News on your favorite shows, specials & more!

The Perfect Musical?

elphabelle07 Profile Photo
elphabelle07
#25re: The Perfect Musical?
Posted: 7/17/08 at 5:01pm

In my opinion, Gypsy, Les Miserables, and Sunday in the Park With George. They're just about as perfect as musicals can get. All have AMAZING music, lyrics, and stories/themes.


"I'm a bagel on a plate full of onion rolls!"-Funny Girl

wonderfulwizard11 Profile Photo
wonderfulwizard11
#26re: The Perfect Musical?
Posted: 7/17/08 at 5:04pm

I'd go with GYPSY, along with A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC. I really consider both of those flawless.


I am a firm believer in serendipity- all the random pieces coming together in one wonderful moment, when suddenly you see what their purpose was all along.

elphabelle07 Profile Photo
elphabelle07
#27re: The Perfect Musical?
Posted: 7/17/08 at 5:09pm

I forgot A Little Night Music!! thank you for reminding me wonderfulwizard!


"I'm a bagel on a plate full of onion rolls!"-Funny Girl

TooDarnHot Profile Photo
TooDarnHot
#28re: The Perfect Musical?
Posted: 7/17/08 at 5:14pm

"I'd go with GYPSY, along with A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC. I really consider both of those flawless."

No musical is "flawless"

there are flaws in every musical written

antiandrewx Profile Photo
antiandrewx
#29re: The Perfect Musical?
Posted: 7/17/08 at 5:15pm

What do you think the flaws in Gypsy are?

TooDarnHot Profile Photo
TooDarnHot
#30re: The Perfect Musical?
Posted: 7/17/08 at 5:23pm

The most obvious one...

"Little Lamb."

Yeah, the moment needs a number, but not this one.

It's in the right place, and evokes the right sentiment, but the song is dull lyrically and musically until the lovely bridge. ("Did somebody paint you like that. Or is it your birthday too?')

it's just so unbearably twee.

tazber Profile Photo
tazber
#31re: The Perfect Musical?
Posted: 7/17/08 at 5:29pm

Sweeney
Nine
Gypsy
King And I
Once On This Island

in that order


....but the world goes 'round
Updated On: 7/17/08 at 05:29 PM

Mister Matt Profile Photo
Mister Matt
#32re: The Perfect Musical?
Posted: 7/17/08 at 5:36pm

I'm surprised at the number of people who list Gypsy as "perfect", yet so many claim they hate the song Little Lamb. LOL As far as nearly perfect musicals:

Les Miserables
Oklahoma
Show Boat
West Side Story
The Most Happy Fella
Gypsy
A Little Night Music
The Music Man
Fiddler on the Roof
A Chorus Line
Billy Elliot


"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

Brave Sir Robin2 Profile Photo
Brave Sir Robin2
#33re: The Perfect Musical?
Posted: 7/17/08 at 5:45pm

Drowsy Chaperone


"I saw Pavarotti play Rodolfo on stage and with his girth I thought he was about to eat the whole table at the Cafe Momus." - Dollypop

sondhead
#34re: The Perfect Musical?
Posted: 7/17/08 at 5:48pm

I always think of Little Shop too--people overlook it because it's campy and fun, but it is brilliantly and tightly written. There isn't a word or note misplaced. If the pacing is right and the performers talented, it is such a joy to watch.

My list would include Gypsy, Little Shop of Horrors and Sweeney Todd.

"Based on what's been said already: A fight between Rent, Gypsy and My Fair Lady"

I don't understand RENT being considered a perfect musical. There are several laughably terrible lyrics, not to mention that RIDICULOUS ending. I love that people say that RENT was 1. So original and displays such artistic vision and 2. Is so REAL

1. It's La Boheme in the 90s and AIDs instead of Tuberculosis. It's the EXACT same story. As for the music, Broadway shows have featured "popular" music literally since its inception, so I fail to see the innovation here either.

2. Ya it's so realistic. No sugar coating. Except for when Mimi magically comes back to life, turning a somber dark finale into a campy ridiculous one. Of course, is this even a happy ending? She still has AIDs. Isn't it actually just prolonging her suffering? Baaaaaad writing.

commasplice
#35re: The Perfect Musical?
Posted: 7/17/08 at 5:51pm

The Most Happy Fella is to me a damn near perfect show. As are A Little Night Music and Gypsy.

