Shows with better second acts than first

[JakeB]

Posted: 11/16/03 at 12:57pm

I don't think I can name one. Miss Saigon has a good second act, perhaps better than the first. It has The American Dream, Girls and Her or Me (or whatever it's called these days).

So what shows have better second acts than first? I think they're rare.

[dotmarie]

Posted: 11/16/03 at 1:04pm

Into the Woods' second act is not necessarily better than the first, but it is extremely crucial to the show as a whole. You can't do without it (the reason I am against Into the Woods Jr, lol). I think it's at least as good as the first. I enjoy them both immensely.

I agree that overall, first acts are usually better than second acts. They are always much longer, too.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 11/16/03 at 1:19pm

omg, i cant stand the 2nd act of the Into the Woods. i hate shows that get so happy for halfway then turns into a dark mode just like Into the Woods. However one show i think has a better 2nd Act than the 1st is Oklahoma

[TEACHEROFTHEATER]

Posted: 11/16/03 at 1:25pm

I recall that in my youth, me friends and I thought that the second act was better than the first of the original production of COMPANY.

[bestofbroadway]

Posted: 11/16/03 at 1:27pm

MusicMancdl07- I think that's the point of Into the Woods.

[BillFinn]

Posted: 11/16/03 at 1:36pm

I agree with MusicMan. I understand the point of it, but still, it was too dark of a turn at a rapid pace. It didn't really hit me until the Baker's Wife died, then No One is Alone, and boom! Let's bring back the Baker's Wife is a ghostly form. Too much sadness hit at you within a 20 minute span.

[PB ENT.]

Posted: 11/16/03 at 3:08pm

CONTACT! If fact they should have called that show " The Girl in the Yellow Dress". One of my least favorite shows..with the exception of the third Act.imo

[TheaterBaby]

Posted: 11/16/03 at 7:41pm

I liked the 2nd act of Les Miz better than the first for some reason.
I sort of like Gypsy's 2nd act better than the first; mainly because Rose is so different in act 2...much more deep.

[GirlfriendFromCanada]

Posted: 11/16/03 at 7:43pm

I think that Movin' Out has a much better second act than first. It's much easier to follow, is more entertaining, more emotional and, in my opinion, has better choreography. All of my favorite scenes are in the second act. So all are most of my favorite songs, but one doesn't actually have to do with the other. Just works out that way.

[broadway geek]

Posted: 11/16/03 at 9:16pm

Bounce has a better second act and not because thats the one Gavin is in :) Updated On: 11/16/03 at 09:16 PM

[WhatDoINeedWithLove?]

Posted: 11/16/03 at 9:22pm

Broadway Greek--Very good point! Bounce is 100 times better the second act, but unlike you I think Gavin has a lot to do with it! :)

[TTL]

Posted: 11/16/03 at 10:14pm

I recently saw the National tour of CATS and I don't know if they were a lil tired but their 2nd Act was better than the first! They had more energy in the 2nd Act. It was good for a Non-equity tour

[Madame X]

Posted: 11/16/03 at 11:09pm

Wicked

[CattleCall]

Posted: 11/17/03 at 12:30pm

I think Urinetown has a MUCH better second act than the first. The songs are better and everything is much more lively.

[NuggetMonkeys]

Posted: 4/10/04 at 2:23am

The biggest one is DEATH OF A SALESMAN

d.b.j

[zbigner]

Posted: 4/10/04 at 8:37am

I found the second act of Thoroughly Modern Millie much better than the first. The first act has great musical numbers, but, for me, it was dragged down by the whole "white slavery" story line. The second act was sheer joy from beginning to end.

Zack

[BroadwayDiva]

Posted: 4/10/04 at 9:51am

Thoroughly Modern Millie- I couldn't stand the first act, but the second act was much more fun. Even though I didn't like the show, I have to say the second act was quite enjoyable.

[StraightToHeaven]

Posted: 4/10/04 at 10:27am

Cabaret in my opinion.

[erikrokks]

Posted: 4/10/04 at 12:47pm

I think that the second act of "Boy From Oz" is MUCH better than the first. I know that they have to tell his story the way it happened, and that maybe that part of his life was dreary while he was still trying to be straight, but the first act was terrible overall. It was so boring (with the exception of My Name in Lights) and all of us who saw it together couldn't stand the Judy and Liza characters and songs. We almost left during intermission, but I'm glad we stayed, cuz the second act was great! Lots of energy and Hugh in sequins...does it get better than that???

[VoiceofReason]

Posted: 4/10/04 at 2:39pm

Hairspray and Kiss Me, Kate!
always,
~m~

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/10/04 at 3:21pm

TTL, the thing you gotta remember about act one of CATS in the non-equity tour is that they cut "The Awful Battle of the Peekes and the Pollicles together with the marching song of the Pollicle Dogs" or as most call it: "the dog song". It's always been my favorite part in act one and after "Old Deuteronomy" and then the Macavity crash...there is a very awkward gap. One can tell that something is missing. It's not right to mess with CATS like that, but they did. I think most people like act two better because of Growltiger and the Italian aria "In Una Tepida Note"...but the current tour is missing a song so you can't judge it by this current incarnation.

[NuggetMonkeys]

Posted: 4/10/04 at 3:44pm

sorry CATSNY, but I don't like act one or two of CATS.

d.b.j

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 4/10/04 at 3:51pm

You don't have to apologize. I love it. It was the first show I ever saw live. You can imagine a little six year old boy on the edge of his seat...it was thrilling. Now that I'm older, I understand that stuctorily speaking it's a rather "patchy" evening of theatre at best, but I still love it, and I always will. I understand that some people don't like it, but it does hold a special place in the hearts of a lot of people. Everyone has "that one" special show....CATS is mine.

P.S. I do believe that stuctorily is not an actual word, but now it is.... Updated On: 4/10/04 at 03:51 PM

[DefyingGravity2]

Posted: 4/10/04 at 5:39pm

Actually, the 2nd act of Bounce IS better b/c Gavin is in it, I'm not a die hard Gavin fan (i am a fan, but not obsessed you understand) and his character is a nice relief after the first act i think.

[thirdrowcenter]

Posted: 4/10/04 at 9:18pm

The second act of The Stendhal Syndrome (Richard Thomas is fabulous)
The second act of Long Day's Journey Into Night held me spellbound.