What is Your Favorite Rodgers & Hammerstein Musical?

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 10/8/04 at 9:19am

For me, its CAROUSEL. Hands down.

Magnificent scoring, book is based on a classic (LILIOM) but actually IMPROVES plot and makes ending much MORE UPBEAT.

"The Carousel Waltz"

"If I Loved You"

"June is Bustin' Out All Over"

"Soliquoy"

"This Was a Real Nice Clambacke"

"What's The Use of Wondrin'"

"YOU'LL NEVER WALK ALONE"

AGNES DEMILLE CHOREOGRAPHY.


Only debit with show is that a requires a male singer with FULL vocal range to play Bill. The 1994 revival did not cast that way.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/8/04 at 9:31am

Hands down - Oklahoma!

One of my all-time favorite shows. Carousel has some beautiful music, but there are a few songs I cannot stand and the story just drives me nuts. I just want to shake Julie REALLY HARD to knock some sense into her.

[jo]

Posted: 10/8/04 at 9:34am

I always thought it was CAROUSEL, too --

but how can I resist the charm of

SOUTH PACIFIC
OKLAHOMA!
SOUND OF MUSIC
KING AND I

I think I love them all, depending on what I am watching on DVD ( movie version or filmed stage version) or listening to Updated On: 10/8/04 at 09:34 AM

[spiderdj82]

Posted: 10/8/04 at 9:50am

Favorite? Hmmmm....I would have to say Oklahoma!

[rockfenris2005]

Posted: 10/8/04 at 9:53am

PIPE DREAM

[mominator]

Posted: 10/8/04 at 10:17am

eek! Oklahoma... bad memories (cowering inthe corner sucking thumb!)

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 10/8/04 at 10:17am

Hey Matt,

That is the whole point of CAROUSEL--Julie loves Billy so much she is BLIND to his obvious faults.

To me, it is not unlike abused wives who stay with their husbands because "they love him."

And don't forget, at the end, Billy redeems himself and makes life better for Julie AND their daughter.

I think the plot is MORE RELEVANT now than in 1945.

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 10/8/04 at 10:20am

Hey Rock,

PIPE DREAM? INTERESTING choice!!!

Please tell us what about show you admire.

(Score, Cast, Source Material, etc.)

[tthomas76]

Posted: 10/8/04 at 10:21am

Sorry I'm a dork I know but I love Sound of Music. This was my first musical to see and I directed the show last season at our theatre...

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 10/8/04 at 10:23am

Mom,

OK. I give.

OKLAHOMA! induces bad memories for you? :)

Do you or Don't You Like Show?

[mominator]

Posted: 10/8/04 at 10:28am

Sadly no Really bad mempries of this show. I was Annie in a production, all the characters are just so cardboard. What was funny, is when I met my husbands family for the first time his brother and I got off to a wonderful start, seems he also has bad memories of his production of Oklahoma when he played Curly.
To me it just makes me go tweek.
I think my favorite might be The King and I

[bdwybug55]

Posted: 10/8/04 at 10:41am

CAROUSEL...hands down. The musical is actually incredibly true to life and still very relevant in today's society. Many people can't believe that Julie would ever stay with Billy and they see her as an incredibly weak character. As Mary Ethel said earlier...many women stay with boyfriends and husbands that abuse them for years. It is very hard to understand and comprehend and I think that is what makes people feel uncomfortable with the way it is portrayed in the show but it is actually so true to life that it is heartbreaking. I have actually seen productions where they change some of Julie's last lines to make her a stronger, "modern" woman and to me that ruins the entire show. When done correctly and with passion and realism, I think this show is one of the most beautiful ever written. I am also a fan of the lesser known ALLEGRO and TWO BY TWO (although the latter has lyrics written by Martin Charnin and not Hammerstein).

[luvWICKED416]

Posted: 10/8/04 at 10:41am

Sound of Music!
Followed in a close second by Oklahoma....

[amasis]

Posted: 10/8/04 at 10:45am

If I have to pick... CAROUSEL.

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 10/8/04 at 10:49am

Hi Thomas,

No apologies NECESSARY!

According to the Guiness World Book of Records, some lady in Wales saw film version of THE SOUND OF MUSIC over 700 times! :)

(She said each time she saw it, she saw something different. I bet she could tell us the exact point Julie's brunette roots peeked out from under her artifical blonde hair color!)


Keep on truckin, man! And remember: "Love isn't Love Until You Give It Away."

[Thoroughly Modern Cara]

Posted: 10/8/04 at 10:51am

The Sound of Music, the movie....but I also love the stage productions Oklahoma and South Pacific

[kissmycookie]

Posted: 10/8/04 at 11:04am

Carousel

followed by

The King and I

[Corine2]

Posted: 10/8/04 at 11:09am

Double posts.
Woo hoo. Updated On: 10/8/04 at 11:09 AM

[Corine2]

Posted: 10/8/04 at 11:10am

I would have a hard time.
I think Carousel followed by The Sound of Music.
I was in both.(Carousel in camp)

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 10/8/04 at 11:30am

Carousel.

[EponineThenardier]

Posted: 10/8/04 at 11:31am

Carousel seconded by King an I

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 10/8/04 at 11:44am

Oklahoma!
One of the first musicals I fell in love with.

[LittleFish8386]

Posted: 10/8/04 at 12:05pm

I agree with Mister Matt.

I love love love Oklahoma! Every single song is amazing, and the story is great. I love Carousel, but mostly for like two songs. And The Sound of Music pretty much starting it all for me. Updated On: 10/8/04 at 12:05 PM

[BwayLover]

Posted: 10/8/04 at 12:25pm

Oh, The King And I for sure....I just love that score.
My second runner-up is The Sound Of Music.

[Mary_Ethel]

Posted: 10/8/04 at 1:25pm

Hey Beeverhausen,

I ADORE FLOWER DRUM SONG (in its original 1958 version, not the mish-mash they fostered on us a couple of years ago).

"A Hundred Million Miracles"

"I am Going To Like It Here"

"I ENJOY BEING A GIRL'

"LOVE, LOOK AWAY"

"Don't Marry Me"

Juanita Hall. (Always a Delight!) Larry Blyden in Asian Makeup!

Myoshei Umeki! Pat Suzuki!!!

Carol Haney Choreography.

When they revive classic shows BECAUSE THEY ARE CLASSIC SHOWS, why can't they leave well enough alone and not try to "fix" things?

If you own a classic Rolls-Royce, manufacturer doesn't take it into shop and "fix" it for you by changing it!

Oh well. That's enough time on my soapbox for one day.