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Flop Musicals, But Just Happens To Have A Excellent Score? — Page 2

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#28

Flop Musicals That Just Happen To Have Excellent Scores?

I have a soft spot for Whistle Down the Wind, one of ALW's better scores and some of Jim Steinman's best lyrics. I think it would have caught on as an audience favorite had some of Bill Kenwright's changes been dropped, and the show gone to Broadway at last.
Formerly gvendo2005
Broadway Legend
joined: 5/1/05

Blocked: After Eight, suestorm, david_fick, emlodik, lovebwy, Dave28282, joevitus, BorisTomashevsky, Seb28
#30

Flop Musicals That Just Happen To Have Excellent Scores?

I think the text changes that Kenwright made to Whistle Down the Wind were great. The added song that the man sings "So Many Cries" or "Say a Prayer" or whatever it's called is some of Andrew's best stuff and the new song "The Tribe" (or "The Gang" in the short-lived US tour) was also nice. I think the text has been made better over the years. It just needs a good director now.

Updated On: 9/14/13 at 07:48 PM

#31

Flop Musicals That Just Happen To Have Excellent Scores?

And I think "The Tribe"/"Gang" is a cutesy pile of crap. I like some of where the book had gotten, but by and large, it was better in London. "So Many Cries" has been in the show since 1998, just not under that title until Kenwright's go at it (well... it goes by that title in the vocal score, but "It Just Doesn't Get Any Better Than This" is also named for the long-gone "Grown-Ups Kill Me" in that same vocal score, so make of that what you will). Also, Kenwright split up "Unsettled Scores" and stuck half of it into "So Many Cries," so that adds to the confusion.

Formerly gvendo2005
Broadway Legend
joined: 5/1/05

Blocked: After Eight, suestorm, david_fick, emlodik, lovebwy, Dave28282, joevitus, BorisTomashevsky, Seb28

Updated On: 9/14/13 at 08:31 PM

#33

Flop Musicals That Just Happen To Have Excellent Scores?

Was out jogging just this morning to A MAN OF NO IMPORTANCE. One of Flaherty and Ahrens' best!

Also, 110 IN THE SHADE
PACIFIC OVERTURES

and was THE SECRET GARDEN a flop? It's in frequent rotation on my tunes too.

#35

Flop Musicals That Just Happen To Have Excellent Scores?

"The Grass Harp"
"A coherent existance after so many years of muddle" - Desiree' Armfelt, A Little Night Music "Life keeps happening everyday, Say Yes" - 70, Girls, 70 "Life is what you do while you're waiting to die" - Zorba
#44

Flop Musicals That Just Happen To Have Excellent Scores?

I guess flop can only mean "lost money" and not "artistic failure" which I thought was meant. I was going to say "Dear World" as it.'s hard for me to think of "Follies" and "Ragtime" (two of my favorites) as flops.
#45

Flop Musicals That Just Happen To Have Excellent Scores?

If one likes Jule Styne (and what's not to like?), then FADE OUT, FADE IN is one of his best. (It's also an interesting example in the debate over what constitutes a flop: the show was a smash hit until Carol Burnett was injured (her version) or lost interest (the opposite view) and then withdrew permanently when she later became pregnant.

After GYPSY and FUNNY GIRL, this is Styne's best, I think.

(ETA I still find FADE OUT... hysterical today, but it is so closely tailored to Burnett's talents, it's hard to imagine who else could play the leading role. Not Sarah Jessica Parker; that's for sure!)

Updated On: 9/26/13 at 08:59 PM

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