Libretto Vocal Book
Book, Music and Lyrics by Meredith Based on a story by Meredith
Willson
Willson and Franklin Lacey
C HARACTERS TRAVELING SALESMEN CHARLIE COWELL CONDUCTOR HAROLD HILL NEWSPAPER READERS MAYOR SHINN THE QUARTET: EWART DUNLOP OLIVER HIX JACEY SQUIRES OLIN BRITT MARCELLUS WASHBURN TOMMY DJILAS MARIAN PAROO MRS. PAROO AMARYLLIS WINTHROP PAROO EULALIE MACKECKNIE SHINN ZANEETA SHINN GRACIE SHINN ALMA HIX MAUD DUNLOP ETHEL TOFFELMIER MRS. SQUIRES CONSTABLE LOCKE RIVER CITY TOWNSPEOPLE RIVER CITY KID
M U S I C A L N U M B E R S – ACT ONE 1. Overture
(Orchestra)……………….……………….……………...………1
SCENE ONE 2. Train Opening
(Orchestra)………………………………………….……………1
3. Rock Island
(Salesmen, Charlie Cowell, Newspaper Readers)…………….…..2
SCENE TWO 4. Iowa Stubborn
(Townspeople, Farmer/Wife)…………………………………….10
5. Ya Got Trouble
(Harold, Townspeople)…………………….....…………………..15
6. Trouble Playoff & Walking Music
( Townspeople)……………………………………………………22
SCENE THREE SCENE FOUR 7. Piano Lesson & If You Don’t Mind My Saying So
(Mrs. Paroo, Marian)………………………………………………23
8. Goodnight My Someone
(Marian, Amaryllis)………………………………………………..30
SCENE FIVE 9. Columbia Gem of the Ocean
(Eulalie, Townspeople)……………………………………………..31
10. Ya Got Trouble {Reprise}
(Harold)…………………………………………………………….35
11,12,13. 76 Trombones, Ballet & Playoff
(Harold, Townspeople, Orchestra)……………………………...37-38
14. Ice Cream/Sincere
(Harold, Quartet)………………………………………………….42
SCENE SIX 15. Walking Music {Reprise}
(Orchestra)………………………………………………………...44
16. The Sadder But Wiser Girl
(Harold, Marcellus)………………………………………………..47
17. Pick-A-Little & Goodnight Ladies
(Harold, Alma, Ethel, Eulalie, The Ladies, Quartet)……………...50
SCENE SEVEN 18. Marian the Librarian
(Harold)…………………………………………………………...53
19. Marian – Dance
(Harold)…………………………………………………………...56
20. First Seventy Six Trombones Crossover
(Orchestra)……………………………………………………….57
SCENE EIGHT SCENE NINE SCENE TEN 23. My White Knight SCENE ELEVEN
(Marian)…………………………………………………………64
25. Wells Fargo Wagon
(Townspeople, Winthrop, Quartet)………………………………67
ACT TWO 26. Entr’ance
(Orchestra)…………………………………………………….…73
SCENE ONE 27. Eulalie’s Ballet
(Orchestra)……………………………………………………….73
28. Its You
(Quartet)………………………………………………………….73
29. Shipoopi
(Marcellus, Townspeople)………………………………………...75
30. Shipoopi Dance - Part 1
(Orchestra)………………………………………………………..77
31. Shipoopi Dance - Part 2
(Orchestra)………………………………………………………..77
32. Shipoopi Dance - Part 3
(Townspeople)…………………………………………………….77
33. Shipoopi Dance – Playoff
(Orchestra)………………………………………………………..77
34. Pick –A–Little {Reprise}
(Alma, Ethel, Eulalie, Maud, Mrs. Squires, The Ladies)…………82
SCENE TWO 35. Lida Rose & Will I Ever Tell You?
