Oddest or Strangest Opening Numbers in a Musical

Posted: 8/23/06 at 2:07am

What would you say would be the oddest or strangest opening number to a musical you ever saw?

I would say the "CHOLERA OUT BREAK/DROP THE HANDKERCHIEF" in Secret Garden is pretty creepy. All the weird children voices coming from off stage.

[once a month]

Posted: 8/23/06 at 8:20am

EVITA! The show begins at the cinema playing an actual Eva Peron film, when the announcement blared her death, and the film stopped, the wailing began, and we were at Evitas funeral.

Posted: 8/23/06 at 11:38am

Oklahoma! What were they thinking? A cowboy singing about the corn crop? An old lady churning butter?

IT obviously should have started with a large chorus number complete with dancing girls! This way, no girls, no legs, no chance!

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 8/23/06 at 11:51am

Spamalot, but it was meant to be that way.

[Pippin]

Posted: 8/23/06 at 12:51pm

batboy. but one of the funniest.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 8/23/06 at 12:57pm

"Let The Devil Take Us" from THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE GOES PUBLIC!

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 8/23/06 at 1:12pm

I agree about Evita.

[Horton]

Posted: 8/23/06 at 1:24pm

Well No, No, Nanette really has no Opening number. But I guess Rings around Rosie could be one.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 8/23/06 at 1:30pm

Also, "The Big Clown Balloons" from HERE'S LOVE...so weird!

[bare_nakedlady]

Posted: 8/23/06 at 1:33pm

Aww TRACE, I love 'Big Clown Balloons!'

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 8/23/06 at 1:39pm

LOL. I've heard from people who saw the original production that it was a fun opening number to watch, but the song just doesn't do it for me. My friend Walter LOVES the song too, so you're not alone, Bare_Naked!

[dry2olives]

Posted: 8/23/06 at 1:39pm

The opening number of Chu-Chem, which takes place in China, teaches the audience some of the conventions of Chinese theatre with a song called "Orient Yourselves."

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 8/23/06 at 1:44pm

Then there is another musical number later on in the show called "Re-orient Yourself."

[Flippancy]

Posted: 8/23/06 at 2:24pm

BRING BACK BIRDIE: Not the opening number per se, but close to it: that show's equivalent of "The Telephone Hour" in the original. In BRING BACK BIRDIE, all the teens were on CB radios and the like...against a backdrop of television sets.

Weird. And bad.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 8/23/06 at 2:26pm

That song is called "Movin' Out" and it is a great song...totally worked in the show too!

(you knew I would have to chime in and defend Bring Back Birdie...my all-time favorite flop)
Updated On: 8/23/06 at 02:26 PM

[today4u:proofpositiv]

Posted: 8/23/06 at 2:34pm

I also agree about Evita.

[cheezedoodle]

Posted: 8/23/06 at 2:47pm

"Come Look at the Freaks" from Sideshow gave me the willies right off the bat.

[SweeneyPhanatic]

Posted: 8/23/06 at 3:08pm

Do you mean the new Evita or the original Hal Prince staging? I love how Prince transitioned from cinema to funeral, and if you mean the new production, I'd love to hear more about how it all works.

As for strangest opening, I have to say "In" from "Carrie." The song is fine, but the stage is a bit of a shock when the curtain rises on...nothing. And that pyramid thing that the girls climbed on. Strange opening for a strange show I guess.

Posted: 8/23/06 at 9:34pm

The Drowsy Chaperone, it's a little odd at first.
But it's hilarious.

[thevolleyballer]

Posted: 8/23/06 at 9:37pm

You could say "Fancy Dress" is the opening number, I suppose, and that's definitely odd. :)