MsMaxwell
Posts 98
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1/12/2006 11:41 AM
posted awhile ago
Is The Music Man Representative of the Midwest?
For anyone who knows Meredith Wilson's The Music Man, let's chat.
In "Iowa Stubborn" the townsfolk of River City describe themselves. Are
they snobby or just serious? Is this indicative of all of the midwest
or American small towns in general?
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MsMaxwell
Posts 98
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2/28/2006 4:24 PM
posted awhile ago
Re: Is The Music Man Representative of the Midwest?
You can watch Music Man the film or check out a live performance at GRCT.
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spoutgirl
Posts 211
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3/1/2006 10:54 AM
posted awhile ago
Re: Is The Music Man Representative of the Midwest?
I have never seen the music man, but I want to
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pippin06
Posts 578
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3/3/2006 3:23 PM
posted awhile ago
Re: Is The Music Man Representative of the Midwest?
I would have to say "no."
I'd say it's indicative of small town attitudes, but Music Man is a period piece, so I think it's more representative of the period than the actual geographical milieu.
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MsMaxwell
Posts 98
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3/7/2006 12:25 PM
posted awhile ago
Re: Is The Music Man Representative of the Midwest?
Although once I moved to a North Dakota small town and everyone was all snobby, just like the folks in "Iowa Stubborn." But they would give you their shirt if your crops died!
I agree that it's more of a period piece, however. It's so period, I wonder if it's outdated--or if more artistic explorations of produciton need to be considered.
My big idea? A Pleasantville-sort of color that Harold Hill brings to the town. Like Wizard of Oz everything is sepia toned/grey at the beginning, but by the end color is bursting out everywhere. Rather than the Oz color-change-in-one-scene, it would be cool to see the color enter slowly.
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Jymkata
Posts 143
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12/7/2006 7:08 PM
posted awhile ago
Re: Is The Music Man Representative of the Midwest?
 MsMaxwell:For anyone who knows Meredith Wilson's The Music Man, let's chat.
In "Iowa Stubborn" the townsfolk of River City describe themselves. Are they snobby or just serious? Is this indicative of all of the midwest or American small towns in general?
Well, my wife and I are originally from a suburb of Des Moines, Iowa until we moved to GR six years ago. I have always thought that the song in question, though exaggerated for humor, is pretty representative of the attitude of Iowa and some of the plain states. It's more of a question of being reserved and wary of strangers than snobby. Many people I know in Iowa have very close friends and neighbors, but those relationships took time to build. One of the things I had to get used to when I moved to Grand Rapids was how easily I was approached in new situations. That just doesn't happen all the time in Iowa. However, all people are different and it is just a generalization for the purpose of the song.
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