"The Music Man"
Synopsis
ACT ONE
Scene
One: The play begins on the morning of July Four, 1912. A railroad
conductor announces the next stop, River City, Iowa, to a coach filled
with traveling salesmen. Speaking rhythmically (keeping time with the
movement of the train), the salesmen begin a conversation about the
merits of cash versus credit and the ways their products and lives have
changed as the result of "modren" merchandising ("Rock Island"). One of
the salesmen, Charlie Cowell, asks if anyone has heard of Professor
Harold Hill, a salesman who is ruining the reputation of all traveling
salesmen. Cowell explains that Hill moves from town to town selling
musical instruments, uniforms and the promise of lessons for a boy's
band, and then leaves town with the collected money before anyone has
discovered that he is musically illiterate. As the train stops in River
City, Cowell, who has been trying to find and expose Hill, mentions
Hill wouldn't get far with the stubborn Iowans. Before the train begins
to move again, a salesman who has quietly been playing cards grabs his
suitcase and announces that the conversation has prompted him to give
Iowa a try. When asked his name, the stranger flashes his suitcase,
bearing the name "Prof. Harold Hill," and he quickly exits the train as
it starts to move. He finds himself facing River City's Main Street
decorated with Fourth of July bunting and crowded with townspeople.
Scene
Two: As workers move a pool table into the River City Billiard Parlor
owned by Mayor Shinn, the townspeople greet the mayor and each other.
They sing with pride of their contrariness ("Iowa Stubborn"). As they
disperse, Hill enters the scene and tries to rent a horse and buggy at
the livery stable. There he meets his old friend and one-time
partner-in-crime Marcellus Washburn. Washburn, who knows Harold's real
first name is Greg, remembers Hill's last sales gimmick was selling
steam-powered automobiles. Hill tells Washburn he'd be selling them
still if somebody hadn't ruined his game by actually inventing such a
vehicle! Marcellus has given up his old ways and has settled down in
River City to work in the livery stable. After Harold explains his
plans, Marcellus warns him to watch out for the town's music
teacher/town librarian, Marian Paroo - she'd expose Harold's con on the
spot. Harold asks him to point her out and then he sets about thinking
of a way to convince the parents of River City of the necessity of a
boy's band. When Marcellus tells him about the new pool table in town,
Harold recognizes his chance. He approaches Ewart Dunlop, the grocery
store owner, and begins talking about the trouble that has entered
River City in the shape of a pool table. To the fast-growing crowd
Harold delivers a rapid-fire sales pitch/sermon about the corrupting
influence of a pool table on the boys of the town ("Trouble"); as the
townspeople join him, Marcellus signals Marian Paroo is passing by.
Scene
Three: Harold follows Marian home; she rejects his attempts to start a
conversation with her on the street, finally slamming her front door in
his face.
Scene Four: As Marian enters the house, Amaryllis,
her young piano student, is playing an exercise while Mrs. Paroo,
Marian's mother, continues with her household chores. Marian tells her
mother about the strange man (Harold) who has been following her and
trying to speak with her. While Amaryllis plays arpeggios, Mrs. Paroo
scolds Marian for not speaking to the man, criticizing Marian's high
expectations, both for the townspeople and for men ("Piano Lesson/If
You Don't Mind My Saying So"). Winthrop, Marian's little brother,
enters the house and Amaryllis invites him to a party. Winthrop, who
has a lisp and doesn't like to speak, mispronounces Amaryllis's name.
When she giggles, he runs from the room. Amaryllis, upset that Winthrop
never talks to her, starts crying and tells Marian she is worried
she'll never find a sweetheart to wish about on the evening star.
Marian tells her to go on wishing, using the word "someone" until the
right person comes along. As Amaryllis plays her crossed-hands piece,
Marian gazes at the evening star and wishes her unnamed "someone"
goodnight ("Goodnight, My Someone").
Scene Five: Inside the high
school gymnasium, Mayor Shinn is presiding over the Fourth of July
celebrations. His wife, Eulalie Mackecknie Shinn, who is dressed as
Columbia, holds a torch and has just finished leading a song. As the
mayor begins his stentorian recitation of the Gettysburg Address, he is
stopped by the constantly bickering school board, who remind him that
the next presentation is an Indian costume spectacle. The spectacle
concludes with his wife counting to twenty in the "Indian tongue."
