A mischievous thought...

Herman writes, conventional Broadway shows, crowd pleasers that entertain and do well. He is to be applauded and lauded for that. His popular shows will stand the test of time.

Sondheim isn't about that he strives to push boundaries and musically deal with themes that challenge and entertain.

Their approach to writing shows is heavily influenced by the subject matter that each is dealing with.

If it weren't for Sondheim would Jason Robert Brown, William Finn and the other enfants of musical theatre have found a voice in th commercial world. Indeed, "Next To Normal" is a classic piece of Sondheim musical theatre, dealing with the more mundane truth's of society and dysfunctional families.

There most definitely is a place in our culture for both and one is not better than the other possibly its more about the commercial value of one over the other.

The most successful commercial hits for Sondheim have been when he is writing lyrics "West Side Story" and "Gypsy" both of which have had commercial outings/successes on Broadway either now or in the past year. Herman is represented in London by "La Gage..".

It wouldn't be the first time Herman's taken digs at Sondheim, but you also have history proving him right: how often does a composer with a hit show (or series of them) turn out three or four less than stellar works before disappearing into obscurity? Most of them.

Bitter
Old
Queen!

He is a Queen, but there we go...

During Herman's acceptance speech of the Best Score Tony for La Cage he saluted the "simple hummable showtune". Some took this remark as a insult directed at Sondheim's score of Sunday in the Park, but over the years Herman was profusely defended his comment as not an insult, just a remark about the growth and development of musical theatre.

Updated On: 6/9/09 at 11:33 AM

"giving up at the top of his game and not writing a few shows that don't even get put on."

If anything, that applies more to Kander & Ebb than Sondheim. Just about everything the latter has written has been staged or recorded at some point. Whereas I understand there are quite a few K&E shows that are still in the trunk whilst others (Curtains, The Visit) have been produced a long time after they were written and some time after Mr Ebb's passing.

But do we really need to speculate? I love all the Broadway third generation and don't see any need to choose between them.

I bet he has a whole closet of unheard shows.
One of his unstaged shows I love is 'Miss Spectacular'.
Originally written to be staged at one the huge Vegas hotels like a good old fashioned Vegas spectacular sadly it never happened.
A great concept CD is available with a brilliant cast.

Updated On: 6/9/09 at 01:52 PM

Miss Spectacular looks a very interesting idea.

Actually I don't agree that the age of the tunesmith is dead. I think Hairspray absolutely follows in that tradition- funny book, great stand alone songs, upbeat feel-good sentiment.

It just needs a strong production, (the current G&D is a case in point- no matter how strong the material, a poor staging will kill it)

Go on, gives us one more good-time show!

*puts on running shoes and starts to stretch*

i'll give you a 20second head start bob...