Flaws in Successful Broadway Shows

[Dancinblonde19]

Posted: 8/20/06 at 6:10pm

What flaws of successful broadway shows do you think need to be reworked? (for example: bad lyrics, staging, character development, etc.)What would you do to adjust these flaws?
Updated On: 8/20/06 at 06:10 PM

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 8/20/06 at 6:12pm

I think "The Drowsy Chaperone" would work with a little more ensemble work in it. Though "Toledo Surprise" is a big dance number, it's still not enough to be a chorus line showstopper. Granted, all shows don't need one, but I think especially since the show-within-a-show is modeled after the classic musicals, one would definitely have helped, considering that many people consider the show-within-a-show to be the weakest link.

[tophertilson]

Posted: 8/20/06 at 6:44pm

Book, music, lyrics, orchestration, set design, direction and choreography of WICKED. But hey, the lighting and costumes were pretty good. :)

[jimnysf]

Posted: 8/20/06 at 6:47pm

I agree about the score for "Wicked". Totally bland for me. Before I get attacked with posts about how it won awards, etc., let's remember that "Contact" a dance show with no original music, won Best Musical so awards do not impress me.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 8/20/06 at 7:34pm

Wicked did not do it for us either . My wife loved the book. She was a bit bummed out as she wanted a T shirt with "I'm Melting" & they did not sell them

I do not understand the need for some to see a show 20 or more times but especially this one. Once was quite enough. To those who loved it, sorry. We did not see Ave Q yet but from listening to that CD that show deserved the Tony

Updated On: 8/20/06 at 07:34 PM

[tophertilson]

Posted: 8/20/06 at 7:42pm

Perhaps more on-topic, I enjoy MISS SAIGON, but I'd love for a better lyricist to go in there and fix things. Oh, and cut Ellen's act two song. It adds nothing.

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 8/20/06 at 7:48pm

The lighting for Wicked also needs to be redone....it is horendus and it is not designed for a musical it is designed for a gay pop concert.... ie. N'SYNC

[SuttonFan]

Posted: 8/20/06 at 7:50pm

OK let's not turn this thread into a "WHY I HATE WICKED" fest. Back to original topic -- I think the book of The Wedding Singer could use a lot of work. It does follow the same principles of the movie, but the character development doesn't quite get there for me.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 8/20/06 at 7:57pm

Tarzan needs the set redesigned, some better dialogue and more conflict with a better part for the villian. I loved the show but it could use tweaking.

[Parks]

Posted: 8/20/06 at 8:06pm

Wait...Mr. Roxy, I didn't follow your second paragraph at all. Are you saying Avenue Q is good or bad in your opinion? Have you seen it?

Not being judgemental--I honestly don't understand whether or not you liked it/have seen it.

[FoscasBohemianDream]

Posted: 8/20/06 at 8:08pm

Well, the thread is about successful Broadway shows so The Wedding Singer, a show that has been losing money virtually every week since it opened, does not count.
Wicked is actually a fun show but I believe Mantelo should've fired Winnie Holzman and Wayne Cilento when he took over. The book is just too bland in comparison to the score (not Schwartz best but despite of the lyrics it does shine at certain points) and Cilento's choreography is mediocre at best as usual.
Rent is another show I believe has very troubled book and lyrics. As a matter of fact I believe the only reason it's so successful it's because of Jonathan Larson's premature death.
And don't even get me started on Tarzan, one of the most horrible shows I've had to sit through.

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 8/20/06 at 9:04pm

Totally with you on the Wayne Cilento choreography in "Wicked."

I think the book has some funny moments in it, but the ending kind of annoyed me. For God's sakes, let the woman die.

I think "Beauty and the Beast" needs to have its first act seriously re-worked. It's boring, stiff, and long.

[blaxx]

Posted: 8/20/06 at 9:04pm

Another one for RENT, a lot of the book could have been revised, but of course, that wasn't possible.
None of Lion King is up to par to its design, in my opinion, as are most LLoyd Webber shows.
Les Miserables is just way too long.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 8/20/06 at 9:08pm

Liked the score better & from clips I have seen it might be more entertaining than Wicked whic I was not enamored with

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 8/20/06 at 9:10pm

Another one for Rent the show would not be where it is today, if it where not for the death of J Larson..

[ljay889]

Posted: 8/20/06 at 9:13pm

^ I agree. Some of the lyrics are god awful.

[jjoey076]

Posted: 8/20/06 at 10:41pm

CATS CATS CATS CATS.

[Yero]

Posted: 8/20/06 at 10:56pm

Spoiler warning.. for those *few* that don't actually know what happens...
I have a feeling, that with some of the changes included in the new London Production, the ending will be changed, so that she doesn't pop up out of some trap door... I love Wicked, but come on... and like the previous poster said, let the woman die.

[SDav 10495]

Posted: 8/20/06 at 11:05pm

Although it's a sentimental favorite that I love for what it is and will always enjoy seeing, "Phantom" could have used a tighter book that doesn't leave you asking things like "Why the hell did she choose that particular moment to rip off his mask?"

And though I tend to agree with some of the comments about "Rent", I have to note something because I can see where some of these posts are going to be heading...yes, it has a somewhat confusing story and its share of bad lyrics that I wish were better and unfortunately were not able to be refined (as I believe they would have been had Larson lived). But it's far from being one of the sloppier shows on Broadway today, where it plays next to shows that seem more polished but really have fewer brains and wider plot holes. I'm not asking anyone to make an exception for "Rent" simply because Larson died...I just think even in its unfinished and sometimes groan-inducing state it is tighter and more thoughtful on its own merits than most other shows selling out right now. To get into the tired, decade-old discussion about whether "Rent" would be such a hit had Jonathan lived doesn't even have much to do with the topic at hand--it's just an appealing argument to bring up when thinking about how successful shows could be fixed.

Updated On: 8/20/06 at 11:05 PM

[balletandbroadway]

Posted: 8/20/06 at 11:08pm

jjoey076 I agree. I absolutely hated Cats when I saw it on broadway...

And I agree with the comment on Wicked's choreography... not the greatest

[Matthewjames]

Posted: 8/20/06 at 11:11pm

I agree
i really don't care if this turns into an i hate wicked fest
I like wicked..i really like it
but it's so damn overrated. some of those lyrics make me think i could crank out a tony winner on the toilet

the really needed to do more with fiyero..he's a dumbass..oh wait he's not and he cared about the goat???

and can every song not end with a crazy ass high note
it gets annoying after a while

[little_sally]

Posted: 8/20/06 at 11:19pm

I love The Light in the Piazza but how many measures of ahs do we need in practically every song? Especially in "Say it Somehow".

[COOOOLkid]

Posted: 8/20/06 at 11:38pm

The first act in Les Miserables felt AWFULLY long... The music, however, is wonderful.

[misto625]

Posted: 8/21/06 at 12:48am

The point of this thread is flaws IN shows, not shows you don't like, so saying "I hate everything about Cats or Wicked" does not belong in this thread. I never liked the song "I Know Where I've Been" in Hairspray until I saw it for the third time. Beauty and the Beast probably could use some reworking.

[Howie23]

Posted: 8/21/06 at 12:59am

Wicked: I agree with the idea on wicked and the lights. I enjoyed it, however the lights were not taken down after the concert the night before :)

Times They are a-suckin: The Times, They Are A-chaning, the Bob Dylan/ Twyla thingy sucks, good cast, bad story, good lights in San Diego,just over all bad idea....