Before she can finish counting, young Tommy Djilas lights a firecracker
in front of her. The four school board members begin arguing as the
mayor again tries his Gettysburg recitation. The mayor is foiled again,
this time by Harold, who steals the crowd's attention, continuing his
earlier sermon about the pool table. He tells the crowd he has come to
River City to organize a boy's band as the solution to the corrupting
influence of the pool table. He then entrances them with a story of
when six of the greatest marching bands in America came to town on the
very same day ("Seventy-Six Trombones"). The townspeople join in,
dancing and parading around the gymnasium.
The mayor, alarmed
at seeing the Iowans so excited, orders the school board to get
Harold's credentials. As Tommy is being led out of the gymnasium by the
constable, he is warned by the mayor to stay away from Zaneeta, the
Shinn's oldest daughter. Harold realizes if he can make an ally of
Tommy he'd have the town's youth on his side, too. He quickly
intercedes on Tommy's behalf and agrees to take responsibility for the
boy. He asks Tommy to design a music holder for the piccolo. Harold
then points out a passing girl and gives Tommy money to take her to the
candy shop. After the teenagers leave, the constable tells Harold the
girl is Zaneeta Shinn.
The school board approaches Harold and
demands his credentials; Harold, stalling because he has no
credentials, asks them each to sing the words "ice cream," which they
do in perfect barbershop quartet harmony. Finding music more
interesting than Harold, the quartet sings "Sincere" as Harold sneaks
away to look for Marian.
Scene Six: Harold follows Marian to
the library where, before slamming the door in his face, she warns him
she will check his credentials in the reference books. Marcellus
appears to ask about Harold's progress. Harold explains he'll be in
town for four weeks, which is the time required for the delivery of the
instruments, uniforms and instruction books. He also mentions to
Marcellus that he circumvents his musical ignorance by advocating his
"revolutionary Think System." This "System" replaces reading notes, and
practicing scales with positive thought. Marcellus tries to convince
him to settle down in River City, but Harold tells him he prefers
worldly women to the wholesome, innocent women of River City ("The
Sadder-But-Wiser Girl").
The ladies of the town surround
Harold, buzzing with excitement over the band. Mrs. Shinn, however, is
still withholding her judgment until her husband receives Harold's
credentials. When she moves her foot to relieve the pain of her
bunions, Harold comments on her grace and insists she lead the Ladies
Auxiliary for the Classic Dance, with the other ladies as members. Mrs.
Shinn immediately falls under Harold's spell. She consents to head the
committee and she, too, is now an ally. When Harold asks about Marian,
the ladies huddle together like hens and begin to gossip. They accuse
her of promoting Balzac, Chaucer and other authors of "dirty books"
("Pickalittle"). They also darkly suggest she had been involved with
"Miser" Madison, a late River City resident who donated the gymnasium,
picnic park, hospital and library to the town. The school board
appears, again demanding Harold's credentials, and again he deftly
distracts them by saying goodnight to the ladies, prompting a song from
the quartet ("Goodnight Ladies").
Scene Seven: Harold enters the
library and begins flirting with Marian, who wants nothing to do with
him. He threatens to drop a bag of marbles on the floor if she
continues to ignore him, and he sings of his love for her ("Marian The
Librarian"). Marian and the other readers join Harold in dancing
aflamboyant, yet quiet soft-shoe ballet around the library.
Scenes
Eight and Nine: Harold has worked his usual magic on the River City
citizens and with Tommy by his side, he's made eleven sales. Harold
sends the boy home while he continues his rounds. Harold meets Mayor
Shinn as he is about to ring the mayor's doorbell. Harold flatters the
mayor about the shape of his hand, remarking that the laws of heredity
mean that the mayor's son is destined to be a great flugelhorn player.
The mayor is ready to sign an order when he suddenly remembers he
doesn't even have a son. He again demands that Harold bring his
credentials to City Hall later that day.
