Posted by Pam @ 02/17/2003 09:09 AM PST

Oh, my...first post. I blush at my unseemly promptness in TMM-bashing.

Posted by Pam @ 02/17/2003 09:09 AM PST

I didn't watch "The Music Man" I had listened to the CD the day before and had had a rehearsal that began at 6:00 and went until 9:00, and frankly did really care! I will, however check out the DVD when it is released. Peter Filichia had a "great" review, check it out.

http://theatremania.com/news/peterdiary/index.cfm?story=3135&cid=1

Posted by Matthew @ 02/17/2003 09:15 AM PST

Well Pam, I agree with you. I, too, am motivated to see the original movie again.

THE MUSIC MAN was "slick." It was bland--pablum for the mind. Left me neutral and uninterested--like the beigey costume color palette. An obviously talented bunch of people who were well rehearsed but the cumulative effect (or affect) was BORING! What I missed most were the WELL-DELINEATED CHARACTERS. And, something I've written about before, the BUILD in each number and in the scenes. Nope! Didn't do it for me.

Posted by Donna - Cabaret West @ 02/17/2003 09:20 AM PST

I couldn't bear to watch The Music Man. I love the film, and, although I enjoy a good trainwreck as much as anybody, I just knew it would be too painful to watch Matthew Broderick sully the memory of Robert Preston's incredible performance.

By the by, would anybody care to advise me about whether or not the Mack & Mabel CD would be worth buying? I've never seen the show, but have thought about getting the CD anyway. Thoughts?

Posted by Lulu @ 02/17/2003 10:00 AM PST

Oh, and Jr:

Thoroughly Modern Millie DVD has been moved back to May 6. :( Sorry!

Posted by Lulu @ 02/17/2003 10:06 AM PST

Lulu, MACK & MABEL is one of my all-time favorite scores--Herman's best, imo--there's just not a bad song in it.

Can't say the same about the book, unfortunately, which sucks like a Hoover.

Posted by Pam @ 02/17/2003 10:11 AM PST

By all means get the MACK AND MABEL CD. It's Preston at his best, Bernadette in a role she is right for (for a change) and Lisa Kirk who automatically made any show she was in a little better.

When "Pick-A-Little" is the highlight of a MUSIC MAN you know that something is wrong. Matthew was just boring - although I bitched that I saw his understudy both in HOW TO SUCCEED and THE PRODUCERS, in this case an understudy would have been better. Kristin was okay but the costume designer and wig maker sabotaged her. David Aaron Baker came off more masculine than usual but was all wrong for the part. Victor Garber did ther best he could in a role he was wrong for and who was that child playing his wife? Only Debra Monk could move her performance to a good MUSIC MAN without change. Four Casting Directors (including Jay Binder, the best in the business) were creditd and they couldn't do any better than that? One added note: Since this was "G" rated and aimed at a family audience couldn't ABC have foregone the ad for it's sexy people contest? I could go on, but it's all been said by many other posters.

BK - I'm sending you the BB article from the Times. Both CDs are mentioned.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 02/17/2003 11:05 AM PST

Well, I posted some thoughts last night, and what follows is a cut and past of that followed by some additional comments...

Hey there. Sorry for not making the chat. A friend came over to watch The Music Man with me, and I had to attend to my host-ly duties.

I actually just checked the chat room, and was able to enter it. And I was the only one in there, so I left. And now I'm posting.

As for my thoughts on The Music Man... *Am I allowed to post now? Was there a temporary moratorium declared during the chat? Well, I'll just leave a few general comments for now.

I didn't think it was good. I didn't think it was bad. It was just there. There were a few bright moments for me, and some low moments. -The lowest being Harold's reprise of "Til There Was You". -Which was only "bested" by the duet section of the same song. -Oh, sorry those were specifics.

I developed a very fond and soft spot for this show a few years ago. I was fortunate to MD a very wonderful production, and I still cherish the memories and the feelings from that production. So, even though I didn't fully enjoy tonight's production, it still brought a smile to my face just because it was The Music Man. It's amazing how solid the material is on it's own. That it can hold up even when it is not given the chance to be fully realized.

