#26
Posted: 5/6/13 at 11:35pm
This was my thought as well when I saw Cinderella last Tuesday night
Musicals with better 2nd acts — Page 2
#28
Posted: 5/7/13 at 8:12am
Follies.
The first act really drags -- despite some good songs -- especially in the recent revival. The second act soars: Loveland(!) / Buddy's Blues / Could I leave you? / Going out of my mind(!!) et al.
The first act really drags -- despite some good songs -- especially in the recent revival. The second act soars: Loveland(!) / Buddy's Blues / Could I leave you? / Going out of my mind(!!) et al.
#29
Posted: 5/7/13 at 7:03pm
I don't think you're wrong, Broadway Geek, but, really, FOLLIES has never had two acts.
An intermission is sometimes inserted, but its placement always feels arbitrary.
An intermission is sometimes inserted, but its placement always feels arbitrary.
#30
Posted: 5/7/13 at 7:28pm
My personal picks:
THE KING AND I: Act II has the Small House of Uncle Thomas, "Shall We Dance", a death scene, and a lot less annoying kids.
GODSPELL: Act II dispenses with all those parables to get to the present tense. Also "On the Willows"
A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC: Fewer great songs (only 3 by my count) but the play moves so beautifully in Act II. Perfect clockwork.
AIN'T MISBEHAVIN': The emotions of "Black & Blue" make the whole evening matter.
EDWIN DROOD: The fun of the voting trumps everything in Act I. Plus "The Writing on the Wall".
THE KING AND I: Act II has the Small House of Uncle Thomas, "Shall We Dance", a death scene, and a lot less annoying kids.
GODSPELL: Act II dispenses with all those parables to get to the present tense. Also "On the Willows"
A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC: Fewer great songs (only 3 by my count) but the play moves so beautifully in Act II. Perfect clockwork.
AIN'T MISBEHAVIN': The emotions of "Black & Blue" make the whole evening matter.
EDWIN DROOD: The fun of the voting trumps everything in Act I. Plus "The Writing on the Wall".
#31
Posted: 5/7/13 at 7:42pm
Billy Elliot. I got to watch it several times this past week and I definitely liked watching the second act more so than the first act mostly due to "Electricity." But, "Expressing Yourself" and the act one finale where definite highlights as well so the first act isn't all that bad. 
#32
Posted: 2/8/14 at 12:29am
Bumping this up, I saw a production of Sweeney Todd for the first time tonight and thought of this thread right after the show. I enjoyed the second act much better. I feel like the show got darker after intermission, and I loved the feel of the whole 2nd act. I also loved the finale. This one definitely gets my vote.
#33
Posted: 2/8/14 at 7:07am
Weirdly enough, I actually like Act II of Sunday in the Park more than Act I. Act I is very pleasing and tight but, coming back to it over and over, I find there's a lot more to delve into with Act II. Plus, "Children and Art" never fails to make me weep. It's just such a satisfying series of events that leads to an almost unbearably overwhelming emotional high.
Also, Act II doesn't have the dog song.
Also, Act II doesn't have the dog song.
#34
Posted: 2/8/14 at 8:40am
I definitely favor the second act of COMPANY over the first, especially when they re-instate the TICK TOCK number which unfortunately has been eliminated the last two times I saw the show.
#35
Posted: 2/8/14 at 10:03am
While I think the whole show is unbelievable, I quite prefer listening to the second act of Evita. The songs/story/drama in the second act makes it so intense...especially with "You Must Love Me"
#37
Posted: 2/8/14 at 10:11am
Grey Gardens
Art has a double face, of expression and illusion.
#38
Posted: 2/8/14 at 10:58am
Pippin- although I adore the show as a hole I find Act 2 to be less entertaining than Act 1. The songs and musical numbers are better and the ordinary life segment can get really draggy in act 2.
#39
Posted: 2/8/14 at 11:25am
THE PRODUCERS - Act II has "Springtime for Hitler" and "Betrayed" - the two high points of the show.
#40
Posted: 2/8/14 at 12:22pm
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory in the West End has a far superior second act. The first is extremely slow until Wonka appears and that's the very last number of the first act.
