Musicals That Fall Apart In Second Act- Page 2

[KJisgroovy]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 6:21pm

"First and foremost, in a concept that punishes characters for killing wolves and giants (ask a wolf's mother!) why is killing the giantess the "happy" ending?"

As BuffyActSing points out, I think you are sort of missing the point. "Witches can be right/Giants can be good/You decide what's right/You decide what's good" or whatever it is... the kill the giantess because they have to... she's killing people... the end isn't really a "happy ending" but finding happiness in survival.

[brandontwin2]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 6:34pm

James- I actually like Wicked's second act more than the first act. I think the characters have a lot more depth in Act 2.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 7:06pm

I would disagree with Into the Woods and Sunday's naysayers, I vastly prefer the second act in both shows to the first.

For me one that really falls apart is "In the Heights" aside from the fact that it's depressing, there isn't any resolution. What happens with Nina and Benny? What happens between Nina's Father and Benny? What about Usnavi and Vanessa? And why doesn't Priscilla Lopez get to sing more?

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 7:10pm

I have to agree with ITH. I'm also wondering how Nina will afford to stay at Stanford. They don't have a family business they can sell every semester.

[VonTussleGirl]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 8:01pm

Seussical. It's cute family entertainment until the end of the first act, but as soon as act II starts, you're immediately confused.

[clever name]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 8:19pm

Before I saw Passing Strange, I had heard the second act (when Youth is in Berlin) was too long and boring. Personally, I LOVED the Berlin part. Not a moment dragged in that show for me!

[BroadwayBound115]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 8:25pm

This is opposite of the thread. But I felt Mary Poppins' second act was MUCH stronger than the first act. Maybe it was just a bad day, but at intermission I was bored. And then at the end of the show, I couldn't have been on my feet faster. Rebecca Luker's Being Mrs. Banks reprise was out of this world.

Back to the topic, I actually prefer Spring Awakening's first act, to its second act.

[sondhead]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 8:27pm

"Killing the Giantess is happy for the characters because their lives are no longer under threat from her. I don't think the show is trying to say that killing her was a "good" thing. That's kinda the point. I always feel bad for the Giantess when she is killed. She is angry and frightening but you can see WHY she's that way. I think she's sort of a sympathetic "villian"."


A valid point, but why then is the music when she dies so celebratory? It certainly sounds like a happy plot point to me.

"As BuffyActSing points out, I think you are sort of missing the point. "Witches can be right/Giants can be good/You decide what's right/You decide what's good" or whatever it is... the kill the giantess because they have to... she's killing people... the end isn't really a "happy ending" but finding happiness in survival."


Again, valid--but then why does Lapine, through his plot points, punish his characters for their act 1 sins, but not for the murder of the giantess? Isn't their happiness and new lives a reward as opposed to a consequence or punishment? Then doesn't this plot choice condone what they did as correct?

Let's not forget that Jack stole from the giant and then killed him when he got angry about it. Who wouldn't be angry that he had been stolen from? Who then wouldn't be mad that their husband had been murdered? Let's also not forget that the Giantess doesn't really do anything other than walk around and because of her size destroy things. I could possibly give you the death of the narrator since she throws him, but is her sentence for this death?

[metropolis10111]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 8:30pm

I'd going to have to go with Follies. Yes in some productions it may look good,and it might be able to be fixed, but it's just a mess.



Pirate Queen also..oh wait that is both the first and second act that fell apart

[jpbran]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 8:34pm

Poor, poor Pirate Queen.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 9:02pm

Well to say it falls apart is a bit overdramatic but IN THE HEIGHTS' second act is definitely weaker than its first.

The first act of PHANTOM is worthy two and a half stars, the second half is worthy of one if it's lucky.

I actually have to say, and I know I'm definitely in the minority with this, but I prefer SUNDAY's second act.

INTO THE WOODS' second act is fine, but not as good as the first (and the second act is also waaaaay too long).

I much prefer the first act of DREAMGIRLS, which I think is near perfection while the second act is just good.

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 9:17pm

Totally Seussical.

I also did The Rocky Horror Show and felt the second act was so boring and dragged so much at times. Some nights it felt like it was forever... I just always felt it was so up in the first and then random stuff in the second and could be cut down.

[Patash]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 9:28pm

Geez, trying to decide between the first and second act of Pirate Queen is like trying to decide which is better -- arsenic or cyanide.

[Sumofallthings]

Posted: 7/29/08 at 10:06pm

I think part of the point of the ITW ending is the mere fact that it is complicated. Life is complicated. There is no such thing as good and evil, right v. wrong. Perspective and decision making is what drives us in life. There aren't happy endings for everyone, even in fairy tales.

The more complicated you can get in musical theatre, as Sondheim has proven again and again, the more timeless, provocative and beautiful it is.

[TooDarnHot]

Posted: 7/30/08 at 2:42am

IN THE HEIGHTS totally gets my vote. what an awful Act Two. yuck.

"James- I actually like Wicked's second act more than the first act. I think the characters have a lot more depth in Act 2."

The characters have... depth? in WICKED??

We're talking about the same musi-- ... spectacle... here. right?

[wafflehouse2005]

Posted: 7/30/08 at 2:53am

I have to disagree about RENT.

I actully think Act II is better.