The Music Man : FAN REVIEWS

[jo]

It might be more useful to segregate the more detailed Fan Reviews vs the shorter comments (Fan Page)



Posted on ATC

Posted by: jaymac 10:30 am EST 12/21/21

In reply to: Anyone go to the first preview of The Music Man? - KingSpeed 12:58 am EST 12/21/21

I did! I loved it. I thought the Stroman version was stronger if not as strong as this one.
This production had the Jerry Zaks signature opulence of beautiful scenery and costumes like he did with Hello Dolly.
Choreography by Warren Carlyle is beautiful. Like I said. Stroman's choreography was really etched in my mind.
It's the first preview. As it is, it's already a great production. There are a few minor things, like Hugh was bumping on stage with some kids.

They have a long preview period and this is bound to change. They are not set to open till February.
Hugh is the centerpiece of this show. He has charm and charisma for Harold Hill and dances so well obviously worked hard for months to do the show.

Sutton was great, a bit miscast but loved her. She is not a soprano so her My White Knight was belted. Most her songs are belted with a soprano mix. It worked for me, gave Marian the edge she needed.

The supporting players were also fabulous. Jane Houdyshell, Shuler Hensley, and the boy playing Winthrop.
I have tickets for January and February. hopefully, this show doesn't get shut down. I went last night last minute thinking I may not be able to see this again because of all the shutdowns happening.
I wish them a long good run.

[jo]

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Jimmyb1969
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#80
Posted: 12/21/21 at 9:04am

I was there last night and IMHO I thought it was joyous! It was just what I wanted - needed - to lift my spirits! The star of the show - the dancing! Hugh is terrific and plays Harold as "the Charmer in Chief." He's wonderful. Sutton is terrific of course. It's nice to have two leads who can sing the score and while Sutton may not be your classic soprano she uses her upper range beautifully - because she's trained and has technique and is a pro. They've tweaked it some for her and she makes My White Night her own and it works beautifully. Other standouts...no surprise with Jefferson Mays and Mrs. Paroo and Winthrop are excellent...both just steal every scene they are in. Not everyone is at the top of their game - Jayne Houdyshell give an understated performance as the mayors wife...I kept thinking where's Mary Testa when you need her or Simard or Hoffman? They would have devoured the role. That was a mistake. And I'm sad to say Shuler Hensley is just not cutting it as Marcellus. He didn't have the vocals and frankly wasn't much fun. I'm all for evolving the role from Buddy Hackett and I was like where's Chris Fitzgerald - I know he's in company but we needed a scene stealer and some joy and life I never got the feeling Shuler was having any fun - same with Jayne. Jayne needed a B-12 shot. And sadly Zaneeta was weak along with the Ladies Auxillary - again I kept thinking bring the dream team in and make something of these roles - Simard, Hoffman, Testa - you get it.

Direction is ok with one very big exception imho- more on that in a second ...Dancing is fantastic...sets are hit (gym, library) or MISS (barn act/transition curtain-ouch, "mini golf" footbridge-ouch, any connective scene/drops), lighting is hit or miss too and nothing exceptional throughout...hits gym and library, misses - train-needed to be so much cooler to help that flat set, opening number-what town?, connective scenes and Wells Fargo were just flat and lifeless and help out that ugly footbridge. And the costumes I'm sad to say looked really cheap with the exception of Hugh. The choices for Sutton are just not right imho and her wigs were awful. She plays the role with some fire...her costumes and hair should subtly reflect that. Big mistakes.

Directors make choices - the choice to not stage the opening number does not get the show off to a good start. I'm all for a cast standing there and singing BUT this doesn't work and needs to be restaged because you need the momentum going into trouble.It doesn't work. We need to set that this is a town and we are dropped into the middle of it...not dropped into the middle of a choir concert. It's lazy we need to get a better sense of these people before Hugh comes in to disrupt. The first two numbers do not work as directed - Hugh has a huge deficit when he starts trouble and you could feel him working hard to get the show moving...it's the only time he struggled and I blame that squarely on the direction. Jerry needs to fix that asap. Easy tweaks. And the ending needs work. You expect the big joyous miracle and instead the show stops and I was like is this over...thank god Winthrop comes out and saves the day - he's so winning and then the show starts again but instead of the big marching band we get another beautiful dance number - let's call it "The grand finale interpretive instrument montage tableau" and from that amazing weirdness we go into the weirdest bows I've ever seen. Give people their moment. Give us more singing? And the orchestra felt small.

It's a big, joyous night and Hugh and Sutton are terrific. An excellent first preview and now they have a month to tighten this up and get it all right. Nothing isn't fixable! Come on Jerry stage the opening number!

[jo]

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[jo]

From ATC --

The Music Man tonight at the Winter Garden

Last Edit: seeseveryshow 12:46 am EST 12/22/21
Posted by: seeseveryshow 12:39 am EST 12/22/21

It’s everything one hoped for and more. A solid entertainment filled with magnificent performances and a glorious production. Jackman is a terrific song and dance man with boundless energy. Foster, who also received thunderous entrance applause, once again displays her award winning triple threat talents. The enormous stage is filled by a large and charming ensemble. The dancing is joyful.

Hillary Clinton was seated (row H center aisle) accompanied by her daughter and son-in-law. They were likely the guests of show producer Barry Diller, who sat behind her. I believe Mrs. Diller sat between Hillary and Chelsea. A few secret service types guarded the group during intermission, but several audience members kneeled in the aisle and took selfies with the former Secretary of State.

I explored the mezzanine during intermission and was once again impressed by the very decent stage view from seats even in the far sides of the uniquely designed theater. I recall that I sat in the last mezzanine row for my first visit to the Winter Garden - The Unsinkable Molly Brown. I think the ticket price was $2.50.