#41
Posted: 2/8/14 at 12:29pm
Caroline, or Change, the Tony Kushner, Jeanne Tesori musical, fell into that category for me. I found the first act a series of unconnected scenes that wandered all around the plot, but the second act really had the drama and conflict at the heart of the musical. The entrance of the step mother's socialist father (beautifully played by the late Larry Keith), was the catalyst that set everything off and gave the musical a center.
#42
Posted: 2/8/14 at 3:26pm
Mary Poppins definitely for me. The entire first act seemed like it wanted to reinvent the movie which didn't work but the second act was extremely original and was much more powerful.
#43
Posted: 2/8/14 at 3:53pm
Since Encore will be doing it shortly ... "The Most Happy Fella". Act One is very good, but it is all set up for Act 2, which has the love story. I really hope the Encore production leads to a much needed revival of this under rated masterpiece.
#44
Posted: 2/8/14 at 4:23pm
I don't know if it's really BETTER but personally, I always enjoy and get more caught up in the second act of Matilda more than I do the first.
Updated On: 2/8/14 at 04:23 PM
#45
Posted: 2/8/14 at 4:47pm
Not to pick on Blethering Scot, but our take on Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was exactly opposite his-- we adored Act I, and were completely charmed by the set up and wit shown introducing us to Charlie and his family. Lovely characters singing lovely songs. The show crashed and burned as soon as we were stuck in the repetitive hell of those Act II scenes in the factory. And bizarrely, all the interest in Charlie's parents established in Act I are never even addressed for the rest of the show. We should have left at intermission (although that would have denied us the delightful way they solved the oompa-lumpas, the one bright spot in Act II).
#46
Posted: 2/8/14 at 5:20pm
Having seen Choc several times and also reading a lot of reviews for it beforehand it has been criticised precisely for a slow first half. The reason its slow is precisely building up the characters. The whole first half occurs without any real movement in the actual story. It comes to life when Wonka appears and rapidly moves on from there. The first half needs another uptempo number to keep it going.
#47
Posted: 2/9/14 at 9:10am
I liked the second act of Cinderella much better. The first act bored me right up until "Impossible." So, I guess it's more like the second half of the first act and the second act...
I agree with Into the Woods having a better second act, but completely disagree with SITP. I've always found I cared much more about Georges than George. Not really sure why. Sometimes when I watch the DVD I just watch the first act, and then skip to Move On. (I'm a terrible person, so sue me).
Also, I should point out that the first time I saw Into the Woods was on netflix, and when act 1 was ending, I thought "wow, that was a short musical!"
I agree with Into the Woods having a better second act, but completely disagree with SITP. I've always found I cared much more about Georges than George. Not really sure why. Sometimes when I watch the DVD I just watch the first act, and then skip to Move On. (I'm a terrible person, so sue me).
Also, I should point out that the first time I saw Into the Woods was on netflix, and when act 1 was ending, I thought "wow, that was a short musical!"
"Nice is different than good."
#48
Posted: 2/9/14 at 10:25am
When I saw Guys and Dolls I thought the first act was extremely long and boring, and I had no clue why everyone loves it. The second act for me was much more redeeming and action filled, which made the second act far superior in my eyes.
#49
Posted: 2/9/14 at 11:30am
"The second acts of both 'Rent' and 'Passion' usually have audiences in tears"
The only tears I saw at "Passion" were from the realization people paid to sit through it all. Even the Matrons wanted to jump off the balcony.
A better second acter was "Chess".
The only tears I saw at "Passion" were from the realization people paid to sit through it all. Even the Matrons wanted to jump off the balcony.
A better second acter was "Chess".
#50
Posted: 2/9/14 at 12:05pm
Honestly WONDERLAND. Yeah, the show is eeehhh.....
The first act is just plain stupid, trying to reinvent the novels and the rules of it. Just bizarre. But, the second act was more exciting, and had better humor and heart in it. It saved itself from being totally terrible.
The first act is just plain stupid, trying to reinvent the novels and the rules of it. Just bizarre. But, the second act was more exciting, and had better humor and heart in it. It saved itself from being totally terrible.
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