(Harold, Quartet, Marian)………………………………………...85
SCENE THREE 36. Gary, Indiana
(Winthrop, Mrs. Paroo, Marian)………………………………….89
37. Lida Rose {Reprise} (Quartet) …………………………………………………………...93 38. It’s You – Ballet
(Orchestra)……………………………………………………….100
SCENE FOUR 39. Till There Was You
(Harold, Marian)…………………………………………………103
40. Goodnight My Someone & 76 Trombones Double Reprise 106
(Harold, Marian)…………………………………………………
SCENE FIVE 41. Ice Cream Socialable
(Orchestra)……………………………………………………….108
SCENE SIX 42. Chase Music 43. Till There Was You {Reprise}
(Orchestra)……………………………………………………….109 (Harold)…………………………………………………………..112
SCENE SEVEN 44. Finale – Act 2
(Orchestra)……………………………………………………….115
45. Curtain Call Music
(Orchestra)……………………………………………………….116
46. Exit Music
(Orchestra)……………………………………………………….116
SONGS BY CHARACTER ALMA HIX #17 – Pick-A-Little, Talk-A-Little, & Goodnight Ladies………………………………………………………………...50 #34 – Pick-A-Little, Talk-A-Little {Reprise}………………………………………..…………………………………...82 AMARYLLIS #8 – Goodnight My Someone……………………………………………………………………………………………30 CHARLIE COWELL #3 – Rock Island…………………………………………………………………………………………………………...2 ETHEL TOFFELMIER #17 – Pick-A-Little, Talk-A-Little, & Goodnight Ladies………………………………………………………………...50 #34 – Pick-A-Little, Talk-A-Little {Reprise}………………………………………..…………………………………...82 EULALIE MACKECKNIE SHINN #9 – Columbia Gem of the Ocean……………………………………………………………………………………..…31 #17 – Pick-A-Little, Talk-A-Little, & Goodnight Ladies………………………………………………………………...50 #34 – Pick-A-Little, Talk-A-Little {Reprise}………………………………………..…………………………………...82 FARMER & FARMER’S WIFE #4 – Iowa Stubborn……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 10 HAROLD HILL #5 – Ya Got Trouble……………………………………………………………………………………………………...15 #10 – Ya Got Trouble {Reprise}………………………………………………………………………………………….35 #11 – 76 Trombones……………………………………………………………………………………………………...37 #14 – Ice Cream/Sincere…………………………………………………………………………………………………42 #16 – The Sadder But Wiser Girl………………………………………………………………………………………..47 #17 – Pick-A-Little, Talk-A-Little & Goodnight Ladies………………………………………………………...………50 #18 – Marian the Librarian……………………………………………………………………………………………...53 #19 – Marian – Dance…………………………………………………………………………………………………...56 #35 – Lida Rose & Will I Ever Tell You? .........................................................................................................................85 #39 – Till There Was You………………………………………………………………………………………………103
#40 - Goodnight My Someone & 76 Trombones {Double Reprise}…………………………………………………………………………………………………...106 #43 – Till There Was You {Reprise}……………………………………………………………………………………112
THE LADIES #17 – Pick-A-Little, Talk-A-Little, & Goodnight Ladies………………………………………………………………...50 #34 – Pick-A-Little, Talk-A-Little {Reprise} ………………………………………..…………………………...……...82 MARCELLUS WASHBURN #16 – The Sadder But Wiser Girl………………………………………………………………………………………..47 #29 – Shipoopi…………………………………………………………………………………………………...………75 MARIAN PAROO #7 – Piano Lesson & If You Don’t Mind My Saying So………………………………………………………………..23 #8 – Goodnight, My Someone…………………………………………………………………………………………...30 #23 – My White Knight…………………………………………………………………………………………………64 #35 – Lida Rose & Will I Ever Tell You? ………………………………………………………………………………85 #36 – Gary, Indiana……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 89 #39 – Till There Was You………………………………………………………………………………………………103 #40 - Goodnight My Someone & 76 Trombones {Double Reprise}…………………………………………………………………………………………………...106 MAUD DUNLOP #34 Pick-A-Little, Talk-A-Little {Reprise} ……………………………………………………………………………...82 MRS, PAROO #7 – Piano Lesson & If You Don’t Mind My Saying So………………………………………………………………..23 #36 – Gary, Indiana……………………………………………………………………………………………………...89 MRS. SQUIRES #34 – Pick-A-Little, Talk-A-Little {Reprise}…………………………………………………………………………….82 NEWSPAPER READERS #3 – Rock Island…………………………………………………………………………………………………………...2 QUARTET #14 – Ice Cream/Sincere…………………………………………………………………………………………………42
