And they're marching still, right today
Feb. 16th, 2003 12:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
eggwardsThe Music Man
Tonight ABC is showing Matthew Broderick in a production of the musical, the Music man. As much as it pains me to miss the Simpson’s tonight, The Music Man holds a special place in my formerly thespian heart.
Trust me, I’ll be singing along with every song.
So, in this spirit, here comes a past times story. If you haven’t read DC’s Starman or JSA, you may not know what I speak of, but James Robinson, the writer, likes to take an issue or two to write a background story. Something the readers may not have known about the characters. This is such a story.
The time, was my sophomore year of high school. I was in love with the theater and had already participated in a number of plays. Every spring, Conroe high would put on a musical. The year before it had been Finnian’s Rainbow, and I had been in the chorus (as chubby young man # 3, I think). This year’s choice, said our Drama teacher would be Meredith Wilson’s The Music Man. A great choice for someone like me who likes the band. There would definitely be a part for someone who could sort of play a brass instrument.
I sang for a couple of parts. At the time I was a high tenor, being 15 and a late bloomer. I was all of 5’8” and heavier than my peers. Surprisingly, outside of band and drama, I was picked on. Go fig.
So I could play saxophone back then. There’s a horrible story of how I wanted to play trumpet and wasn’t allowed to that I’ll have to go into some day. I hadn’t found my best instrument, Tuba. That wouldn’t come until college. Let me tell you how much I hate the saxophone, LATER.
As you may know, the story involves Professor Harold Hill as a con man who tries to sell nothing to a city hoping to start a boys band (this is 1900 or so, no girls in band, thank you). He goes about developing support for the band that will never come so he can raise the money and get out of town. He also picks up a young female music teacher in each of the towns he visits to help is credibility. So he lands in River City, Iowa, and starts working his charms.
His downfall, is that he falls in love with the music teacher and librarian that he meets in River City. She is a spinstress, almost too old to marry, at about 22 or so. She lives with her mother and her little brother, Winthrop. Winthrop hasssst a sstpeech impediment. He lisstps. Therefore, he’s picked on.
Now I’m not leading man material. There’s already a guy who’s set for the role of Harold Hill. I could play his con-man sidekick, Marcellus Washburn, but that calls for a song of my own, and I’m a so-so singer. There’s the town council, a barbershop quartet. And there are plenty of kids in the band whom I could play. Out of all the young men who could play a member of the band (come on, could I land the role of Tommy Djellas? Jeely Kly!) Guess what role I get.
Winthrop Parroo. The kid. I’m 15 playing what’s best, a role for an 8 year old.
Still, I get two songs, get to try to play the trumpet (if you know the story, actually being able to play is kind of a non-issue, you just have to “think” music) and I get the largest role I’ve ever had.
On the flip side, I’m playing an 8 year-old that looks like he has a glandular problem in a light-blue sailor suit with knickers. Winthrop is too young for pants. He’s also got a girl admirer who’s making him crazy. (I can feel for him, there), he was played in a movie by a six year-old Ronnie Howard. (yes, RONNIE, not Ron, at the time)
And he lisps. A lot. He just can’t help it.
Let me tell you, the script is written with the lisp in it. From the moment the instruments are to arrive---I have a few solo lines in “The Wells Fargo Wagon”
Oho, the Wellth Fargo Wagon ith a-comin' now
I don't know how I can ever wait to thee
It could be thumthin' for thomone who ith no relathion
But it could be somethin' special just for me
See what I mean.
The other song is “Gary Indiana”, touting how great Gary, Indiana is – this is obviously before Poppa Jackson had Michael and the Boys there. The story is that it’s taught to Winthrop by the professor to try to get to Marion and convince her not to squeal the con-man secret. Winthrop runs in to tell Mrs. Parroo and Marion about it. If I remember, the line he states is “Thisther! Thisther! Profesthor Hill taught me a new song and it hasth hardly any esthes in it!” And off we go…
So, like I said, the role’s a little humiliating, but as they say, on with the show. We rehearse for about two months for a three weekend run. The cast is talented, and the show seems like it’s going to be great.
Out of the six performances only one goes awry for me. As I’m running on stage to sing “Gary, Indiana” a large, framed picture behind me comes crashing to the stage. I start laughing. I try to get the line out, and the orchestra is vamping for me to sing, and I can’t finish the line, I’m laughing so hard. The actresses are trying to fill in to get me on track, but to no avail. I look at the conductor (my high school band director, and a complete bastard) and just signal him to go on. I bluffed my way through the song and ran off the stage.
When it was time for curtain calls, I start to head out, and one of the stagehands drops the picture into my hands, and I jump out to the stage, bowing with picture in hand. Embarrassing, but that moment helped make up for it.
One last problem. When you’re 15, things start to happen. Mid-way through the run, my voice decided to change. Suddenly Winthrop Paroo, freakishly big 8 year-old was becoming Peter Brady.
“When it’s time to change, you’ve got to re-arrange!”
So I have two songs I’m now croaking through. A lisping, big, can’t wear pants yet boy in puberty. Now Winthrop also seems to be more developmentally challenged than he was before.
No wonder "Amarilith" had the hots for him.
Still, it’s my favorite musical.
Just another chapter as I was on my way to the big, 6’1” non-lisping, baritone-voiced guy I am now.