Scene Ten: Harold has
moved on to the Paroo house. He flatters Mrs. Paroo on her facial
muscles, suggesting this means Winthrop will be a great cornet player.
After Winthrop asks if the uniform will have a stripe, Harold tries to
engage him in a conversation, but the boy runs off. Mrs. Paroo explains
that Winthrop hardly speaks at all. Thinking Harold's gift of gab might
mean he's Irish, she asks Harold where he is from. As Harold tells her
his alma mater is the Gary Conservatory of Gary, Indiana, Marian
returns home and tries to dissuade her mother from ordering an
instrument. Marian gets angry when Harold asks to speak to Winthrop's
father, who is dead. When she enters the house, Mrs. Paroo apologizes
for Marian's outburst.
After Harold leaves, Marian sends
Winthrop to the library to get the reference book she needs to check on
Harold's credentials. Mrs. Paroo, who likes Harold, accuses Marian of
not thinking of the future and of foolishly waiting for a white knight
to appear. Marian explains she just wants a man who will love her ("My
White Knight").
Scene Eleven: Tommy is making a date with
Zaneeta to show her his music holder as Mayor Shinn enters, complaining
to his wife that the whole town has been mesmerized by Harold. Marian
appears with the reference book, but before she can hand it to the
mayor, Gracie, his youngest daughter, excitedly announces the arrival
of the Wells Fargo Wagon. The townspeople line the street to greet it
("Wells Fargo Wagon"). Winthrop breaks through the crowd to express his
hope that the wagon is bringing his band instrument. Harold, who has
been riding in the wagon, jumps down and hands Winthrop his cornet.
Winthrop, now seemingly unashamed of his speech impediment, turns and
excitedly tells Marian how happy he is. Harold hands out the rest of
the instruments to the boys. He tells them lessons will follow, but
they should first get acquainted with their instruments and think about
the Minuet in G. The mayor concedes Harold has won the day - for now -
but he threatens Harold with a grand jury appearance if the boys aren't
soon playing. The mayor then turns his attentions to Marion and he asks
her for the book. Marian, grateful to Harold for Winthrop's new-found
joy and confidence, secretly rips out the relevant page of the book
before handing it to Mayor Shinn.
ACT TWO
Scene
One: In the gymnasium the Ladies Auxiliary Dance Committee is
practicing for the upcoming Ice Cream Sociable; they form a tableau
vivant as the school board sings ("It's You"). Marcellus has been
keeping the young people out of the gym but he can't hold them out any
longer. The young people burst in, forcing the Auxiliary Ladies into
hasty retreat. At the young people's insistence, Marcellus winds up the
victrola and he leads the crowd in a new dance Harold has shown him
("Shipoopi"); even Harold and Marian join in. The dance ends when Mayor
Shinn objects to Tommy dancing with Zaneeta. When Marian rushes to
defend Tommy and Zaneeta, Mayor Shinn tells her the reference book
didn't contain any useful information. He then turns to Harold and
again demands his credentials. Marian, who has now warmed to Harold,
thanks him for defending Tommy. She also asks him when Winthrop's
lessons will begin. Marian invites Harold to call on her to explain the
Think System. The ladies, impressed with Marian after seeing her dance
with Harold, ask her to join their committee. They also mention that at
Harold's suggestion they've read Chaucer, Rabelais and Balzac and
adored them all (reprise: "Pickalittle").
Scene Two: The school
board catches up with Harold and demands his credentials. Harold
pretends he is about to hand them over when he casually mentions the
name Lida Rose, once again prompting the quartet to sing ("Lida Rose").
Marian, sitting on her porch with her mother, sings to herself of her
feelings for Harold as the quartet continues to sing ("Will I Ever Tell
You").
Scene Three: Mrs. Paroo pushes Marian to tell Harold how
she feels about him. Winthrop returns home from fishing and sings for
his mother and sister the song Harold has just taught him ("Gary,
Indiana"). He happily runs into the house singing the Minuet in G,
followed by Mrs. Paroo. Charlie Cowell, the traveling salesman, arrives
and asks Marian for directions to the mayor's house. He mentions he has
information about Harold Hill's dishonest past, but only has a few
minutes in town to deliver that information before his train leaves. To
protect Harold, Marian tries to delay Cowell by flirting with him. She
kisses him just as the train whistle begins to blow. As he realizes
what she's done, he angrily runs off to catch the train, telling her
she is but one of a long line of women who have fallen for Harold.
