Overrated Classic Shows

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/3/05 at 10:32pm

My choice is Hello Dolly

A mildly entertaining show but no idea why it became a classic especially since it was in big trouble out of town

Anyone else have other shows in mind

[PleaseChangeMe]

Posted: 1/3/05 at 10:33pm

The Music Man. Period. Boring.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 1/3/05 at 10:35pm

Hmm...CATS

Cmon! The longest running show on Broadway!?? It was boring.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 1/3/05 at 10:35pm

I fully agree with both.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 1/3/05 at 10:35pm

In olden days this show was shocking
'Cause Merman would keep 'em rocking
But, boy, it blows...

Anything Goes!

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 1/3/05 at 10:36pm

Music Man has Wilsons one good score but I can see your point. I put it one notch above Dolly

[BroadwayGirl107]

Posted: 1/3/05 at 10:37pm

The Music Man and Guys and Dolls.

[Plum]

Posted: 1/3/05 at 10:43pm

I love Anything Goes! But I seriously despise Guys and Dolls, for reasons I already ennumerated on another thread today.

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 1/3/05 at 10:45pm

Guys and Dolls is and always will be one of my favorite shows.

The book is as solid as it gets.
The score is perfect.

The only downside is the uber-anticlimatic ending.

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 1/3/05 at 10:45pm

I just want to reiterate THE MUSIC MAN and CATS. Yuck and double-yuck.

[CastAlbumFan]

Posted: 1/3/05 at 10:46pm

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, the first major Broadway show in which the staging and the choreography was better than the score.

[Plum]

Posted: 1/3/05 at 10:47pm

Priest, any show with a song like "Marry the Man Today" is going to earn my instant loathing. What ****ty advice.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/3/05 at 10:48pm

Huh?

Tradition
If I Were A Rich Man
Sunrise, Sunset
Matchmaker
Do You Love Me?
Far From the Home I Love
To Life

That's a bad score? What's a good one?

Updated On: 1/3/05 at 10:48 PM

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 1/3/05 at 10:50pm

Well, it's not telling YOU to marry the man today.

Just like Lionel Bart doesn't want you to run out and start picking one or two pockets .


And I've heard many criticisms for Fiddler, but never have I heard anyone say it has a bad score.

[Plum]

Posted: 1/3/05 at 10:52pm

I just don't like the values of the so-called protagonists in general. Which is really friggin' hypocritical coming from a Sweeney Todd fan, I know, but the attitude of the show just drives me up the wall.

[CastAlbumFan]

Posted: 1/3/05 at 10:58pm

I should explain myself.

While FIDDLER was never a favorite of mine, I do admire the show.

However, while the score is a classic, FIDDLER was the first MAJOR show in which the staging and choreography was recieved more favorably than the score (I NEVER said the score was criticized). Steven Susskind even mentions it in his first book of Broadway show reviews.

Of course, FIDDLER has millions of fans worldwide, I ever understood the frenzy over this show.

Updated On: 1/3/05 at 10:58 PM

[StickToPriest]

Posted: 1/3/05 at 11:00pm

"Of course, FIDDLER has millions of fans worldwide, I never understood the frenzy over this show."


I could substitute so many shows in that sentence.

Of course, MAMMA MIA has millions of fans worldwide, I never understood the frenzy over this show.

Of course, CATS has millions of fans worldwide, I never understood the frenzy over this show.

It works for so many shows!!
How neat!!

[CastAlbumFan]

Posted: 1/3/05 at 11:02pm

I am to please!

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 1/3/05 at 11:05pm

re Fiddler:

I would think that West Side Story would qualify for that honor. Lots of major critics (Sondheim wasn't even mentioned in the Times review) and theatre people (Mary Rodgers notably) weren't crazy about the Bernstein/Sondheim score on first impression and took a while to warm to it, but Robbins' staging and choreography were universally acclaimed immediately. It wasn't until the movie and the multi-million selling soundtrack album (which spawned hit singles) that the score became so beloved.

Updated On: 1/3/05 at 11:05 PM

[Mattio98]

Posted: 1/3/05 at 11:13pm

Guys and Dolls
Once Upon A Mattress
Oklahoma

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 1/3/05 at 11:15pm

Fiddler probably has one of the best scores of shows on bway right now - which isn't saying much, but FOTR is a great show.

POTO - very overrated

[Mattio98]

Posted: 1/3/05 at 11:18pm

I don't think POTO qualifies as a classic but I think that it's EXTREMELY overrated. As far as Fiddler is concerned, the score has a lot of highlights but I always leave the theatre feeling like there are unfixable flaws in the book and in the story.

[BSoBW2]

Posted: 1/3/05 at 11:20pm

fiddler, i don't think, should be "complete." it should leave you thinking and able to fill the gaps in with your own personal ideas...

[Mattio98]

Posted: 1/3/05 at 11:23pm

It's not that it's incomplete. I just feel that it tends to drag.

[Marc Shaiman]

Posted: 1/3/05 at 11:24pm

this thread makes me want to vomit...and never lurk around here no mo'

how sad to read these posts

how profoundly sad