How about the score, the twin pianos, the dances, the orchestrations, the vocal arrangements...
Perhaps you liked Drowsy Chaperone better because it's about a modern person's obsession with shows like Lady, Be Good, rather than an actual example of one, and there's no crime in that. But maybe you needed a leading character to put the whole thing in context for you, instead of getting on the time machine yourself. No crime in that, either, but I can't believe you expected a show from 1924 to actually be any more sensible or integrated than the one that's being parodied in Drowsy Chaperone. I just felt so happy to see a real one done with such panache and expertise. Thrilling. To me, that is.
According to the notes in the program, even Adelle Astaire thought the musical book clunky and that was back in the 20's.
I like 20's fluffy musicals as much as the next person. I just didn't think this was good fluff.
I found the score only had two real gems in it: Lady Be Good and Fascinating Rhythm. The overture played these two songs repeatedly during the overture making the overture redundant.
As for 20's musicals, I do like No No Nannette, The Boyfriend (albeit 50's take on the 20's) Nice Work if You can Get it (yes a reworking) and most of the Astaire/Rogers Movies of the 20s and 30's:Flying Down To Rio, Top Hat, Shall We Dance. I love every Marx Brother Movie which are similar to the msucials of the twenties. I just found the book to Lady Be Good annoyingly insipid, predictable and ludicrous. I was more annoyed than entertained.
Look I'm grateful for Encores. It's a great group. Gentleman Prefer Blondes was amazing. I'm glad Encores revived it and I got to see it. I think Randy Skinner is a genius. Not taking away from the great work of the actors, director, choreographer etc... just underneath is a musical that isn't that interesting.
Please cite Adele's "clunky" quote. Encores' own notes admit she initially found the book tacky and the plot weak but Fred thought the show had a new kind of sound and flow (opposite of clunky). It's the sound and spirit that made the event a pure pleasure for me, with much more to recommend in its score than only 2 songs.
Agreed about the score: Half of it Dearie Blues, I'd Rather Charleston, So Am I, all terrific -- admittedly not standards, but really fun to hear and hard to get out of your head. And Swiss Miss is so strange and roped in from somewhere else, I just loved that moment because it made so clear what was acceptable in another time. Oh well...we like what we like. And not.