After Cowell leaves, Harold arrives; he begins to talk about the Think
System, but Marian asks him to explain what Cowell has said. Harold
tells her not to believe rumors about traveling salesmen because they
are the product of jealousy. Marian agrees, telling him the rumors
about her and Mr. Madison are also the product of jealousy. Harold then
asks Marian to meet him at the Footbridge, a favorite lover's meeting
place. She accepts. After Harold leaves, she tells her mother she has
accepted his invitation; Mrs. Paroo remarks that the Think System,
which she's been using on Harold and Marian, really works.
Scene
Four: Marcellus shows up looking for Harold at the Footbridge. He tells
Harold the uniforms have arrived. He also warns Harold the parents will
want to hear the band playing when the kids show up in uniform at the
Ice Cream Sociable. Marcellus tells Harold all the money has been
collected and he suggests Harold catch the last freight train, which
leaves town in a little over an hour. Marian meets Harold and when they
are alone, she confesses her love for him ("Till There Was You"). She
also tells him she has known all about his phony credentials for weeks.
And as a final loving gesture, she gives Harold the page she removed
from the reference book.
Scene Five: Alone, Harold
absentmindedly sings to himself (reprise: "Seventy-Six Trombones") as
Marian , offstage, does the same (reprise: "Goodnight, My Someone").
Midway through the song Harold, realizing he has fallen in love with
Marian, begins to sing her song. At the same moment she begins to sing
his song. Marcellus rushes in holding Harold's suitcase in one hand and
holding Charlie Cowell back with his other hand. He tells Harold that
Cowell has been trying to expose Harold's past crimes to the mayor.
When Cowell makes an insulting remark about Marian, Harold knocks him
down. Marcellus pleads with Harold to hurry to the waiting horse and
buggy, but Harold doesn't move.
Scene Six: The Ladies Auxiliary
Committee is finishing its Grecian Urn tableau as the mayor enters with
Charlie Cowell. Cowell tells the townspeople about Harold's plan to
leave town with their money without providing lessons for the boy's
band. The mayor sends the townspeople off to find Harold. After they
all leave, Harold runs into Marian, who is looking for Winthrop.
Marcellus distracts the crowd away from Harold as Winthrop runs by.
Winthrop has heard Cowell's accusations and angrily asks if Harold can
lead a band. Harold truthfully tells him he can't. He explains he
wanted Winthrop in the band because it was a way to get Winthrop to
stop feeling sorry for himself. Marian tells Winthrop that Harold has
offered the town a reason to be happy. She also tells the boy she's
glad Harold came to River City. Harold sings of his love to Marian
(reprise: "Till There Was You"). As they embrace, the constable and the
townspeople arrive and Harold is put in handcuffs.
Scene Seven:
The townspeople, gathered in the gymnasium, angrily await news of
Harold's capture. The constable enters with Harold; Marian is at his
side. The mayor suggests tarring and feathering, but Marian defends
Harold, reminding the crowd of the excitement and joy Harold has
brought to River City. The mayor then asks if anyone objects to tarring
and feathering Harold; the constable, the Ladies Auxiliary Committee
(including the mayor's wife), the school board, the mayor's daughter
and Mrs. Paroo all stand up. The mayor reminds the crowd of Harold's
promise to teach the boys to play and as he demands to know where the
band is, the boys all enter in uniform and line up in band formation
with their instruments. So there is a band after all: but can they
play? Marian breaks a blackboard pointer, giving a piece to Harold to
use as a baton. Harold pleads with the boys to think and gives the
upbeat. Miraculously, they are able to play a barely recognizable
Minuet in G. The townspeople, including the mayor, are all thrilled;
all the parents proudly call to their sons. The mayor shakes Harold's
hand and the crowd cheers; the play ends as Marian and Harold embrace.
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