Mister Matt Profile Photo
Mister Matt
#36re: The Perfect Musical?
Posted: 7/17/08 at 6:18pm

sondhead - Thanks for reminding me! I almost forgot to add Rent to my list. I disagree with most everything in your post, but such is life. I don't believe Rent is so much an "original" show (not that anyone said it was, but elements of the show are original) as it is well-conceived, and while popular music has indeed been featured on Broadway before, there is no denying Rent highly influenced a new musical style of writing that has gained momentum in popularity both on and off Broadway. And as for being "realistic", so what? Not that anyone said it is realistic, but anyone who expects realism from a musical is just asking for ridicule, so why even pick it apart? Were you expecting the show to be realistic or are you arguing with the invisible people who are making these claims?


"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian

sondhead
#37re: The Perfect Musical?
Posted: 7/17/08 at 6:37pm

I'm responding to things I hear people say all the time. Whether people think it's realistic or not, the ending trivializes the entire "message" of the show, at least to me.

But to each their own :) Thanks for not bashing my opinion, and I definitely won't bash yours
Updated On: 7/17/08 at 06:37 PM

brochatkid
#38re: The Perfect Musical?
Posted: 7/17/08 at 8:49pm

South Pacific. It has beautiful music, it's theme and message are timeless, it's progressive, and gives great roles to the actors. Also, it is a classic.


jv92 Profile Photo
jv92
#39re: The Perfect Musical?
Posted: 7/17/08 at 9:43pm

I'll agree that She Loves Me is pretty much perfect too. It's so charming. God, I love that show.
And I absoultely disagree with everything negative said about "Little Lamb." It's one of the top three numbers in Gypsy. Updated On: 7/17/08 at 09:43 PM

BroadwayBound115 Profile Photo
BroadwayBound115
#40re: The Perfect Musical?
Posted: 7/17/08 at 9:59pm

I really think West Side Story is one of the perfect musicals. I enjoy the music and the story is great. That is the only musical I have come close to crying in. The ending is probably one of the most dramatic and personally, is my favorite ending to a show ever.

PalJoey Profile Photo
PalJoey
#41re: The Perfect Musical?
Posted: 7/17/08 at 10:00pm

Easy:

re: The Perfect Musical?


Kev14 Profile Photo
Kev14
#42re: The Perfect Musical?
Posted: 7/17/08 at 10:30pm

Sondhead, I totally agree with you about the endings of musicals. They are so important and can really mess up what the whole show was about.

Rent is a great show but the ending is...well...interesting. I always space that scene out. I guess this demonstrates that someone will always find something with every show. But hey, who cares? The only thing that matters is that a musical is perfect to you.


Upcoming Shows: Quilters, A Bronx Tale, August: Osage County, Wicked, Spring Awakening, Little House on the Prairie

PalJoey Profile Photo
PalJoey
#43re: The Perfect Musical?
Posted: 7/17/08 at 10:57pm

On second thought...

re: The Perfect Musical?

and if you've never seen Karen Morrow and company do the title number, then you've never experienced the quintessential 1960s Broadway musical:

http://www.bluegobo.com/video.php?var=10239


nolongeryou
#44re: The Perfect Musical?
Posted: 7/17/08 at 11:21pm

erineloise Profile Photo
erineloise
#45re: The Perfect Musical?
Posted: 7/18/08 at 1:13am

Night Music for me. It is, to me, one of the most beautiful portrayals of what love is on stage. Love flows from the music, you can almost feel the story line without even hearing a single lyric. You see the show and you think, "That was so beautiful!" and then later, "That was so incredibly depressing." and then finally to, "That is what relationships are." I cry thinking about it. Yes, I did wish it had a better book, but I can handle it, every show has flaws, and if something was perfect...well what would you be able to do with it? There would be no challenge!

walkedthroughmany Profile Photo
walkedthroughmany
#46re: The Perfect Musical?
Posted: 7/18/08 at 1:20am

I think "Little Lamb" is perfect.

Mekroth
#47re: The Perfect Musical?
Posted: 7/18/08 at 1:23am

I find Sweeney Todd to be the epitome of any theatrical experience.

TooDarnHot Profile Photo
TooDarnHot
#48re: The Perfect Musical?
Posted: 7/18/08 at 1:32am

"I think "Little Lamb" is perfect."


Perfect?? REALLY??

2. excellent or complete beyond practical or theoretical improvement

3. exactly fitting the need in a certain situation or for a certain purpose

4. entirely without any flaws, defects, or shortcomings

5. accurate, exact, or correct in every detail: a perfect copy.

6. thorough; complete; utter: perfect strangers.

walkedthroughmany Profile Photo
walkedthroughmany
#49re: The Perfect Musical?
Posted: 7/18/08 at 1:42am

"Perfect?? REALLY??"

Yes.


Videos