#17 – Pick-A-Little, Talk-A-Little & Goodnight Ladies #24 – The Wells Fargo Wagon…………………………………………………………………………………………...67 #28 – It’s You…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….73 #35 – Lida Rose & Will I Ever Tell You? ……………………………………………………………………………….85 #37 – Lida Rose {Reprise} ……………………………………………………………………………………………….93 TOWNSPEOPLE 10
#4 – Iowa Stubborn……………………………………………………………………………………………………… #5 – Ya Got Trouble……………………………………………………………………………………………………...15 #6 – Trouble – Playoff……………………………………………………………………………………………………22 #9 – Columbia, Gem of the Ocean……………………………………………………………………………………….31 #11 – 76 Trombones……………………………………………………………………………………………………...37 #24 – The Wells Fargo Wagon…………………………………………………………………………………………...67 #29 – Shipoopi……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
75 #32 – Shipoopi Dance – Part 3…………………………………………………………………………………………..77 TRAVELING SALESMEN #3 – Rock Island…………………………………………………………………………………………………………..2 WINTHROP PAROO #24 – The Wells Fargo Wagon…………………………………………………………………………………………...67 #36 – Gary, Indiana……………………………………………………………………………………………………...89
NOTE:
Dear Director,
The Music Man was intended to be a valentine and not a caricature. Please do not let the actors – particularly Zaneeta, Mayor Shinn, and Mrs. Shinn, who takes herself quite seriously – mug or reach for comedy effect. The Del Sarte ladies also should be natural and sincere, never raucous, shrewish or comic per se. The humor of this piece depends upon its technical faithfulness to the real small-town Iowans of 1912 who certainly did not think they were funny at all.
Faithfully,
MEREDITH WILLSON
ACT ONE # 1 – Overture…………………………………………………………………….…………..(Orchestra) SCENE ONE # 2 – Train Opening…………………………………………………………………………..(Orchestra) (TIME: The morning of July 4th, 1912. AT RISE: Train effect scrim rises on a red-plushed, kerosene lamped, enameldrinking-cupped railway in full cry. One seat has been turned in the couch to accommodate a card game – the participants being three TRAVELING SALESMEN and a STRANGER whose back is to the AUDIENCE and who is concentrated throughout the scene winning every pot, which he drops by handfuls into an open suitcase on the floor by his side. A FOURTH SALESMAN is kibitzing. A few seats forward in the coach a FIFTH SALESMAN is reading a newspaper, until he finds himself drawn into the conversation among the SALESMEN. Several other PASSENGERS are behind newspapers. We hear “Train-Slowing-Down” MUSIC. The train slows and stops.) CONDUCTOR (Poking head into coach LEFT) River City junction – River City next station stop! (EXITS) SALESMAN #1 You’re crazy with the heat. Credit is no good for a notion salesman. CONDUCTOR (Poking head into coach again) Boart! All aboart!
(EXITS) SALESMAN #2 Why not? What’s the matter with credit? SALESMAN #1 It’s old-fashioned. Charlie, you’re an anvil salesman – your firm give credit? (Train makes starting noise in ORCHESTRA) CHARLIE COWELL No sir! SALESMAN #1 Nor anybody else. (Train starting, dialogue in time to train acceleration) CONDUCTOR River City, River City next. #3 – Rock Island……………………………………… (Salesman, Charlie Cowell, Newspaper Readers)
SALESMAN #1 CASH FOR THE MERCHANDISE CASH FOR THE BUTTON HOOKS – SALESMAN #2 (Nodding) CASH FOR THE COTTON GOODS CASH FOR THE HARD GOODS – SALESMAN #1 CASH FOR THE SOFT GOODS – CASH FOR THE FANCY GOODS SALESMAN #2 CASH FOR THE NOGGINS AND THE PIGGINS AND THE FIRKINS.
SALESMAN #3 CASH FOR THE HOGSHEAD, CASK AND DEMIJOHN. CASH FOR THE CRACKERS AND THE PICKLES AND THE FLY-PAPER
SALESMAN #4 (Train at running speed) LOOK WHADAYATALK, WHADAYATALK, WHADAYATALK, WHADAYATALK, WHADAYATALK. SALESMAN #5 WHERDAYAGITIT? SALESMAN #4 WHADAYATALK? SALESMAN #1
WANNA THAN IT WAS.
