Best book of a musical?

[TRiceFan]

Posted: 11/22/10 at 8:54pm

It seems to be a trend how some musicals have brilliant music, but a sorry book. What are some examples of really good books? Or, the reverse, what shows have amazing books, but bad scores?

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/22/10 at 9:00pm

GYPSY is generally considered the best book of a musical.

[TheatreFreak05]

Posted: 11/22/10 at 9:15pm

I would agree with that^^

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 11/22/10 at 9:20pm

Great books: Gypsy, West Side Story, Fiddler on the Roof, Guys and Dolls

Not-so-great: Cabaret

[Jake01]

Posted: 11/22/10 at 9:21pm

"Gypsy" is brilliant, as is "1776". One of my personal favorites is "City of Angels".

[binau]

Posted: 11/22/10 at 9:26pm

What about A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC?

[SingingChef]

Posted: 11/22/10 at 9:41pm

Into the Woods
Urinetown
Fiddler on the Roof

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 11/22/10 at 9:44pm

I think A Little Night Music does for sure, if not most of Sondheim's musicals. And the books that aren't brilliant are at least very intriguing.

[BroadwayGuy12]

Posted: 11/22/10 at 9:49pm

I'm in love with the book from COMPANY and even think it outshines the score. That's not to say the score is bad of course - it is Sondheim, after all - I just always find myself looking more forward to the book scenes rather than the musical numbers when seeing that show.

[Drunk Chita Rivera]

Posted: 11/22/10 at 9:51pm

I think A Chorus Line is a beautiful story and well done, that may just be the way it's directed/choreographed but whatever.

[Orangesaretuesdays]

Posted: 11/22/10 at 10:59pm

The Drowsy Chaperone.

[backwoodsbarbie]

Posted: 11/22/10 at 11:08pm

I second Company and A Chorus Line and agree with Gypsy. For a more contemporary example, I'm going to throw in Everyday Rapture.

[backwoodsbarbie]

Posted: 11/22/10 at 11:08pm

I second Company and A Chorus Line and agree with Gypsy. For a more contemporary example, I'm going to throw in Everyday Rapture.

[madbrian]

Posted: 11/22/10 at 11:08pm

In addition to the aforementioned Gypsy & 1776, I'd add Mame.

[mallardo]

Posted: 11/23/10 at 3:34am

Fiddler.

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 11/23/10 at 7:44am

PACIFIC OVERTURES has a pretty phenomenal book.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 11/23/10 at 7:49am

Maybe because I saw it recently and it's still fresh in my mind, but I thought the book for I Do! I Do! was very strong. Although I don't know how similar that book is to The Fourposter.

[jamiekennywicked]

Posted: 11/23/10 at 8:17am

Fiddler On The Roof.
Guys And Dolls.
and while I enjoy the book (not so much the staging of the revival) Chicago.

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 11/23/10 at 12:01pm

I love the book for Forum and think it often outshines the score (which is not to say that it is not an absolutely delightful score). In Forum's case you could pull out the score and do it as a straight farce with very few adjustments needed for the missing songs.

Gypsy is another show where you could easily toss the score (though I'm not sure why anyone would want to) and do it as a straight play with only a few minor changes.

[jagfkb]

Posted: 11/23/10 at 5:55pm

Avenue Q
The Producers
Urinetown
A Little Night Music
Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson
Gypsy
Man of La Mancha
and I'll say it: Wicked

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 11/23/10 at 6:29pm

What do we consider to be a good book?

[Jon]

Posted: 11/23/10 at 9:17pm

How to Succeed... has a damned good book - It won the Pulitzer Prize.

On the other hand, South Pacific also won the Pulitzer, and it has lots of unneccesary crap in the book.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 11/23/10 at 10:00pm

Gypsy
Kiss Me, Kate
A Little Night Music
Fiddler on the Roof
Grey Gardens
The Drowsy Chaperone

[mallardo]

Posted: 11/24/10 at 11:33am

Just out of interest, Jon, what do you consider unnecessary in South Pacific?

[staunchcharacter]

Posted: 11/25/10 at 3:33am

Mame and grey gardens