What do you think is the most effective Act One CLOSING for a musical?- Page 4

[Unknown User]

Posted: 10/10/04 at 11:16am

Fair Lady - your name reminds me of another of my favorites - Eliza appearing at the top of the stairs, and coming down to go to the ball in My Fair Lady.

[magruder]

Posted: 10/10/04 at 11:23am

Actually, in the stage script of My Fair Lady, at least in original form, Act One continues through Eliza going to the ball through "The Embassy Waltz". Act Two opens with "You Did It". But, the movie puts the intermission at Eliza coming down the stairs in that knockout Cecil Beaton gown, and I know some stage productions of My Fair Lady have moved up the intermission to that point.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 10/10/04 at 11:25am

Magruder - I had no idea - I've seen it three times in three different places, and each one of them did that - how funny! The power of cinema, I guess

[magruder]

Posted: 10/10/04 at 11:28am

Well, Act One going through the ball makes for a wildly long sit, so I certainly understand following the movie's lead on that front.

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 10/10/04 at 11:32am

In the original Broadway production of MY FAIR LADY, the Act I ending was all done NONVERBALLY:

During "Embassy Waltz", Zoltan Karpathy (language expert hired to get the real dope on Eliza) "cuts in" on Eliza's partner and starts to dance with her.

Pickering immediately notices, gets alarmed and gestures to Higgins what is going on. Higgins gestures "Don't Worry About It."

The Curtain Drops.

[BroadwayBallyBoo]

Posted: 10/10/04 at 1:14pm

I don't remember if it was the first act or not The falling chandlier from Phantom.

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 10/10/04 at 1:38pm

Hey Magruder, :)

I always thought the Act I ending of PROMISES, PROMISES was NON-MUSICAL.

After "Turkey Long" Song, Chuck and Fran go into his new office. Chuck tries on bowler hat he just purchased to look "more like an executive."

He needs a mirror. Fran hands him her compact. He sees that it is the same broken compact that he retrieved from his apartment last night when his boss Sheldrake had a "fling" there.

Chuck realizes Fran (woman he is deeply attracted to) is really his boss' mistress.

Curtain drops.

[Kris2]

Posted: 10/10/04 at 2:58pm

Fairly repetitive, I know. I wanted to give reasons though. Couldn't stick to just one. All are worthy of mention. A truly effective act one closer (imo) will draw you in and sets up the second act without leaving you hanging.


One Day More from Les Miz is up there - As a song, it's beautifully crafted and I adore it. Amazing. I thought it could've been staged more creatively, but still very effective. I did like that Valjean/Cosette were separate from the group because they were caught up in their own conflict. Very sweeping orchestrations and harmonies of epic proportions.

Everything's Coming Up Roses from Gypsy - Intense. Definitely one of the most effective act one closings. Watching Rose's ambition change as she starts to crack, so powerful. It's a very personal, emotionally revealing song.

Tomorrow Belongs to Me (Reprise) from Cabaret - Bone chilling. The menacing undertones were truly frightening. It hits you right in the core of your humanity. Perfectly done. Stands out in my mind.

Defying Gravity from Wicked - I must say that this is a glorious act one closer. The technical aspect has a lot to do with it - the way Elphaba flies forward and then upwards, but especially the lighting. This song soars. I like the buildup a lot, from softer to more aggressively defiant. The show may be flawed as a whole, but when intermission starts you feel exhilarated. Anthemic? Yes. But gloriously so.

Props to a non-Broadway show:
Union Square from Subway Train - One of the strongest parts of the show. Gorgeous harmonies. Jericho's passionate search for his girlfriend is heartbreaking. It is a tight song and simply staged. Absolutely beautiful. Intimate.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 10/10/04 at 4:37pm

Not a big fan of it, but I'd have to say...Wicked. Too bad the ending of Act Two wasn't so good.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 10/10/04 at 5:11pm

I always thought that Sunday in the Park with George had a great act one ender.

And yes the dreamgirls act one closer is a total tear jerking experience.

[mizzie]

Posted: 10/10/04 at 5:16pm

AAA-AAA-AAA-AAH!!
"Defying Gravity" from "Wicked."
"One Day More" is fabulous.
"Phantom of the Opera".

[marincrazy11]

Posted: 10/10/04 at 5:33pm

Till We Reach That Day is one pretty powerful act one closer

[Derek]

Posted: 10/10/04 at 6:09pm

Defying Gravity - Wicked (I was just in awe)
I am What I Am - La Cage aux Folles (I cried lol)
etc...etc...etc - The King and I lol

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 10/10/04 at 6:11pm

Hi Derek, :)

THE KING AND I--great choice.

Do you know that THE KING AND I was the first musical to end with a death scene? :)

[Unknown User]

Posted: 10/10/04 at 6:30pm

Rose's Turn

[Derek]

Posted: 10/10/04 at 6:36pm

Was it really? I saw a clip of the original show (the ending) on its closing night. when the curtain went down there was about 20 seconds of silence and then suddenly the audience went crazy! (I think they were in awe of the show :))

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 10/10/04 at 6:41pm

Hey Derek, :)

Probably so, man. Probably so. :)

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 10/10/04 at 7:09pm

Just back from DC (and "On Golden Pond" w/ James Earl Jones) so I have a lot to catch up on.....


My top three:

DREAMGIRLS, DREAMGIRLS & DREAMGIRLS!!!!

Simply extraordinary and I haven't seen anything since that approaches it.

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 10/10/04 at 7:23pm

Hi Margo, :)

A LOT agree with you!!! :)

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 10/10/04 at 7:30pm

Understand, I'm comparing DREAMGIRLS with all the shows I've actually seen since my first in 1970. Perhaps I'd have a different opinion had I seen the great Merman in GYPSY back in '59, but I wasn't alive yet. All of my friends who have seen both, pick DREAMGIRLS.

[Marquise]

Posted: 10/10/04 at 8:13pm

i was fortunate enough to see dreamgirls at least 10 times..OBC and 1987 combined! i would have killed to have been old enough to see donna mckechnie, margo sappington and baayork dance their @sses off in "promises, promises".

[mint0621]

Posted: 10/10/04 at 9:18pm

Although it's been mentioned, I love Rent, and the song "La Vie Boheme", it is so inspiring, it feels like the end of the musical. I think that's one of the reasons why Rent also has the best intermission, everyone is so happy during the intermission....but that's another thread.

Phantom with the chandelier falling down is hard to beat too. That's my 2nd choice.

[bially082]

Posted: 10/10/04 at 9:53pm

Les Miz

[Belle-arina]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 10:00am

Okay, I may be biased, but it's gotta be Phantom. I mean, come on, it's the chandelier! :)

[broadway86]

Posted: 10/11/04 at 10:10am

"And I Am Telling You..." (Dreamgirls)
"'Til We Reach That Day" (Ragtime)
"Cross the Line" (Big)
"All I Ask of You" (Phantom...)
"Everything's Coming Up Roses" (Gypsy)