-It was nice hearing that most of the script and lines were kept and not altered. I could still recite certain sections along with the TV.

*However, the line toward the end where Harold is trying to prevent Winthrop from running away... "I'm bigger than you..." still elicits a giggle from me. -One of the consequences of growing up in today's world.

-Now for the new stuff...

One moment I did miss was at the end where the River "Citiziens" start to sit down again during Mayor Shinn's speech about how they've been deceived... So that they're all sitting down by the time he gets to "Where's the band?!?"

And I also sorely missed the modulation between "Lida Rose" and "Will I Ever Tell You" - that half step slide up by the quartet is a perfect transition. *And when I've done the show, it's always a point of "nervousness" just in case the quartet has happened to drop pitch (or raise pitch) during "Lida Rose".

And as for Ms. Chenoweth's more operatic moments, I thought most of them sounded like high belt/mix. -And the keys were lowered too. *I would love to hear her sing them in the original keys which she surely can do.

Well, that's enough of that for now...

I spent a good chunk of time (unfortunately not of ham and cheese) this morning digging out a friend's car. Didn't take too long, and the wind had died down. Well, after digging him out, I went ahead and got my car dug out and scraped - lots of ice! And I don't even have to go anywhere today!?!?! Then I went ahead and shoveled the walk and the front and back porches. It actually felt good to get outside for a while and be physical, especially after being cooped up in my apartment for the past two days.

Hope my fellow East-coasters are faring well too.

*Although I really wanted SNOW. The sleet and ice just aren't doing it for me. ;-)

Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 02/17/2003 11:07 AM PST

Pam, LOL! So I'd heard (about the book). I'm pretty decided I'll get it, thanks to your praise and WEL's. (I've also got a friend with her leg in a cast, who would be thrilled to receive a copy...so that's my other excuse for getting it! ;) )

Posted by Lulu @ 02/17/2003 11:15 AM PST

10 posts? Oy is bruce gonna get some bitchslappin' in today..

Posted by Craig @ 02/17/2003 11:19 AM PST

Well, since I now represent exactly 1/4 of the total posts on this board, I'm not going to be the you-know-what being slapped...

Posted by Lulu @ 02/17/2003 11:25 AM PST

Well, I taped THE MUSIC MAN last night, so I haven't had a chance to see it. I did, however, hear some of it on "Say It With Music" (a theatre-related radio show on CBC) and can only say that my suspicions about Matthew Broderick being miscast were somewhat confirmed. I am not holding out much hope that the movie will be much good, but it is always nice to see (and hear) Ms. Chenoweth.

The thing is, there was nothing wrong with the original movie version, so I don't understand the need for this re-make - especially when there are so many other movie musicals crying out to be remade.

So, of all the Broadway musicals that Hollywood has butchered, which would you nominate for a Disney remake for television?

Posted by Dave @ 02/17/2003 11:41 AM PST

From what I've read I would prefer "Toot Whistle and Plunk" to 76 Trombones. How though would people who have never seen the film, not seen a production and never heard the score, react to the TV movie. I thought it was being made for a new audience. Are we the right people to review it? Yes I know we are all allowed to have opinions!
Of course we won't even see it down under in OZ until it is on DVd of makes it to the Disney Channel.

Posted by Tom from Oz @ 02/17/2003 12:05 PM PST

Tom, from what I've read, Broderick was woefully miscast in the lead -- sounds to me like a fatal flaw from which any show could hardly hope to recover.

It could be argued that Broderick simply chose a "different interpretation" of Harold Hill than Preston did, but let's face it: we are TOLD repeatedly throughout the show that Hill is "a by-God spellbinder!" It's absolutely necessary that Hill be charismatic, forceful, and dynamic. To "choose" to play him instead as boyish, low-energy and lackluster (as Broderick's performance has been repeatedly described) is really not an option.

