What's your favorite musical theater cliche, trope, or convention?

[swinther]

Posted: 6/23/10 at 4:21pm

I think it's a tie between jazz hands and the "I Want" song.
The Flog

[newintown]

Posted: 6/23/10 at 4:34pm

The duet or trio of belters.

[Weez]

Posted: 6/23/10 at 4:56pm

I can't decide between the "I want" number or the "full company showstopper". Guess it varies from show to show! ^_^

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/23/10 at 4:59pm

Good old-fashioned counterpoint duets. You're Just in Love is probably my favorite.

[VonTussleGirl]

Posted: 6/23/10 at 5:34pm

Patter songs. I have this insane obsession with patter songs, always have. Both Sides of the Coin from Drood is my all-time favorite, but I have many many more.

[swinther]

Posted: 6/24/10 at 11:39am

Oooh, patter songs! I love "If (You Hadn't But You Did)"

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 6/24/10 at 12:16pm

I'm rather fond of the Dark Reprise, personally.

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 6/24/10 at 12:29pm

I like the Dark Reprise too. Also partial to the bitter, older, dead-pan comedian, especially if they get a song. My favorite example is I'm Still Here.

[darquegk]

Posted: 6/24/10 at 2:50pm

Good to see that there are still so many Tropers on Broadwayworld.

[Kad]

Posted: 6/24/10 at 2:55pm

TVTropes has consumed many an afternoon for me.

[TimesSquared]

Posted: 6/26/10 at 7:51pm

The unnecessary "framing device" often added to revivals. A.K.A. a director's "correction" of an already well-constructed show.
e.g. Sweeney Todd as performed by mental patients with trombones (sounds crazy, but that really happened once on Broadway).

Looking forward to a startling new take on "Hello, Dolly", which opens in 1950s New York with a 70-year-old Ermengarde on her psychiatrist's couch tearily hinting at sexual improprieties involving her uncle Horace. The scene dissolves into the musical's opening number, but "Older Ermengarde" remains on the couch downstage right throughout the entire performance.
On the final held note of the reprise of "Hello Dolly" at the end of the show, a light comes up on "Older Ermengarde" as she swallows a handful of pills—aaaand

BLACKOUT

Oh yeah, almost forgot: everyone's playing instruments.

[AwesomeDanny]

Posted: 6/26/10 at 8:25pm

I love plot songs. It's so much more interesting for things to happen during the song than for a character to simply reflect.

[TimesSquared]

Posted: 6/26/10 at 8:39pm

OK, cliches I really do love...

The Merry Townsfolk Number in which the entire town explodes into a huge, frenzied production number. Whooping, hooting and hollering required from all non-dancing chorus members during the huge dance break.

The Dream Ballet "Laurie Makes up her Mind", Chaveleh, etc. Extensive use of scrims and fog mandatory.

The "Latin" Number a staple in musicals of the 50s and 60s. Examples include: "Hernando's Hideaway", "Mu Cha Cha", "Spanish Rose", "Who's Got the Pain?", The "Havana" dance in Guys & Dolls, "The Spanish Panic" in Once Upon a Mattress, "Oh, Happy Day" from L'il Abner, etc.

The Brassy/Trampy Girl with a Heart of Gold Number "Always True to You in my Fashion", "The Real Love of my Life" from Brigadoon, "I Cain't Say No", "I Enjoy Being a Girl", and probably a hundred more just like them.

[iflip4musicals]

Posted: 6/26/10 at 8:51pm

I'm a total sucker for counterpoint (Sailing/Set Those Sails from Make Me a Song kills me every time I listen to it), dark reprises, epic songs, final love duets (might just be my favorite), and I want songs.

I now love tvtrope, thank you!

Updated On: 6/26/10 at 08:51 PM

[binau]

Posted: 6/26/10 at 9:05pm

I enjoy "cakewalk" style of endings of songs. Think the end of "Willkomenn", "Everyone's a Little bit racist", "What would we do without you/side by side" kind of things.

[Schmerg_The_Impaler]

Posted: 6/26/10 at 9:16pm

COUNTERPOINT DUET. Total sucker.

I agree with qolbinau about the 'cakewalk style' ending, haha.

[invisiblegirl]

Posted: 6/26/10 at 9:36pm

I agree Schmerg, most definitely the counterpoint duet!

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 6/26/10 at 9:43pm

I'm really big on the Epic Songs, Songs Before the Storm, I Wants, and Massive Multiplayer Ensemble Songs.

[ObiHave]

Posted: 6/26/10 at 10:43pm

I love the 11 o'clock numbers and I love hearing the orchestra tuning up.

[darquegk]

Posted: 6/26/10 at 10:44pm

I must confess. As an avid troper, my trope-hunting has somewhat influenced my latest musical. It's already an epic-length piece, but knowing of so many tropes has ensured that all my favorites show up in it. Sometimes, there's even overlap... the Song Before The Storm is a Massively Multplayer Ensemble Finale, and it happens to be called "Before The Storm."

[backwoodsbarbie]

Posted: 6/26/10 at 11:24pm

I too am a sucker for the 11 o'clock ballads. I also love Act I closers where everything is left in disarray going into intermission.

[theaterkid1015]

Posted: 6/27/10 at 12:58am

Censored MT Sex:

Sing Sing sing
kiss

LIGHTS DOWN
LIGHTS UP

If the man isn't wearing a shirt, they just did it.
See: SOUTH PACIFIC, WEST SIDE STORY, LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA

[singingbackup]

Posted: 6/27/10 at 2:16am

Not sure of the official name, but the "Quintet" from West SIde Story and other shows that weave multiple melodies and counterpoints to rousing effect.

[chewy5000]

Posted: 6/27/10 at 8:00am

The whistle chorus

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 6/27/10 at 9:40am

I like the counterpoint duet and the dark reprise the best I think.