What is the most obscure but brilliant musical you love?- Page 2

[tazber]

Posted: 4/16/10 at 4:08pm

Oooh! I just remembered one! I don't know if I'd call it a masterpiece, but Das Barbecue is loads of fun and catchy as hell. It takes Wagner's Ring Cycle (all forever hours of it) and transports it to Texas.

I know nothing about Wagner's Ring Cycle but I still find the recording to be highly enjoyable. It doesn't make you feel like you're missing out on any inside jokes

Updated On: 4/16/10 at 04:08 PM

[Geridith]

Posted: 4/16/10 at 4:16pm

I second Weird Romance, its the first show I thought of when I saw the topic.

[torst]

Posted: 4/16/10 at 4:25pm

Marilyn the musical! I was so provoked when I saw this on the list that I actually had to join to comment. As a resident of London in the early 80's I had the dubious luck to see both Seberg and Marilyn. I have to say that Marilyn was one of the lowest points of all my theatre years. Did you know o o o Marilyn Munroe!

[Roscoe]

Posted: 4/16/10 at 4:31pm

I'd say the brilliant musical version of THE ADDING MACHINE that played at the Minetta Lane a couple of years ago. One of the finest productions of the decade in every respect, I hope it doesn't just fall off the map completely.

[tellybox]

Posted: 4/16/10 at 4:35pm

Can someone further explain the Lizzie Borden musical?

The idea of a musical based on the murders seems too good to be true.

[tazber]

Posted: 4/16/10 at 4:37pm

http://mmtheatre.blogspot.com/2009/09/lizzie-borden-rock-musical.html

And then there is this one:
http://www.playbill.com/news/article/59479-Goodspeed-Musicals-May-Take-a-Whack-at-Musical-Lizzie-Borden-in-2001


Another link

Updated On: 4/16/10 at 04:37 PM

[twinbelters]

Posted: 4/16/10 at 4:44pm

Now I know of three Lizzie Borden based musicals!

[Scripps2]

Posted: 4/16/10 at 4:48pm

I saw Marilyn and Jean Seberg as well, and I wouldn't describe either of them as brilliant.

Moby Dick was good and worthy of cult status.

However the only obscure musical I can think of that I would actually describe as brilliant is The Hired Man. But its brilliance is also what makes it obscure.

[twinbelters]

Posted: 4/16/10 at 4:57pm

I second The Hired Man. Did you see Which Witch too? NOT a brilliant musical by any stretch of the imagination.

[jasonf]

Posted: 4/16/10 at 4:57pm

Blondel, Romance Romance, Eagle Song...

One that I wish I had the cast album of -- They Might Be Giant's "People are Wrong."

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 4/16/10 at 5:11pm

Oh, Scripps, I was counting on you to bring up "The Mitford Girls."

Or, as Debo dubbed it, "La Triviata."

[Scripps2]

Posted: 4/16/10 at 5:20pm

La Triviata was interesting, had a great set and, looking back, was also quite moving but not brilliant.

There is an exhibition on at Debo's house honouring her 90th birthday this year, so I'll no doubt get in the old jalopy and trundle on over. One of the highlights is her Elvis doll. Updated On: 4/16/10 at 05:20 PM

[Scripps2]

Posted: 4/16/10 at 5:25pm

twinbelters: I didn't see Which Witch - I tended to avoid most of the West End mega flops of the 1990s.

I understand The Hunting of the Snark was under-rated.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/16/10 at 5:54pm

Shows I Have Seen

Inner City
Angel
Which Witch - on tape

Shows I Have On CD But Not Seen

Sundown
Vladimir
Possessed
Dracula - British

[Scripps2]

Posted: 4/16/10 at 6:06pm

What did you think of Angel Mr Roxy?

I really enjoy the recording.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 4/16/10 at 6:10pm

My Life With Albertine

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 4/16/10 at 6:23pm

I enjoyed it but it did not make it.

A sad story repeated a lot with shows I see.

[VonTussleGirl]

Posted: 4/16/10 at 6:26pm

I don't know how really brilliant OR obscure any of these are, but let's see...

Smile (it's too bad we'll never see a revival or an Encores production of this show, it's one of my all-time favorites)
Flight of the Lawnchair Man
Of Thee I Sing
Ruthless!
Amour

I suppose shows like Brownstone and Saturday Night could potentially qualify as well, though I'd assume they're a little more well-known. I'm always bummed when people say they haven't heard of Saturday Night in particular - "What More Do I Need" is one of my all-time favorite Sondheim songs.

[Jon]

Posted: 4/16/10 at 7:22pm

Of Thee I Sing was the first musical to win the Pulitzer Prize, so no, I wouldn't call it obscure.


For a flay out hysterically funny little musical, try "Olympus On My Mind", which played at the Lamb's Theatre in the mid 1980's.

[DryMartini]

Posted: 4/16/10 at 7:56pm

"Bird of Paradise" and "Tovarich".

[VonTussleGirl]

Posted: 4/16/10 at 8:26pm

Yeah, I was on the fence about OTIS for that reason, Jon. I threw it in just because I don't think any of my friends have ever heard of it, but 18-year-olds who still aren't over Spring Awakening aren't really the best yardstick against which to measure theatrical obscurity.

[JiltedLyricist]

Posted: 4/16/10 at 9:07pm

"The Big Voice: God or Merman," which played at the Actor's Temple Theatre back in 2006.

[Broadway Bob*]

Posted: 4/16/10 at 9:15pm

Add another vote for Hello Again and Weird Romance. I love BOTH of these shows.

Plus I'd like to add some love for 3 Guys Naked From the Waist Down and especially john & jen!

[TheatreFreak05]

Posted: 4/16/10 at 9:24pm

Not necessarily brilliant.. but I love Ordinary Days.

[Kad]

Posted: 4/16/10 at 10:09pm

Not really obscure, but I suspect most people here don't know the score: Jerry Springer the Opera.