Posted by Lulu @ 02/17/2003 12:22 PM PST

Well, I'm back from Long Island. My weekend was cut short because of the snow here in NYC.

I saw some of Music Man last night but as most others have said, what I saw just was not very well done. I like MB but this just didn't work. He is so NOT a Harold Hill type. There was a stiffness and sound stage quality surrounding everything I saw last night where there was a natural and believable quality throughout the entire Robert Preston movie.

Tom, I do agree, I think the movie was made for different audiences. We (of a certain age) are repeatedly told how we are not in the right demographic. I realize that as television evolves from what it used to be to it's current, sorry state. I appreciate Zadan & company wanting to introduce younger )and unaware) audiences to the magic of music theatre but I think and hope there are other ways to do other than taking a classic and sucking all the life out of it.

Enough babbling from me. Seems like a slow day at this here blog. I know most of us aren't on the east coast so that can't be the excuse. I'm just listening to the radio, drinking hot chocolate and reading. Although I did venture out after I got home. It's fun to walk down Fifth Avenue literally, with no (or few) cars to worry about. Jason, I guess you'll be working this evening. I heard on WQXR that the Met performance will be on tonight. Also, Carnegie Hall performances are on tonight as well. I did see on NY1 (our local all-news station in the NYC area) that Phantom has cancelled the performance for tonight.

Ah, well. Back to my hot chocolate

Posted by Ben @ 02/17/2003 12:57 PM PST

What is it, a holiday or something? You'd think people were in their yards roasting their weiners and eating corn on the cob. Of course, if anyone is doing that on the east coast it will be frozen corn and weiners. Let's get some postin' goin' on. This month started out like gangbusters and is slowly going right down the toilet. That, coupled with the fact that it's a short month means we have to put on an extra push so that soon we can be the most popular site on all the Internet. We simply can't let other sites be more popular. Damn them, damn them all to hell.
C'mon, team, let's win one for the Gipper or the Kipper or the herring or the whitefish. Let's win one for SOMEONE, damn it. Let's not get complacent on our ample behinds. Come on, folks, we need to get some steam goin', we need to get over this little hurdle, we need to take off the girdle and let our posts spread like fine margerine. Now, come on, you people, give me an "H" give me and "H" give me a "W" and then give me ten THOUSAND dollars. We can do it, people, I know we can do it, we have it in us, we have the power, the light is shining on us, we are the world, we are the children, give posts a chance. Has anyone noticed that this here post is longer than today's notes? Now come on, you human readers, let us follow the road to glory or, at the very least, to Perdition. Let us post until the cows come home or until the gerbils come home. Let us post, and once we've posted, let us post some more. Sure, it's a holiday, a jolly holiday, although not a Jew-day Holliday. C'mon, everyone, it's time to go for the gold, to go for the gusto, to go for the pizza. I believe in MIRACLESSSS.
What am I, Kathryn Kuhlman all of a sudden?

Posted by bk @ 02/17/2003 01:04 PM PST

BK, I think you have had quite enough caffeine for today.

Posted by Pam @ 02/17/2003 01:20 PM PST

BK---
I think a lot of people who post from work are off today and don't have access to a computer at home. That's why there are so few posts. Also many may still be in shell shock after watching Music Man. We're still the most popular site on the internet.

Posted by William E. Lurie @ 02/17/2003 01:31 PM PST

Well, after BK's surpassingly weird tirade, I don't know how I can not post.
I wish that I had more to say.
I cleared the snow from the diveway and sidewalk and front walk and steps. That wasn't fun. The snow's not quite so bad as on the East Coast, but it is still a pretty good amount of snow.
Now I have math homework. Then we will eat dinner and go to see Talk To Her, which I am looking forward to avidly.
I'm listening to Guys & Dolls right now. That is a wonderful score. I hope that someday I can enjoy it without associations to the unpleasant production I did. I'd like a crack at Sky.
Sorry, Obadiah.

Posted by Hapgood @ 02/17/2003 01:36 PM PST

"Surpassingly weird tirade"? Which part did you find weird and which did you find surpassing?

