Sondheim's best and worst act 1 closers- Page 2
Sondheim's best and worst act 1 closers
Josh Freilich
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/17/06
#25re: Sondheim's best and worst act 1 closers
Posted: 5/19/06 at 2:58pm
Actually, you're very close. It's supposed to be "bums bums bums bums bums bums bums bums bums."
It's funny that way.
"How could she just suddenly, completely disappear into thin water?" - The Little Mermaid
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/31/69
#26re: Sondheim's best and worst act 1 closers
Posted: 5/19/06 at 3:18pm
"A Little Priest" is fine if you can handle a comedy number (that's far too long) that seems inappropriate for the rest of the show. Of course this is based on seeing only the original production...maybe the latest revival is more comedic that it ought to be 
#27re: Sondheim's best and worst act 1 closers
Posted: 5/19/06 at 5:01pm
Tom - I hope you taste good, because you're about to be baked into a pie yourself with that comment on this board.
And really - bums? I always thought it was buns - huh - I'll just pretend I was hitting the n instead of the m on my keyboard then...
Hi, Shirley Temple Pudding.
#28re: Sondheim's best and worst act 1 closers
Posted: 5/20/06 at 7:58pmA Little Priest is very appropriate for "Sweeney Todd." It is dramatically perfect for the finale and is so plot heavy that it doesn't even feel like a comedy number (Plot heavy in a good way). Mrs. Lovett is also a comedic character so it serves her perfectly.
mrslovett7
Leading Actor Joined: 3/18/06
#29re: Sondheim's best and worst act 1 closers
Posted: 5/20/06 at 9:18pm
Best: A Little Priest- Sweeney Todd
Worst: Ever After - Into the Woods (I thought it was over the first time I saw it!)
~H*
"I slept through the nominations, as I always do. Anything I need to know, I'll find out when I get up at a reasonable hour!"
-Michael Cerveris
gumbo2
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/21/05
#30re: Sondheim's best and worst act 1 closers
Posted: 5/20/06 at 9:32pm
I haven't seen all of these shows but I love A little priest from Sweeney.
My least favorite is Ever After. It's fine I guess but I just don't like the tune that much, and it doesn't really make me interested in what will happen next, as it really could be the end of the show (though I LOVE the 2nd act). It reminds me kind of of the end of the first act of Fantasticks, with a happy ending but makes me want to know what will happen later.
#31re: Sondheim's best and worst act 1 closers
Posted: 5/22/06 at 1:57pm
"Children and Art is quite possibly the deepest and most meaningful song Sondheim ever wrote"
I agree that Children and Art is a beautiful song, but by the time it appears in the show, the second act has already started to drag. And then, with two more weighty ballads and the reprise of "Sunday" being the only musical numbers that follow, I have nodded off.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
Marguerite Chauvelin
Broadway Star Joined: 7/19/05
#32re: Sondheim's best and worst act 1 closers
Posted: 5/22/06 at 3:16pm
Best: Sweeney Todd
I'm not sure about worst but "A Little Preist" beats them all. If the whole of Assassins counted as Act One, it would be a tie.
If Percy Blakeney were in Les Mis....
Percy: Sink me! If it isn't Javvurt!
Javert: Zsah-vair, it's pronounced Zsah-vair.
Pecry: But it's spelled J-A-V-E-R-T Javvurt.
Javert: Repeat after me Zsah...Zsah....
Percy: Oh! Zsa-Zsa! Like the Gabor sister! Well I personally have always prefered Eva.
Javert: (Looks for gun)
Percy: Sink me! If it isn't Javvurt!
Javert: Zsah-vair, it's pronounced Zsah-vair.
Pecry: But it's spelled J-A-V-E-R-T Javvurt.
Javert: Repeat after me Zsah...Zsah....
Percy: Oh! Zsa-Zsa! Like the Gabor sister! Well I personally have always prefered Eva.
Javert: (Looks for gun)
#33re: Sondheim's best and worst act 1 closers
Posted: 5/22/06 at 3:22pmIt has to be Sweeney as the best. Epiphany and A Little Priest are just classic.
Videos