I'm not a fan of SA at all, but I found Filicia's comments to be incredibly old-fogy. Has this man ever heard a pop song in his life? (No, RENT doesn't count!) The problem with SA is that it is by and large emotionally unengaging, with songs that seemed tacked on and not integral to the story...which is kind of the point with musical theater, no? I thought I'd give it another go with the OBC, and yes its as I remembered: About five or so really lovely songs surrounded by ballad after ballad after ballad. That it wasn't strict musical-theater must-rhyme, must-have-correct-stresses didn't bother me that much...that's not necessarily pop. Not at all. The anachronisms in the lyrics I just found clumsy but not irritating. He seemed to have wanted a period piece...does he really think RENT sounds like the mid-90's East Village sound?
I don't know, both SA and GG are both incredibly flawed shows but I'd give GG the edge to win. Lets hope something SOLID hits the boards next year.
"Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they've been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It's an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It's a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.”
~ Muhammad Ali