The Perfect Musical?- Page 3
The Perfect Musical?
Chorus Member Joined: 11/10/12
The Perfect Musical?#50
Posted: 12/20/13 at 6:06pm
A Little Night Music is the perfect Musical
Glass Menagerie and You Can't Take it With You are perfect plays. One drama, One Comedy.
Stand-by Joined: 11/28/11
The Perfect Musical?#51
Posted: 6/23/14 at 3:49pmSo, I've seen people say that Gypsy is considered "the Perfect Musical." I think it's a good show, and I'd be interested to hear opinions/facts on why it is considered perfect.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/13
The Perfect Musical?#52
Posted: 6/23/14 at 3:59pmNo "perfect" musical exists, since art is subjective. A book or score could be written perfectly, with regard to structure/storytelling/rhyming/etc., I guess. But the musical as a whole is all based on perspective. No one musical can be universally perfect, except for in the mind of the person deeming it so.
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/29/08
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/13
The Perfect Musical?#58
Posted: 6/23/14 at 8:25pm
Gypsy
Guys and Dolls
My fair lady
A little night music
how to succeed in business without really trying
Kiss me Kate
West side story
The Perfect Musical?#59
Posted: 6/23/14 at 8:30pm
@ brldisteach2 to answer your question, For me I think gypsy is a perfect musical because if you take away the music and the book for that show is so strong that it can stand on its on. what makes it even better is that gypsy has a amazing score that advances the story.
That can be said for the other musicals i listed above. to me a prefect musical has a strong book that can stand on its on and has a a strong score that advances the story.
Updated On: 6/23/14 at 08:30 PM
Swing Joined: 6/18/14
Broadway Star Joined: 10/19/05
The Perfect Musical?#61
Posted: 6/23/14 at 8:48pm
I agree with neonlights: for me, Cabaret is the musical that is closest to "perfect." I never grow fired of listening to the OBC, the recent revival, or the soundtrack. I love every song. My one minor quibble is that there should be a duet between the MC and Sally (which was rectified in the movie).
I would also add Caroline, or Change, which is my favorite musical. Every single song is absolutely necessary, tells you something about the character, and drives the plot. I experience something new with each listen. Sublime.
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/29/05
The Perfect Musical?#62
Posted: 6/23/14 at 10:43pm
Not sure about perfect. But no show gives me more pleasure when performed brilliantly than SHE LOVES ME. Real romance, rhapsodic feeling, fully realized subplot, joyous comedy, gorgeous score, lyrically exquisite, and the best first and second act curtains one could ever hope to see. - and Gaveston, I don't agree that the plot is over with the song SHE LOVES ME.
How could it? When she doesn't know it?
Updated On: 6/23/14 at 10:43 PM
Stand-by Joined: 11/28/11
The Perfect Musical?#63
Posted: 6/23/14 at 10:47pmThank you for your explanation. That makes sense.
The Perfect Musical?#64
Posted: 6/24/14 at 12:42am
Gaveston, I don't agree that the plot is over with the song SHE LOVES ME.
How could it? When she doesn't know it?
Now, Henrik, my good fellow, you know perfectly well that "dramatic irony" is not the same as "action". I suppose one can pretend we don't know how Amalia will react to Georg's lie by omission, but, really, is there any doubt?
****
BTW, Schiller's MARY STUART is so perfectly balanced between its protagonist and antagonist it's nearly impossible to say which is which. It is "perfect" in its well-ordered way (and I love the play and opera), but many find that very mathematical completeness to be a flaw.
The Perfect Musical?#66
Posted: 6/24/14 at 6:56am1776
The Perfect Musical?#67
Posted: 6/24/14 at 7:23amI love Next To Normal, It honestly makes me cry every time I listen to the score.
The Perfect Musical?#68
Posted: 6/24/14 at 4:10pmI think A Chorus Line is pretty perfect. I've seen a lot of perfect performances of it, anyway.
The Perfect Musical?#70
Posted: 6/24/14 at 4:41pm
There are many perfect musicals. Musical theater in and of itself is an art form that lends itself to a vision of perfection.
So here are my 10 Perfect Musicals, in ascending order of perfectness, starting with 6 perfect musical comedies and ending with 4 perfect musical dramas, with A Little Night Music being #1, as it is the pinnacle of perfection:
10. Of Thee I Sing
9. Kiss Me, Kate
8. Guys and Dolls
7. The Music Man
6. My Fair Lady
5. She Loves Me
4. A Chorus Line
3. West Side Story
2. Gypsy
1. A Little Night Music
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/28/13
The Perfect Musical?#72
Posted: 6/24/14 at 5:36pmWhat you deem perfect I might deem imperfect or flawed. There is no scientific method to determining what a "perfect" musical is, unless we only limit the discussion to elements/concepts of playwriting or songwriting. Musicals, as a whole, are works of art and art is completely subjective. I see garbage, you see beauty. And vice versa.
The Perfect Musical?#74
Posted: 6/24/14 at 6:44pmAnyone hear that? I'm sure I heard.... No? Ok, carry on enjoying yourselves..
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