William E. Lurie - WHEW! I knew there had to be some explanation.

Posted by bk @ 02/17/2003 02:26 PM PST

Sorry I have been errant and truant. I've been busy doing "snowy" kind of things--taping my windows (for better insulation), walking around in snow past my knees, and napping (my favorite of all snow day activities). I was scheduled to work the dress rehearsal for LA BOHEME this morning, but it was cancelled. I was not scheduled to work at the Met tonight, but my manager called me and left a message asking me to come in. Unfortunately, I didn't get his message until about 20 minutes ago, and I was supposed to be there by 5:45. T'ain't happenin'. I found someone who could work for me, so I think it's alright. I really can't imagine that there will be that many people who come to see LES TROYENS in a blizzard, but the Met figures its cheaper to pay the overtime to the staff and crew than it would be to refund or exchange patrons tickets. I dunno what to think about that.

About THE MUSIC MAN. I love that show with all of my heart, and thought that it was nearly impossible to mess it up. That was before I saw last night's production. Mr. Broderick, while quite talented, was SO miscast in the role that it was painful and boring to watch. The numbers were too "studioy"--too slick. I appreciated the outdoor locations (as opposed to a soundstage), but the songs were over-produced. I felt that ABC was totally playing off Mr. Garber's character in their show "Alias" by having him play the role as mean-spirited rather than bumbling. I thought it ridiculous that the school board's average age was 20 and that Tommy Djilas, cute smile withstanding, looked like he was 30. I didn't understand the need for the new orchestrations, nor did I like most of them, though there were a couple of things that I thought "worked." That doesn't mean that I think they should be added to the score as a permanent addition. I love Ms. Chenoweth in pretty much anything she does, and I thought she did a fine job with this piece, though I would have liked her songs to be in the original keys. She's got the pipes for it, so why not just let her go for it? And Debra Monk--I loved her. She was, sadly, the best part of the whole production.

Anyway, there you have them--thoughts on it, which have absolutely no significance to anyone but myself. Now I'm off to watch "Sabrina: The Teenage Witch" (one of my guilty pleasures) and then who knows what I'll do. Hope everyone's keeping warm and dry!!

Craig: Any word on whether you'll be flying tomorrow?

Posted by Jason @ 02/17/2003 02:33 PM PST

The intensity of the tirade was surpassing, the content was weird.
Understand that this is a compliment. I am a fan of weirdness as long as it does not hurt anyone. Weirdness is the reason that I come to this site.

Regarding "Les Troyens" in a blizzard: I imagine that some people would be there. Opera fans are a dedicated bunch.
In fact, whenever I start to think that theater people are parochial, or insular, or that theater directors do bizarre productions that have no respect for the text, or that we create tempests in teapots, I always take a look at the world of the opera, and realize that we'll never even come close.

Posted by Hapgood @ 02/17/2003 02:59 PM PST

Here it is -- my obligatory post. I have been busy today pulling weeds from my front yard.

Posted by Laura @ 02/17/2003 03:02 PM PST

Laura, after you got the dandelions pulled, what else did you do? Is the screen door patched? Is the beefsteak pounded?

Better pump some water, so your parents aren't left with a cistern empty on a Saturday night...there'd be trouble. Yes, you'd have lots and lots of trouble.

(sorry...in a very very Music Man mood.)

Posted by Lulu @ 02/17/2003 03:16 PM PST

Jason-

Your guess is as good as mine. I am packed and ready to go at 5am. I will, of course, be calling ahead to see if the airports have been re-opened...

to quote the great diva - "say a little prayer for me"

Posted by Craig @ 02/17/2003 03:24 PM PST

I love The Music Man....and I suppose the best thing about it was that they didn't re-do the script to have little lead-ins to all the commercials. I agree with yesterday's poster who said that the producers got such glowing reviews with ANNIE because the movie version was so bad.

Well....with MM, they reversed the process. All of the humor was gone from Mayor and Mrs Shinn. Chenowith seemed a bit more harsh than needed to be and her singing is...well her singing...and I know she is very popular around here...but it is an acquired taste.

