What Is The Perfect Broadway Show?

[PopAria]

Posted: 1/3/11 at 1:49am

I want to ask you all a question about a Broadway show that could last as long as Phantom and be popular. Is it even possible to have a really amazing book with good music and amazing actors?

What is/was that show?

[Overkill]

Posted: 1/3/11 at 2:08am

As for having a perfect book/score/cast, I think the original production of A NEW BRAIN was PERFECTION.

If you're asking what's on Broadway NOW that will run for a while longer, I'd say those shows would be Wicked and The Lion King.

[fingerlakessinger]

Posted: 1/3/11 at 2:33am

I think to ask what the definite Broadway show is, is kinda asking who the best actor in the world is. It's completely up to people's own personal taste. Like for me, although it has it's problems, personally WICKED is the best Broadway show I have ever seen (and I've been a Broadway nut since 5) but there's plenty of people on this site who would say the exact opposite. Just like how so many on here think GYPSY is the best show, yet I, even though I do love it, think it's rather blah.
I think what makes a show become such a massive hit amongst audiences (Such as Phantom, Les Miserables, WICKED) is that those shows have that "it" factor. We can sit and dissect each show and place things in the "good" box and the "bad" box for hours yet we will never come up with a for-sure answer. It's combo of all those things (book, score, actors) but what makes them so different is, as I said, that "it" factor.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 1/3/11 at 2:41am

It really is hard to find a perfect show. I don't think a show's success or popularity makes it flawless. For example, Phantom, as much as I love it, is far from perfect. Wicked and Lion King, while they are popular and successful are nowhere near perfect. Wicked in particular has a bad score, a flawed design, etc. The only. Broadway shows I personally find flawless are Gypsy and Sweeney Todd. These two shows are Sondheim's best work and are what I believe to be perfect and flawless shows. Certain productions of these shows may not be flawless, but the material itself is genius and perfect.

[allofmylife]

Posted: 1/3/11 at 3:23am

And Guys and Dolls. Every element, to me, like Gypsy, is perfect. And for my money, "My Time of Day" is the single greatest song every written for the Broadway stage. I intend to have it played at my wake (yeah, the bar will be free.)

[jimmycurry01]

Posted: 1/3/11 at 5:20am

Gypsy is almost always considered the text book example of the perfect musical as far as writing goes. When i say text book example, I mean that quite literally.
The Seagull is usually considered to be the perfect play, as far as writing goes.
It is of course possible to see terrible productions of both. A terrible production can hide the actual merit of the material. Even the best written shows can't always out shine crappy direction or bad acting.

[madbrian]

Posted: 1/3/11 at 8:41am

I think Noises Off is pretty near perfect.

[Katurian2]

Posted: 1/3/11 at 9:07am

imo: FOLLIES and SWEENEY TODD


I think the perfect show is when you can have so many interpretations and plays on a single piece of material, and have each of them as valid and artistic as the next. I'm thinking the minimalistic Follies or Doyle's haunting and minimalistic Sweeney revival a few years back.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 1/3/11 at 10:32am

I agree with Gypsy and Guys and Dolls and will add Kiss Me, Kate, A Little Night Music, and Oklahoma! All perfect, flawless musicals in my opinion.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 1/3/11 at 11:38am

CAROLINE, OR CHANGE
OUR TOWN
SIDE MAN
DOUBT

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/3/11 at 11:41am

Personally, I think The Music Man is about as perfect as a musical can get.

[EyeWin]

Posted: 1/3/11 at 11:51am

boeing boeing

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/3/11 at 12:08pm

I loved a New Brain but it was/is in now way perfect- extraneous songs, seemingly random plot developments, unbelievable coincidences-- not perfect.

Gypsy, on the other hand, is flawless.

[madbrian]

Posted: 1/3/11 at 1:16pm

When I think of a flawless musical, first thing that comes to mind is 1776.

[sally1112]

Posted: 1/3/11 at 2:08pm

Little Shop of Horrors. Book, Score, Characters, just everything about it!

[twinbelters]

Posted: 1/3/11 at 2:50pm

That's what I was going to say, Sally. Little Shop is actor-proof. It's so tightly written, and the music is extraordinary. And I've seen some bad interpretations of Audrey II and it really doesn't hold the rest of the show back. In fact, the cheapness can add to the fun.

Sweeney Todd, for sure.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 1/3/11 at 2:58pm

I didn't even think of Little Shop, but definitely. It's such a tight and sleek show that is written so gracefully.

[Overkill]

Posted: 1/3/11 at 3:14pm

I'm doing Little Shop right now, and I agree. It's very sleek and just so much fun. I also agree with 1776. Flawless. I also always thought that How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying is just CLASSIC Broadway.

As for Music Man, I think it has a lot of problems. Especially the god awful ending.

JoeKv99, what do you mean by A New Brain having "seemingly random plot developments"? And as for "unbelievable coincidences", MANY shows that are considered amazing have those.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 1/3/11 at 3:24pm

I think A Chorus Line would be in the running for that honor.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/3/11 at 3:35pm

New Brain I felt was plagued by a lot of unmotivated actions and random coincidences- The mother throwing out all her sons books while he's in the hospital, the homeless lady finding those same books and offering them back to the lover to name but one. And while I love the score, so many of those songs seem plopped in without any dramatic reason.
Updated On: 1/3/11 at 03:35 PM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 1/3/11 at 3:51pm

As for Music Man, I think it has a lot of problems. Especially the god awful ending.

Huh? I'm not aware of any problems in Music Man. What's wrong with the ending?

[Unknown User]

Posted: 1/3/11 at 4:17pm

Music Man is a perfectly constructed show.

[binau]

Posted: 1/3/11 at 4:26pm

For those that don't think Sweeney Todd is flawless, what are its flaws? I'm just curious, because I think it's a perfect musical.

[SondheimFan5]

Posted: 1/3/11 at 4:47pm

SPIDERMAN.

kidding.

I'll have to agree with Gypsy, Sweeney, and Guys & Dolls, and add The Producers & La Cage.

[Overkill]

Posted: 1/3/11 at 5:58pm

I was wrong before when I said The Music Man had A LOT of problems. I apologize. But the ending is so awkward and it just...ends. That's always been the only real problem with it for me.

I can understand what you're saying about A NEW BRAIN, Joe. But I have to respectfully disagree. The homeless lady just happening upon Gordo's books and trying to sell them to his lover is just as believable as Harold Hill just happening to stop in a town where his former partner, Marcellus, now lives. Ya know? That's not the BEST analogy, but just to compare two shows I've commented on.