Favorite line/part of a musical that isn't the lyrics of a song?

I'm going to see a production of Assasins on Saturday, and I was thinking how much I love the last scene with Oswald and Booth, and how I can't wait to see it live. Then I realized that that part isn't even a song, and some of the best parts of musicals are not songs. Other examples I love include: The "may she rot forever with scalding mascara and lipstick afire" speech by Charlotte from A Little Night Music, especially as delivered by Maureen Moore, and the Translattion of "scar" as "Bella!" from Light in the Piazza. What favorite lines or parts like this do you have?

Effie and Deena (rightfully) get all the props in Dreamgirls, but I LOVE Lorelle and her scene with Jimmy right before No Party where she kisses him for every year they've been together and confronts him for not keeping his promise to leave his wife. I also lover her "I'm a woman now, Deena" scene in the first act, so funny!

There are lots of them in "A Chorus Line," but Paul's monologue? Perfection.

Another of my favorite spoken moments in a musical is Roxie's monologue about fame right before her big Roxie solo.

I've always thought the quiet and subtle dancing between Elphaba and Galinda at the end of "Dancing Through Life" that slowly grows into the entire ensemble joining in is beautiful. Definitely an underrated, subdued part of such a monster mega-musical.

I love the scene in Fiddler where the rabbi is asked if there is a proper blessing for the tsar, and he replies with "God bless and keep the tsar...far away from us".

Also love the subway scene in If/Then where the worker walks through the train and is asked a question, and we find that his speaking voice sounds the same as it does over the intercom.

For me it's James Wilson's speech at the end of 1776 (and the dialogue leading up to it).



Wilson: I’m different from you, John. I’m different from most of the men here. I don’t want to be remembered. I just don’t want the responsibility!



Dickinson: Yes, well, whether you want it or not, James, there’s no way of avoiding it.



Wilson: Not necessarily. If I go with them, I’ll only be one among dozens; no one will ever remember the name of James Wilson. But if I vote with you, I’ll be the man who prevented American independence. I’m sorry, John—I just didn’t bargain for that.

"I was raised to be charming, not sincere" from Into The Woods.

"Oh and then there's " I've seen salads dressed better than this." That one always makes me crackup as well."



Bahaha what is this from!

Anita: Bernardo was right. If one of you were lying on the street bleeding I would walk by and SPIT ON YOU! Don't you touch me! I've got a message for your American buddy! You tell that murderer that Maria is never going to meet him. You tell him Chino found out about them and SHOT HER! SHE'S DEAD!

:: drops mic ::

Debra Monk in Steel Pier saying she's in the mood for something pink and sticky. :)

Speaking of Wicked, I've always loved G(a)linda's line about Fiyero: "I don't even think he's perfect any more and I still want him." When done correctly by an actress, it's an important and funny/touching step in the character's maturation.

Great topic.