Mrs. Diller is the famous fashion designer ( she invented or modernized the "wrap" dress) & philantrophist ( she helped initiate the NYC High Line park project) Diane Von Furstenberg.

[jo]

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THE MUSIC MAN Previews
#155
Posted: 12/22/21 at 1:06am
Saw it. I’m going to focus on some music related things, mainly:

1) Scott Wittman & Marc Shaiman have written new lyrics to Shipoopi. It is now about a man who kisses on a third date (less sexist). Sadder But Wiser Girl is now a big dance number between Harold & Marcellus with added lyrics. There might have been some brief revised lyrics in Trouble and Pick A Little too?

2) Sutton sings the version of My White Knight from Barbara Cook at Carnegie Hall. She mostly sings it wonderfully and belts the end. I liked her voice for this part after going in with my arms crossed. She brings out shades of Marian I have never seen before. She’s really good.

3) I hate to sound like an originalist, but the new choreography has necessitated inferior dance arrangements and new orchestrations. The dance arrangements do not build and they don’t really have an arc. Jonathan Tunick’s orchestrations aren’t as good as Don Walker’s. All this is a problem when there’s sooo much dancing.

4) Hugh bizarrely begins 76 Trombones almost like a prayer. The main verse doesn’t begin with the classic brassy BUM DA DA DA DUM DA DA DA DUM BLEEP BLOP. He is a Harold who is a little slicker than others we’ve seen. He’s a quiet charmer.

5) Hugh sings more in this production, in addition to the dancing. He gets part of Wells Fargo Wagon and a bit of Gary Indiana.

6) Jayne Houdyshell gets “Columbia Gem of the Ocean” as a solo and, predictably, kills it. The racist “Wa Tan Yee” moment is cut and they’re now dressed as revolutionary soldiers when Tommy’s explosive startles Mrs. Shinn. Jayne and Jefferson are still finding comedic moments, but I have no doubt they’ll be perfect with a little bit of time. Jefferson is better in act 2 than act 1.

7) The orchestra balance is a problem in the mezz. It is very tough to hear the strings, and it’s a big string section. Will probably be fixed eventually. The other issue is that the theatre itself has a loud AC system, so it’s never silent.

8) Lida Rose/Will I Ever Tell You made me cry. This quartet is dynamite.

9) The written ending of THE MUSIC MAN is lamesauce, and if they’re going to tamper with other elements of the show then they might as well figure this out too. The Minuet in G finale never works and it’s awkward. It is followed by an overlong curtain call dance sequence, but it sent me out with a smile.

10) The tempos of most numbers are a little slower than what we are used to from the OBC album.



Show got out at 10:41 and the curtain went up a few minutes after 8. Not an unusual length for a production of MUSIC MAN, but this can definitely be tightened and some of the dance sequences can be trimmed.

[jo]

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eeseveryshow2
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#156
Posted: 12/22/21 at 1:14am
I thought the ending was fine. Loved all the dance. Wouldn’t cut anything. Has there ever been a leading man in a Broadway show who danced as much and as well as Jackman? The show is joyful entertainment. Audiences will feel well-rewarded for their investment.

[jo]

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TNick926
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#161
Posted: 12/22/21 at 6:31am
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."


I haven't seen The Music Man yet (tickets in February) but I love Santo Loquasto's use of more traditional set design in Hello, Dolly! and Carousel, including painted backdrops. I agree, Jordan, it feels "right" to me, too, for these classic shows.

[jo]

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pollster2
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#219
Posted: 12/23/21 at 12:50am

I saw the show tonight and overall I enjoyed it.

I really liked Hugh Jackman but at no point did I feel like I was watching Harold Hill. I felt like I was watching Hugh Jackman show everyone that he can sing and dance. And boy, can he sing and dance. He’s incredibly talented but I had to taper my expectations that he’d actually act the role.

I love Sutton Foster but I felt like she was miscast. She clearly struggled during some of the songs. Her acting and dancing were top-notch. Unlike Hugh, I felt like I was watching Marion. I was also distracted by her wig as I felt like she looked like Elizabeth McGovern on Downton Abbey.

The supporting cast was fine. I thought Jefferson Mays as Mayor Shinn and the little boy who played Winthrop were excellent. Shuler Hensley did not do anything for me as Marcellus. I like Jayne Houdyshell and Marie Mullen but I found their performances largely forgettable. The quartet was excellent. The others were clearly cast because they can dance. I didn’t think there was any chemistry between Tommy and Zaneeta but they did what they needed to do.

I felt like the show started off slowly. It didn’t get moving until “Trouble.” I loved “The Wells Fargo Wagon.” I thought the staging of that number was very clever. “Shipoopi” was a bit of a letdown. I noticed early on that they changed the lyrics. I assume this was to be more politically correct. The lyrics were fine but I felt a tremendous lack of energy during the number. The finale also felt very abrupt, to the point where it was jarring for a second or two. I don’t remember it ever being like that.

I agree with what others are saying about the choreography: it’s terrific but it’s too much. They use every opportunity to remind us that Hugh can dance. There are definitely dance moments that can be cut.

I liked certain aspects of the set and disliked others. I loved the library, Marian’s house, and the town hall. The rest looked cheap.

I found myself looking at the playbill to see what was up next. That’s obviously never a good thing. But I enjoyed myself a lot. It’s a fun production with an extremely talented cast. Would I spend the money some have spent on tickets? No, but I paid what I felt was appropriate and enjoyed myself greatly. We’re lucky to have a season where we have three great (and very different) revivals of three very special shows: Company, Caroline, and Music Man.