YA CAN TALK, YA CAN TALK, YA CAN BICKER YA CAN TALK, YA CAN BICKER, BICKER, BICKER YA CAN TALK, YA CAN TALK YA CAN TALK, TALK, TALK, TALK, BICKER, BICKER, BICKER, YA CAN TALK ALL YA BUT IT’S DIFFERENT CHARLIE COWELL
(Ill-tempered) NO IT AIN’T, NO IT AIN’T BUT YA GOTTA KNOW THE TERRITORY. SALESMAN #3 CHI, CHI, CHI, CHI, CHI, CHI, CHI WHY IT’S THE MODEL T FORD
MADE THE TROUBLE, MADE THE PEOPLE WANT TO GO WANNA GIT, WANNA GIT WANNA GIT UP AND GO 7, 8, 9 , 10, 12, 14, 22, 23 MILES TO THE COUNTY SEAT.
SALESMAN #1 YES, SIR YES, SIR SALESMAN #3 WHO’S GONNA PATRONIZE A LITTLE BITTY TWO-BY-FOURKINDA STORE ANYMORE? (As each NEWSPAPER READER speaks, HE lowers HIS paper long enough to say HIS line, then it goes back up before HIS face.) SALESMAN #4 WHADAYATALK, WHADAYATALK. NEWSPAPER READER #1 WHERDAYAGITIT? CHARLIE COWELL NOT THE MODEL T AT ALL, TAKE A GANDER AT THE STORE, AT THE MODREN STORE, AT THE PRESENT DAY STORE AT THE PRESENT DAY MODREN DEPARTMENTALIZED GROC’RY STORE. SALESMAN #4
WHADAYATALK, WHADAYATALK, WHADAYATALK, WHADAYATALK, WHADAYATALK. NEWSPAPER READER #1 WHERDAYAGITIT? SALESMAN #4 WHADAYATALK, WHADAYATALK, WHADAYATALK NEWSPAPER READER #1 WHERDAYAGITIT?
SALESMAN #1 YA CAN TALK, YA CAN BICKER, YA CAN TALK, YA CAN BICKER, YA CAN TALK, TALK, TALK, TALK, BICKER, BICKER, BICKER, YA CAN TALK ALL YA WANNA BUT IT’S DIFFER’NT THAN IT WAS. CHARLIE COWELL NO IT AIN’T, BUT YA GOTTA KNOW THE TERRITORY SALESMAN #3 WHY IT’S THE U-NEEDA BISCUIT MADE THE TROUBLE U-NEEDA, U-NEEDA, PUT THE CRACKERS IN A PACKAGE, IN A PACKAGE, THE U-NEEDA BISCUIT IN AN AIR TIGHT SANITARY PACKAGE MADE THE CRACKER BARREL OBSOLETE, OBSOLETE. CHARLIE COWELL OBSOLETE, OBSOLETE, OBSOLETE. SALESMAN #4
STOVE… SALESMAN,
CRACKER BARREL WENT OUT THE WINDOW WITH THE MAIL POUCH CUT PLUG CHAWIN’ BY THE CHANGED THE APPROACH OF A TRAVELIN’ MADE IT PRETTY HARD – CHARLIE COWELL NO IT DIDN’T, NO IT DIDN’T, BUT YA GOTTA KNOW THE TERRITORY. SALESMAN #3 GONE, GONE. SALESMAN #1 GONE WITH THE HOGSHEAD, CASK AND DEMIJOHN, GONE WITH THE SUGAR BARREL, PICKLE BARREL, MILK PAN, GONE WITH THE TUB AND THE PAIL AND THE TIERCE. SALESMAN #5 (Elder salesman) EVER MEET A FELLA BY THE NAME A’ HILL? SALESMAN #1 HILL? CHARLIE COWELL HILL! SALESMAN #3 HILL? SALESMAN #4 HILL? NEWSPAPER READER #1 HILL? NEWSPAPER READER #2 HILL?
