Disney's new 'Music Man' aims for demo-rich younger audience

There was no earthly reason to remake the classic "The Music Man" (1962) other than to grab for a younger, demographics-rich audience who have no idea who Robert Preston and Shirley Jones are.

That's just what Disney and ABC are doing with a three-hour extravaganza Sunday night (6-9 p.m. on KAKE, Channel 10).

This time, Matthew Broderick is the smooth turn-of-the-century con man, Professor Harold Hill, who sells boys brass bands and dreams of patriotic musical glory to small-town hicks.

And Kristin Chenoweth, a native Oklahoman from Tulsa, is the skeptical librarian, Marian Paroo, who trips up his getaway when he falls in love with her.

The show is from the same guys -- producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron -- who are currently wowing us with "Chicago" on the big screen.

It's also their latest attempt to revive the movie musical as a viable art form through new TV versions. They previously brought us "Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella" with Brandy and "Annie" with Kathy Bates.

Here, the new "The Music Man" purposely isn't as powerful as the original 1962 movie, although the beloved Meredith Willson music and lyrics are as grand and glorious as ever. Filmmakers are going for a more naturalistic feel.

The bombastic Preston danced and pranced circles around everyone else. He powered over any challenges.

Here, Broderick -- 40 but still boyish and wide-eyed like his Ferris Bueller days -- keeps the character more human-scale. He goes for sly, preferring to slide in under the skeptical radar of the notoriously contrary bumpkins.

While this new cast is younger (and more obviously diverse, at least in chorus and dancers), the roles are also less broadly played. They are eccentrics rather than buffoons. The result is a film that is less cartoon and more nostalgia.

David Aaron Baker is less goofy than the original Buddy Hackett as Harold's co-conspirator. He's more buddy than sidekick.

Victor Garber (yes, of "Alias") is pompous, arrogant Mayor Shinn (originally Paul Ford), and Molly Shannon of "Saturday Night Live" is his snobby, spotlight-hogging wife, Eulalie.

While I like Shannon, I confess I miss Hermione Gingold's thunderous intonations. Nobody can say "Balzac" with more elegant disdain.

While the movie takes up a three-hour TV block, minus commercials it's actually about 10 minutes shorter than the 2 ½-hour original. But despite less time, filmmakers cram in more and vigorous choreography, extending production numbers like "Marian the Librarian" and "76 Trombones."

While it's tempting to consider this "Music Man Lite" because of TV, the production is such high quality that is should not be missed.

Article from the Wichita Eagle, written by Bob Curtwright.

     Posted 11:17 AM by Sarah  []

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