Tonight ABC is showing Matthew Broderick in a production of the musical, the Music man. As much as it pains me to miss the Simpson’s tonight, The Music Man holds a special place in my formerly thespian heart.
Trust me, I’ll be singing along with every song.
So, in this spirit, here comes a past times story. If you haven’t read DC’s Starman or JSA, you may not know what I speak of, but James Robinson, the writer, likes to take an issue or two to write a background story. Something the readers may not have known about the characters. This is such a story.
The time, was my sophomore year of high school. I was in love with the theater and had already participated in a number of plays. Every spring, Conroe high would put on a musical. The year before it had been Finnian’s Rainbow, and I had been in the chorus (as chubby young man # 3, I think). This year’s choice, said our Drama teacher would be Meredith Wilson’s The Music Man. A great choice for someone like me who likes the band. There would definitely be a part for someone who could sort of play a brass instrument.
I sang for a couple of parts. At the time I was a high tenor, being 15 and a late bloomer. I was all of 5’8” and heavier than my peers. Surprisingly, outside of band and drama, I was picked on. Go fig.
So I could play saxophone back then. There’s a horrible story of how I wanted to play trumpet and wasn’t allowed to that I’ll have to go into some day. I hadn’t found my best instrument, Tuba. That wouldn’t come until college. Let me tell you how much I hate the saxophone, LATER.
As you may know, the story involves Professor Harold Hill as a con man who tries to sell nothing to a city hoping to start a boys band (this is 1900 or so, no girls in band, thank you). He goes about developing support for the band that will never come so he can raise the money and get out of town. He also picks up a young female music teacher in each of the towns he visits to help is credibility. So he lands in River City, Iowa, and starts working his charms.
His downfall, is that he falls in love with the music teacher and librarian that he meets in River City. She is a spinstress, almost too old to marry, at about 22 or so. She lives with her mother and her little brother, Winthrop. Winthrop hasssst a sstpeech impediment. He lisstps. Therefore, he’s picked on.
Now I’m not leading man material. There’s already a guy who’s set for the role of Harold Hill. I could play his con-man sidekick, Marcellus Washburn, but that calls for a song of my own, and I’m a so-so singer. There’s the town council, a barbershop quartet. And there are plenty of kids in the band whom I could play. Out of all the young men who could play a member of the band (come on, could I land the role of Tommy Djellas? Jeely Kly!) Guess what role I get.
Winthrop Parroo. The kid. I’m 15 playing what’s best, a role for an 8 year old.
Still, I get two songs, get to try to play the trumpet (if you know the story, actually being able to play is kind of a non-issue, you just have to “think” music) and I get the largest role I’ve ever had.
On the flip side, I’m playing an 8 year-old that looks like he has a glandular problem in a light-blue sailor suit with knickers. Winthrop is too young for pants. He’s also got a girl admirer who’s making him crazy. (I can feel for him, there), he was played in a movie by a six year-old Ronnie Howard. (yes, RONNIE, not Ron, at the time)
And he lisps. A lot. He just can’t help it.
Let me tell you, the script is written with the lisp in it. From the moment the instruments are to arrive---I have a few solo lines in “The Wells Fargo Wagon”
I don't know how I can ever wait to thee
It could be thumthin' for thomone who ith no relathion
But it could be somethin' special just for me
See what I mean.
The other song is “Gary Indiana”, touting how great Gary, Indiana is – this is obviously before Poppa Jackson had Michael and the Boys there. The story is that it’s taught to Winthrop by the professor to try to get to Marion and convince her not to squeal the con-man secret. Winthrop runs in to tell Mrs. Parroo and Marion about it. If I remember, the line he states is “Thisther! Thisther! Profesthor Hill taught me a new song and it hasth hardly any esthes in it!” And off we go…
So, like I said, the role’s a little humiliating, but as they say, on with the show. We rehearse for about two months for a three weekend run. The cast is talented, and the show seems like it’s going to be great.
Out of the six performances only one goes awry for me. As I’m running on stage to sing “Gary, Indiana” a large, framed picture behind me comes crashing to the stage. I start laughing. I try to get the line out, and the orchestra is vamping for me to sing, and I can’t finish the line, I’m laughing so hard. The actresses are trying to fill in to get me on track, but to no avail. I look at the conductor (my high school band director, and a complete bastard) and just signal him to go on. I bluffed my way through the song and ran off the stage.
When it was time for curtain calls, I start to head out, and one of the stagehands drops the picture into my hands, and I jump out to the stage, bowing with picture in hand. Embarrassing, but that moment helped make up for it.
One last problem. When you’re 15, things start to happen. Mid-way through the run, my voice decided to change. Suddenly Winthrop Paroo, freakishly big 8 year-old was becoming Peter Brady.
“When it’s time to change, you’ve got to re-arrange!”
So I have two songs I’m now croaking through. A lisping, big, can’t wear pants yet boy in puberty. Now Winthrop also seems to be more developmentally challenged than he was before.
No wonder "Amarilith" had the hots for him.
Still, it’s my favorite musical.
Just another chapter as I was on my way to the big, 6’1” non-lisping, baritone-voiced guy I am now.
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no subject
Date: 2003-02-16 01:16 pm (UTC)also love the jackson/gary, ind. references.
hugs
no subject
Date: 2003-02-16 01:32 pm (UTC)The picture, which was about 3feet by 4feet, got a big ovation as it was revealed in its curtain call.