NEWSPAPER READER #3 HILL? SALESMAN #5 HILL! ALL BUT CHARLIE AND #5 NO! (ALL NEWSPAPERS go back up. There is a WHISTLE and ORCHESTRA is heard) CHARLIE JUST A MINUTE, JUST A MINUTE, JUST A MINUTE! SALESMAN #4 NEVER HEARD A’ ANY SALESMAN HILL – SALESMAN #5 NOW HE DOESN’T KNOW THE TERRITORY – SALESMAN #1 DOESN’T KNOW THE TERRITORY? SALESMAN #3 WHATS THE FELLAS LINE? SALESMAN #5 NEVER WORRIES BOUT HIS LINE. SALESMAN #1 NEVER WORRIES BOUT HIS LINE? SALESMAN #5 OR THE CRACKER BARREL BEIN’ OBSOLETE, OR THE UNEEDA BISCUT IN AN AIR TIGHT SANITARY PACKAGE, OR THE MODEL T FORD – CHARLIE
JUST A MINUTE, JUST A MINUTE, JUST A MINUTE. SALESMAN #5 NEVER WORRIES ‘BOUT HIS LINE – SALESMAN #3 NEVER WORRIES ‘BOUT HIS LINE? SALESMAN #5 OR A DOGGONE THING. HES JUST A BANG BEAT BELL RINGIN’ BIG HAUL GREAT GO NECK OR NOTHIN’ RIP-ROARIN EVER’TIME A BULLSEYE SALESMAN, THAT’S PROFESSOR HAROLD HILL, HAROLD HILL,
NEWSPAPER READER #1 TELL US WHATS HIS LINE, WHATS HIS LINE? CHARLIE HES A FAKE, AND HE DOESN’T KNOW THE TERRITORY! SALESMAN #4 LOOK, WHADAYATALK, WHADAYATALK WHADAYATALK, WHADAYATALK? SALESMAN #5 HES A MUSIC MAN SALESMAN #3 HES, A WHAT, HES A WHAT? SALESMAN #5
DRUMS, UNIFORMS TOO, ON THE COAT, RUNNING –
HES A MUSIC MAN AND HE SELLS CLARINETS TO THE KIDS IN THE TOWN, WITH THE BIG TROMBONES AND THE RATATAT AND THE BIG BRASS BASS, BIG BRASS BASS. AND THE PICCOLO, THE PICCOLO, WITH A SHINKY GOLD BRAID AND A BIG RED STRIPE SALESMAN #1 WELL!I DON’T KNOW MUCH ABOUT BANDS, BUT I DO KNOW YOU CANT MAKE A LIVIN’ SELLIN’ BIG TROMBONES – NO SIR! MANDOLIN PICKS PERHAPS AND HERE AND THERE A JEWS
HARP – SALESMAN #5 NO, THE FELLA SELLS BANDS. BOYS BANDS, I DON’T KNOW HOW HE DOES IT, BUT HE LIVES LIKE A KING, AND HE DALLIES AND HE GATHERS, AND HE PLUCKS AND HE SHINES. AND WHEN THE MAN DANCES, CERTAINLY BOYS, WHAT ELSE, THE PIPER PAYS HIM. YESSS- SIR YES SIR, YES SIR, YES SIR, WHEN THE MAN DANCES, CERTAINLY BOYS, WHAT ELSE: THE PIPER PAYS HIM. ALL YES, SIR. YES, SIR. CHARLIE BUT HE DOESN’T KNOW THE TERRITORY!
(ORCHESTRA button. Train stops) CONDUCTOR (OFFSTAGE) River City! River City! (ENTERS) River City! We’re cross the state line into Iowa. River City! Population twenty two hundred and twelve. Seegarettes illegal in this state. Booart! (EXITS) CHARLIE All right, if you’re all through I’ll tell you about Harold Hill! SALESMAN #5 You really know Harold Hill?
CHARLIE Never saw him in my life but I know this much – he’s given every one of us a black eye! After he’s worked a town over, the next salesman to arrive gets automatically tarred and feathered and rode out to the city limits on a rail. (THEY laugh) You think that’s funny? Well wait till it happens to you! Your hair never grows back. (CHARLIE pulls off hat. THEY react) SALESMAN #1 But why should he get rode out to the city limits on a rail? CHARLIE Because in order to sell band instruments, and uniforms, and instruction books, he has to guarantee to teach the kids to play. SALESMAN #3 Well?