The choreography even done and filmed for television was below par...and has been noted MANY days ago...the new arrangements were changes but NOT improvements.

That's all I will say...more than enough some will say, but sad sad sad....Harold and Marion....sad sad sad.

TMM DVD delayed? That IS bad news....

Posted by Jrand52 @ 02/17/2003 03:48 PM PST

I'm at home listening to and making a CD of my vinyl record of "Lady in the Dark" with Judy Garland and John Lund. All I can say is that it's short and it only has one song...just "My Ship Comes In" and that sounds like it was spliced in from another source of lesser quality. The whole recording is only 32 minutes long.

As far as "The Music Man" is concerned, I didn't hate it, but I think that they really missed the boat. I loved Matthew Broderick in both "How to Succeed..." and "The Producers," (well, on the recordings. I didn't see them live) but he is definitely NOT a Harold Hill. Maybe they had cast Kristin Chenoweth before they had cast anyone as Harold Hill and they had to get someone who wouldn't make her look like a tiny child next to him, so they got MB...it would make sense. Debra Monk is taller than Matthew Broderick and it's obvious that she really towers over Kristin.

Posted by George @ 02/17/2003 04:04 PM PST

I just got home from work...yes, Virginia (and New Jersey too), nurses are not allowed to holiday-ize but the 6 basic times a year. Call it un-American...I call it chintzy. Mamas (and Papas), Don't Let Your Children Grow Up To Be Nurses.

Snow? Let's see: I vaguely remember what that was...

BK: I forgot to tell you that I thoroughly enjoyed Benjamin Kritzer...what fun to identify with so many things. I hated it to be over, so it's a good thing that a sequel is forthcoming. Does the sequel include his Bar Mitzvah?

Posted by KT @ 02/17/2003 04:15 PM PST

I just got back from seeing "The Hours" and was blown away buy the movie. There wasn't a bad charactor or actor in that film. I think it may give "Chicago" a run for its money. Although, I shouldn't say that until I see the other two films nominated for best picture, which I plan to do soon. Off to the first night of auditions for "The Boy Friend". Won't you charelston with me?

Posted by Matthew @ 02/17/2003 04:18 PM PST

I cannot say, oh, no, I cannot say AT THIS TIME. But, since the book begins and ends with Benjamin's thirteenth birthday, I will leave you to surmise, oh, yes, I will leave you to surmise.

Hapgood - I was only worried that the intensity of the tirade was weird and the content surpassing.

Posted by bk @ 02/17/2003 04:18 PM PST

OK, I just saw probably the most concise critique of Broderick's performance as Harold Hill as I am likely to, on the rec.arts.past-films group just now. To wit:

"This salesman couldn't sell ice cream in July, let alone have an entire town hoodwinked for weeks."

Posted by Lulu @ 02/17/2003 04:42 PM PST

Oh,back to MM...

What was the deal with the doo-wop "It's You"?!?!?!?!?!

And the re-orchestration/arrangement of "Iowa Stubborn" drove me crazy. At least they kept the "American Gothic" reference, kinda-sorta.

And I actually recognized a lot of people in the production, but, of course, the credits were squeezed to the left and went by very fast. And I wasn't recording it. Knew I didn't to do so.

Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 02/17/2003 05:25 PM PST

LOL....JMK and I know all about credits squeezed to the left. But if you recorded it and pause it, you can find his name & later mine in the credits for the A/E Biography of Frances Farmer.

Of course, JMK, was also featured ONSCREEN with his name below and EVERYTHING.

Posted by Jrand52 @ 02/17/2003 05:37 PM PST

Oh I just realized as I was watching MM there was one performance I sort of liked....it was David Aaron Baker (I think) as Marcellus.

Posted by Jrand52 @ 02/17/2003 05:49 PM PST

well well well (that is 3 wells).. My flight to NY was cancelled and rescheduled for later in the afternoon. I hope I get to go :)

In other news... Joe Millionaire - a very VERY silly show did have 2 interesting twists this evening..

