a pretty neat production, overall (except for the too-hammy Mayor and Mrs. Shinn) - though I have to agree, Marian wearing pants is just wrong. However, based on my anecdotal theater-going experience, the trend for costumes in plays these days seems to tend toward the symbolic/avant-garde - which I find rather annoying in a period piece. Of the musicals I've seen in the last five years, Threepenny Opera was one of the worst offenders, as was Sweeney Todd. Thankfully, though, the Music Man performance in Ogunquit avoided that trap! Also, just a few days ago I saw Pirates of Penzance, and the costuming was likewise appropriate to the times. :)

[araminta18]

It is an awesome production--I went back and saw it for the third time last night...it closes tomorrow and makes me sad, even if the costumes were weird. I've noticed that trend too--I don't particularly care for it either, my only exception being Shakespeare. People can mess with Shakespeare all they want, but leave the rest alone. I saw a production of "Taming of the Shrew" set in the Wild West, which was pretty cool. But Music Man? I don't think so, especially when it is explicitly stated not to do that. :) Oh well!

[sarita29]

Three times? Nice! I only got to see the Ogunquit Playhouse production of the Music Man twice. :D

It's funny how Shakespeare and other authors like Jane Austen can be easily adapted to different times and places, but the Music Man is one of those rare works that is so anchored to its era and geographical location that it just doesn't work with a different setting or even just the addition of a few modern/avant-garde elements (I read of one production where the director told "Marian" to play her role like *she* was Winthrop's mother - she hated that idea and I also think it's ridiculous!).

People in my writers' groups suggested that I take the main themes and characters and adapt them to an original work (like Bridget Jones' Diary retold Pride and Prejudice), but even if it didn't seem too intellectually dishonest to attempt, I'm not at all interested in making that kind of effort when I can simply just write fanfiction! :)