CHARLIE And to form them kids into a band! With himself as the leader! SALESMAN #5 What’s wrong with that? CHARLIE He don’t know one note from another that’s whats wrong with that! And he cant tell a bass drum from a pipe organ! Ill catch up with that swindlin’ two bit thimble rigger, and when I do ill squeal on him so loud – SALESMAN #5 (Laughing) Wow, youre mad Charlie! Sure like to be around when you catch up with that fella. CHARLIE Well it wont be on this trip. Not in Iowa. Not even the great Professor Harold Hill wouldn’t try to sell these neck-bowed hawk-eyes out here. CONDUCTOR (OFFSTAGE) Booaart! (The STRANGER makes a quick decision and grabs his suitcase. STRANGER Gentlemen, you intrigue me. I think ill have to give Iowa a try. CHARLIE (Coldly) Don’t believe I caught your name. STRANGER Don’t believe I dropped it! # 4 – Iowa Stubborn…………………………………………...(Townspeople, Farmer & Farmer’s Wife)
(STRANGER turns and we see him for the first time. It is our hero. HE flashes suitcase which bears the legend “PROF. HAROLD HILL.” HAROLD EXITS the train car, as all heads go out the windows. The coach splits in two to reveal a full stage view of River City’s Main Street immediately following. The town is in 4th of July bunting and the stubborn Iowans are out in force.) END OF SCENE ONE SCENE TWO (TIME: Immediately following. AT RISE: River City, Iowa, center of town, exterior. TOWNSPEOPLE are seen en tableau. MAYOR SHINN ENTERS from the billiard parlor, leaving the door open for 2 WORKMEN who ENTER carrying a large crate containing a visible pool table, which they take into the billiard parlor) TOWNSPEOPLE OH, THERES NOTHIN’ HALFWAY ABOUT THE IOWA WAY TO TREAT YOU, WHEN WE TREAT YOU WHICH WE MAY NOT DO AT ALL. THERES AN IOWA KINDA SPECIAL CHIP-ON-THE-SHOULDER- ATTITUDE WE’VE NEVER BEEN WITHOUT WHAT WE RECALL. WE CAN BE COLD AS OUR FALLING THERMOMETERS IN DECEMBER IF YOU ASK ABOUT THE WEATHER IN JULY. AND WE’RE SO BY GOD STUBBORN WE CAN STAND TOUCHING NOSES FOR A WEEK AT A TIME AND NEVER SEE EYE-TO-EYE. BUT WHAT THE HECK! YOURE WELCOME, JOIN US AT THE PICNIC. YOU CAN HAVE YOUR FILL OF ALL THE FOOD YOU BRING YOURSELF. YOU REALLY
AUGHT TO GIVE IOWA A TRY. YOU ARE CONTRARY.
PROVIDED BOY
Good morning, Mayor Shinn. MAN Good morning, Mayor Shinn. SHINN It is. If you wanna go ‘round in your drawers all day. (MUSIC phrase) ALMA And there I was in Madison Hospital and nobody come to see me. Cousin Will never come, Aunt Bertha never come – ETHEL Your Aunt Bertha’s dead. ALMA She wouldn’t a’ come anyway. (MUSIC phrase) TOWNSPEOPLE WE CAN BE COLD AS OUR FALLING THERMOMETERS IN DECEMBER IF YOU ASK ABOUT OUR WEATHER IN JULY. AND WE’RE SO BY GOD STUBBORN, WE CAN STAND TOUCHIN’ NOSES FOR A WEEK AT A TIME AND NEVER SEE EYE-TO-EYE. (A cappella a la chorale) BUT WE’LL GIVE YOU OUR SHIRT AND A BACK TO GO WITH IT IF YOUR CROP SHOULD HAPPEN TO DIE.
(The 2 WORKMEN leave billiard parlor carrying a pool table packing case frame to CENTER, as FARMER and WIFE who have ENTERED meet down CENTER. THEY turn inside frame for a short pose as Grant Woods “American Gothic”)
