Great Score, Shame About The Book

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 4:00pm

I was listening to John Doyle on Downstage Center and one of the subjects that came up was his production of Mack and Mabel. I quote John Doyle as saying, "How many people have said, "Great score, shame about the book"?"

So, I was wondering, what other shows fit this "criteria" where a show possesses an amazing score but has a problematic or just downright sucky book. Here are my picks:

Carrie
Chess (Broadway)
Dance of the Vampires (Broadway)
Dessa Rose
Whistle Down The Wind (I'm here, I'm an ALW fan, get used to it)

[SirNotAppearing]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 4:03pm

(Bracing myself for In the Heights bashing)

[D2]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 4:03pm

CAMELOT
JAMAICA
MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG

[nmartin]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 4:06pm

As I just posted on another thread, Funny Girl has a book that stinks on ice.

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 4:08pm

COLOR PURPLE for me. I love that score, but the book is a mess. Very shocking considering Ms. Norman's other works.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 4:08pm

Candide.

I should qualify that by saying there are (obviously) great things in the score. Not that it's a perfect score.

[into_the_woods2]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 4:10pm

phantom

[blaxx]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 4:11pm

WcKd!

[westcoastdrama]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 4:16pm

Clearly "In The Heights " fits right into this category. I also don't think history will be kind to its score either.
Updated On: 6/17/08 at 04:16 PM

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 4:24pm

GREENWILLOW
MERRILY
MACK AND MABEL
DEAR WORLD
TABOO

[Roscoe]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 4:27pm

COMPANY
PASSING STRANGE (there, I said it)
SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE

not that anyone remembers it, but that dreadful little show NEVER GONNA DANCE. Great score, a collection of classics. Book apparently written for slow-witted third graders. Appalling.

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 4:29pm

Carrie
A Dolls Life
Prettybelle

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 4:36pm

I've got another one:

Steel Pier

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 4:36pm

Once again: CARRIE does not have a "great" score! I know its very trendy to think otherwise...

Updated On: 6/17/08 at 04:36 PM

[antiandrewx]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 4:43pm

I second Passing Strange.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 4:44pm

It's equally trendy to dismiss it.

[Mandi Moo]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 5:10pm

Taboo and Spring Awakening.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 5:17pm

Parade, IMO, and The Life.

[logan0215]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 5:22pm

I wouldn't say "great" score, but strong power ballad score:

"BKLYN"

As I haven't seen this mounted I can't vouche for it, but the general consenus is this would apply to:

"The Rink"

LOVE that score. Chita? Liza? How can you go wrong!

(P.S. Someone please re-write the book and produce it with Patti Loops and Leslie Kritzer. kthanxbye)

Updated On: 6/17/08 at 05:22 PM

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 5:34pm

Chess- most versions

[cello_dude]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 5:37pm

Into the Woods

[sleepyguy1717]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 5:38pm

Pippin.

[Patash]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 5:38pm

Brigadoon

Carousel

[Weez]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 5:42pm

I'm going to add GONE WITH THE WIND. The score's not great, but the book is SO terrible that the quality gulf between score and book is probably the same as the more legit musicals already discussed.

Srsly, any time we have a "bad book" discussion on this board from now until about... sixty years from now, I'm going to be right there, bitching about the horror of the GWTW book, until the day I day, and even longer if I can somehow fix that. It was That. Bad. ^_^

[sondheimgeek]

Posted: 6/17/08 at 5:49pm

'Flora, the Red Menace'
'Dear World'