Won't spoil it for the westcoasters...

Posted by Craig @ 02/17/2003 06:50 PM PST

Bruce-I am sorry if I offended you with my "surpassingly weird" comment. I merely meant it as an observation. I am not sure what a tirade whose intensity was weird and whose content was surpassing. You must try it some time. ;)

I just returned from seeing "Talk To Her". GO SEE THIS MOVIE!!!! I am still shaking, an hour after the credits rolled. It is so beautiful. It will ruin for me a lot of movies that are only okay, or that have a lack of imagination. This movie has imagination in spades. I recommend it wholeheartedly.

Posted by Hapgood @ 02/17/2003 07:09 PM PST

Yep I just watched Joe Millionaire too. I will talk about it tomorrow, since many of you live on the West Coast. I will say this though. I totally predicted the twist!!!! But even though I predicted it, I still thought the ending was extremely enjoyable. And I am so happy for the girl who won. Btw, skip the first hour (you will bored to tears). The good stuff only starts in the second hour.

Jennifer

Posted by Jennifer @ 02/17/2003 07:17 PM PST

There was no sparkle to the production of Music Man. If I'd never seen the previous movie or another production, I muight have thought last night's prodcution was good. The revival on Broadway was wonderful, so I know it can still be done right. Well, at leas they didn't screw it up too much. But it was flat. And what was with all the sepia? I do have to say that it was a good hat movie.

And Lulu, RUN buy your copy of "Mack and Mabel." Wonderful score. It kept me sane one summer; I listened on my way to work everyday (at a job that was less than ideal).

Posted by Kerry @ 02/17/2003 07:21 PM PST

Hapgood - we iz funnin' here. I wasn't offended at all. I love going off on journeys like that where everything and anything and also anything and everything comes spilling out of me like an upside down can of baked beans.

I agree about Mack and Mabel, a must-have on CD.

Posted by bk @ 02/17/2003 07:28 PM PST

Whatever.

Posted by . @ 02/17/2003 07:37 PM PST

I still say that Matthew Broderick studied the robot films of yore to prepare for his role as Harold Hill, and even then he didn't get it right! The False Maria, Klaatu and Robbie are all far more slick and energetic than Matthew's Music Man was. Maybe Matthew got hung up on the robotic pairing of Bernadette Peters and Andy Kaufman....I say a silly man, making silly moves that had no bearing on reality, or heightened reality, for that matter.
I will say also that Kristen probably has the most difficult face to photograph since Patty LuPone's heyday on tv; some of the shots of Ms. C were positively ravishing, and then she would tilt her head a quarter of an inch, and YOWZAH! The Creature walked among us!
What a pity, since, I too, am one of the ones who loves the Disneyfied ANNIE on its very own meritorious merits.

Posted by td @ 02/17/2003 07:49 PM PST

One more YAY! for Mack & Mabel. The original is definitely the best, but the London benefit concert is nice too (a different Mabel for each song), and the London revival has some nice points too (Howard McGillin among them). -Hmm... been ages since I've listened to any of them...

I saw a wonderful community theatre production of the show many years ago... They wanted the "sad" ending - and not the keystone cops ending. So, while Mack sang "I Promised You A Happy Ending", they ran black & white footage of Mabel and other members of the cast on the set, at the beach, eating at a restaurant, etc... Very touching. And it ended with a close up on Mabel's face.

*It was also fun spotting all the production personnel in costume in the footage. Can you imagine all the onlookers?

Posted by Jose C. Simbulan @ 02/17/2003 08:30 PM PST

My goodness, I've been
catching up on 5 days worth of
HHW. What a delightful (if
time-consuming) task!

