Shows that deserved a shorter run. — Page 2

Les Miserables.

Tendres Baisers,
Juliette Capulet

Broadwayboobs, is that you in your icon? Just wondering because I see it a lot on the forum.

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you want RENT to end? Oh, my heart. I think it just stopped. Can't breath..........Can't...................breath.

*flatline*

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Sorry Spider but I couldn't sit through Rent again if someone paid me to do it, I really didn't like it.

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I think Sondheim is a great composer but he is not the be all/end all of musical theatre. In fact, I think a lot of his stuff is kinda the same (music wise). I mean, how many times can you go disanant in one musical? But, I still like him because he makes you think. JRB does the same thing........he makes you think, his music is great, and it is WAY better than Sondheim because none of his musicals sound very similar to each other. When I listen to musicals, I want something that grabs my attention and I can sing along too. With Sondheim, it take multiple listenings just to sing along with one song (except for the obvious ones that everyone knows "Being Alive" etc.). I have also found out by personal experience that people who like musical theatre tend to praise Sondheim as a god and Webber as Satan because that is why the majority thinks. This one girl at my college did just that. She hated RENT until I told her that Sondheim looked over the first draft of RENT and gave suggestions. Then miraculously she got into it. I like Webber, not for the genious or anything, but the likability of his musicals. They are catchy and you can sing along to them in your car driving down the road. Same as Rogers and Hammerstein. In fact, Rogers is Webber's idol and he writes in a very similar style. Granted, Webber has done some musicals that are not so good (Jeeves, Cats (even though I like some of the music)), but he brought musical theatre back to it's roots. Sondheim was trying to be different and revolutionize theatre. Both men are great and deserve all the praise they received.

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Spider, you know I love me some RENT, but it died a long time ago. It's now like the guy in WEEKEND AT BERNIES where they're just trying to fool people into thinking it's actually alive. It has lost every ounce of what made it a great show. When that happens, it's time to let it go for a while and than bring it back so it can be fresh and new again.

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Updated On: 7/23/04 at 08:51 PM

Shorter runs?...
Miss Saigon
Les Miserables
POTO
Lion King

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I'm not going to be so bold as to say which show 'deserves' a shorter run. BUT, I will say that I wish there was a limit as to the run allowed. There are only so many Broadway theatres, and sometimes I feel like options get so limited because of lengthy 'sit-downs.' Although I understand that many more people get to see some shows this way, that's part of the beauty of live theatre, the ephemeral nature of it all.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OUTHOUSE

CATS

AIDA

THE PRODUCERS

THE BOY FROM DOZE

MAMMA MIA

GREASE

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Without rehashing this yet again, anyone who thinks about Sondheim that "a lot of his stuff is kinda the same (music wise)," has obviously not bothered listening to very much of his music. Please listen to the OBC recordings of "Anyone Can Whistle," "Company," "Follies," "A Little Night Music," "Pacific Overtures," "Sweeney Todd," "Merrily We Roll Along," and "Sunday In The Park with George" and see if you have the same opinion afterwards.

"JRB" at this point in his career, is not in the same class, though, he's written some very good music.

Sondheim's use of dissonance is more characteristic of "Sweeney," Passion" and some of "Sunday" and "Woods," but is not a characteristic of his earlier work. Nothing in "Company," "Follies" or "Merrily" should take anyone multiple listenings in order to sing along. Please listen to Sondheim's work, before making sweeping generalizations about it.

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Seussical the Musical that was painful. I think Rent should close for awhile then be revived. It needs a rest to regain its life. They don't seem to be able to get a cast together that can do it. Maybe a revival would bring in the real Broadway people that would bring back the glitter.

*Claps hands till they bruise!*

NO DAY BUT TODAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!!

and I love Sweeney Todd!

hmmm maybe this will revive you spidey