#51
Posted: 6/7/10 at 6:47pm
A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC....THE OBC AND BALTIMORE PRODUCTION 2008 Center Stage WITH BARBARA WALSH...HAS A PERFECT BOOK AND SCORE
Those PERFECT shows? — Page 3
#52
Posted: 6/7/10 at 8:30pm
I would say A Little Night Music is about as close as you can get to a contemporary perfect musical. And I know many will disagree with me, but I think Ragtime is also pretty damn close to perfect. Others...Guys and Dolls, Gypsy, The Fantasticks, and West Side Story immediately come to mind.
#53
Posted: 6/8/10 at 12:05am
There are so many more play-wise, but in my opinion BRIGHTON BEACH MEMOIRS is perfection.
"These rabid fans...possess the acting talent to portray the hooker...Linda Eder..." -The New York Times
#54
Posted: 6/8/10 at 12:38am
"'Hello, Dolly' is close, but the waiters' gallop is merely a dance showcase and moves no story forward."
I beg to differ when it comes to the waiters' gallop. We're in this universe where people sing and dance when something major in their life is happening. Dolly is returning at long last, and that is SO HUGE they have to dance about it. It's not just preparing, it's a total celebration of this colossal figure. Without it, the actual song "Hello, Dolly!" would make no sense. I honestly wouldn't get the big deal. They could talk about how excited they are, but in a world where people sing about putting on their nicest clothes, it wouldn't be believable without a dance THAT BIG to celebrate it.
In terms of perfectly constructed plays, if we're opening that up, GLASS MENAGERIE is pretty excellent in terms of structure.
I beg to differ when it comes to the waiters' gallop. We're in this universe where people sing and dance when something major in their life is happening. Dolly is returning at long last, and that is SO HUGE they have to dance about it. It's not just preparing, it's a total celebration of this colossal figure. Without it, the actual song "Hello, Dolly!" would make no sense. I honestly wouldn't get the big deal. They could talk about how excited they are, but in a world where people sing about putting on their nicest clothes, it wouldn't be believable without a dance THAT BIG to celebrate it.
In terms of perfectly constructed plays, if we're opening that up, GLASS MENAGERIE is pretty excellent in terms of structure.
Some people paint, some people sew, I meddle.
#55
Posted: 6/8/10 at 12:42am
I agree theaterkid. There isn't a song or line that doesn't develop character or move plot. It is definitely worthy of the perfection list. Death Of A Salesman for plays too.
"These rabid fans...possess the acting talent to portray the hooker...Linda Eder..." -The New York Times
#56
Posted: 6/8/10 at 12:45am
I'd add ANGELS IN AMERICA to perfect plays. I love the way things become important and take on significance, lines reappear, all that. I think it's positively brilliant.
Some people paint, some people sew, I meddle.
#57
Posted: 6/8/10 at 2:33am
I don't think that Rent should be anywhere near any discussion about perfect musicals, but can we stop saying that it's a sung-through musical when it does have a book? That it won the Tony for, in fact? At least let's get our facts straight!
#59
Posted: 6/8/10 at 2:49am
Death of a Salesman!
I thought it was all a flash in the pan. It wasn't until Broadway came along that I felt I had really made it.
-Julie Andrews
#61
Posted: 6/8/10 at 10:47am
BILLY ELLIOT
N2N
DROWSY CHAPERONE
WEDDING SINGER
CHOURS LINE
N2N
DROWSY CHAPERONE
WEDDING SINGER
CHOURS LINE
"(in a sweedish accent) Oh! What a lovely T-shirt you are wearing!"- Catherine Zeta-Jones refering to my ALNM shirt at the CD signing.
Say NO to drugs and YES to Jackie Hoffman Live At Joes Pub!
"ITS THE DAY OF THE SHOW YA'LL!!"-Bwaynerd
#62
Posted: 6/8/10 at 11:15am
BILLY ELLIOT
N2N
WEDDING SINGER
You're actually, kidding, right?
N2N
WEDDING SINGER
You're actually, kidding, right?
#63
Posted: 6/8/10 at 11:38am
I actually sort of agree with Billy Elliot. The more times I've seen it, the more I'm convinced how beautifully it is constructed.
Next to Normal is an intelligent and highly emotional piece, but not perfect. And I don't know how Wedding Singer could get in there.
And can we stop pretending that sung-through musicals don't have a book? Or that the book of a musical is just the dialogue? Please do a little research on the construction of musicals and why book writers are credited for their work. It's not just because there is a Tony category.
Next to Normal is an intelligent and highly emotional piece, but not perfect. And I don't know how Wedding Singer could get in there.
And can we stop pretending that sung-through musicals don't have a book? Or that the book of a musical is just the dialogue? Please do a little research on the construction of musicals and why book writers are credited for their work. It's not just because there is a Tony category.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
#64
Posted: 6/8/10 at 12:17pm
backwoodsbarbie: Carousel? Really? The message of the show is pretty much "It's alright if he beats you, he really loves you." and "all women should conform to their husbands desires."
#65
Posted: 6/9/10 at 12:50am
I can't believe "Kiss Me, Kate" hasn't been mentioned yet- it's IMO the most perfectly-constructed musical ever written, at least the recent revival.
#66
Posted: 6/9/10 at 2:48am
I'm agreeing with A Little Night Music. Besides being my favorite Sondheim show and pretty much favorite musical overall, it does a perfect job of seamlessly blending the score and book. Each song advances the plot yet also provides character development. With well defined character arcs and it's careful balance of comedy and drama, it is definitely one of the greatest musicals of the 20th century, and probably of all time.
<-----Bernadette Peters and Alexander Hanson in A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC.
Send in the clowns...Send in the crowds!
"I prefer neurotic people. I like to hear rumblings beneath the surface."-Stephen Sondheim
Send in the clowns...Send in the crowds!
"I prefer neurotic people. I like to hear rumblings beneath the surface."-Stephen Sondheim
Updated On: 6/9/10 at 02:48 AM
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