Now to join the critiquing of
Music Man... I can only agree
with what has been said over
and over again: Matthew
Broderick was just so horribly
miscast that he never had a
chance. Harold Hill is
supposed to work these
people into an absolute frenzy,
but his Trouble in River City
was so lifeless that I'd think
most of the townsfolk would
walk right past without taking
notice of this singing stranger.
Chenoweth would certainly not
be my choice of Marians, but I
didn't find her a detraction from
the show. I, too, missed Mayor
Shinn's bumbling nature, but
was pleasantly surprised that
Molly Shannon didn't make me
wretch as Eulalie. As for
musical changes, I see no
logic in adding in an orchestra
behind the second half of
Rock Island; I don't
understand leaving Amaryllis
out of the end of Goodnight My
Someone; and I screamed at
my TV when there was no
half-step modulation after Lida
Rose. But for me, the biggest
question of the night was what
the hell was the deal
with that dream sequence
dance during Marian the
Librarian... just wretched!!!

Ok, quite enough of me for
now.

Posted by Jed @ 02/17/2003 09:20 PM PST

Just finished the upcoming Brent Barrett interview. It will either go up tomorrow (if Craig has time to deal with it) or over the weekend when he gets back. It's a sparkling interview and Brent pulls no punches about anything. We delve, we probe, we talk about the Weisslers, his various and sundried Velmas and Roxies, Reba, his two albums and much much more.

Posted by bk @ 02/17/2003 09:45 PM PST

WHAT MAKES HORSE RACING......

Just finished watching the Music Man. Now that everyone has finished taking their dump on it,
I'd like to present the case for the defense:

I loved the original movie.
I loved Robert Preston, Buddy Hackett, Pert Kelton, Paul Ford, and Hermione Gingold. They were all exactly right for the style of the movie: that of a joyful, stylized cartoon. Only Ronny Howard and,to some extent, Shirley Jones took it any deeper.
There is a very good story to be told in the Music Man, and the powers that were who put the new version made a bold choice to push the darkness envelope. It played far more realistically than I ever imagined it could be, and was far more involving.
Yes, it was less surface-funny than it's predecessor, but it more than made up for it with it's ability to make you care.
Matthew Broderick perfectly suited the tone set by the production. Robert Preston would have been as out of place in this version as Broderick would have been in the original.
In a more realistic version, all you really need to sell those band instruments is charm, which Broderick has in abundance.
He also brought vulnerability to it.
I first encountered Kristin Chenoweth when I saw "Steel Pier". I thought, "Oh, God, another Broadway freak show who the critics roll over and play dead for". So I was at least apprehensive.
But the wonderful choice was made to tone her down in all respects. I enjoyed her immensely.
I really don't care how young the Barbershop Quartet was, or why anyone would.
There was no reason to try to copy the original, and as a result, another original was created. If it was my first exposure to the material, I would probably think the original to be far more shallow.
I'm glad I saw it in the order that I did.
I liked this new version a whole lot. I rest my case, your honor.

Posted by mark rothman @ 02/17/2003 10:30 PM PST

Your honor, in defense of everyone who didn't feel as the honorable Mr. Rothman felt - I don't think anybody wanted to take a dump on The Music Man. I think everyone wanted to like it. Most of our posters didn't, but Mr. Rothman and S. Woody White did, and that IS what makes horse racing. I'm of the opinion that the original film is not relevant - it's wonderful and couldn't be better, in my opinion. The only question is whether the television version worked. I'm afraid it didn't for the majority of the people we've heard from here, and an even larger majority on other sites. We were positively mild compared to them. But it obviously did work for some, so that is good. I think it's the first of these that didn't win its ratings slot (even though Disney thought they were a sure thing - believe me, I know whereof I speak), so that may say something. It started out in second place and ended up in its last hour in fourth.

Posted by bk @ 02/17/2003 11:10 PM PST

All I can add is that I put my comments in the 2/16 notes, if anyone really wants to go back for them.

Posted by S. Woody White @ 02/18/2003 01:46 AM PST

Just to point out a fact, the Canadian group - VIP - who did a wonderful job as the quartet of school board members, are all mid-to-late 20s - younger than you may be used to, but older than several people here have assumed.

Posted by lida rose @ 04/13/2003 08:29 PM PST