Broadway Legend Joined: 6/12/05
....whether it be a song too long, a scene too long or something else.
"The Producers" is high on my list all-time favorites, but there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. It kinda went on too long.
Sorry here too, but Ragtime.
The opening few scenes of Rock 'N' Roll. Because they are so acutely intellectual and bombarding from the very beginning, it is difficult as an audience member to find a break from the barrage of dates and names - unless you know them all of course. the rest of the play was exceptional!
I was just shuffling through my itunes, and Fantasies Come True, Avenue Q came on, and I was thinking, Act 1 of Avenue Q was pretty long.
Also, the seats at the Golden are extremely cramped.
Broadway Star Joined: 2/6/08
South Pacific. That first act is almost two hours long.
Mystery of Edwin Drood.
Most recently, Passing Strange. It's a genius of a show, but the first act is testing...
overall though, as I'm sure many can testify, the 1st act of "Oklahoma!" is the ultimate test of endurance. Especially with the dream ballet at the end, that sucker is loooooooong!
Les Miserables - I love it so much, but seriously, I define the show in my brain as being a lifetime longer than it needed to be.
Wicked by 2 hours and 45 mineutes!
Wicked by 2 hours and 45 mineutes!
Les Miserables. I thought it was good, but would have liked it better if it was 15-20 minutes or so shorter.
The first act of Grey Gardens seemed never ending to me, I felt that very few of the songs were memorable. However the second act was thrilling from beginning to end.
Next to Normal should have quit while they were ahead and stopped at intermission.
I loved Grey Gardens, but the first act was a little long, particularly from Going Places to Marry Well.
I always thought Nick and Nora would have survived if they chopped off about a half hour in the 1st act.
Broadway Star Joined: 7/20/07
I agreee about the first Act of GREY GARDENS. And yes, Les Miz could have improved it's pacing with 20 minutes worth of cuts. And even though AUGUST: OSAGE COUNTY is engrossing,it is way too long...esp sitting in those cramped old theater seats....
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/3/06
As much as I love Sweeney, I feel like it drags a bit...
Ragtime fo' sho'. Amazing show...waaaay too long.
Les Miserables is about 20 to 30 minutes too long.
Surprised no one has mentioned Sunday in the Park with George. While brilliant, you can tell the first act was originally meant to be standalone (I could use a break about 3/4 through), and the second act, even when well done, feels a bit superfluous and could come around full circle a bit faster.
Unfortunately, the nature of the show (the need to finish the painting to conclude Act I) leads to the clumsy arrangement. I almost felt if they finished Act 1 a few songs earlier, cut out a lot or all of the "appeasing the masses in 1984" stuff but still managed to end it the same way, it would be an even stronger, tighter show.
I also agree with Sunday in the Park with George.
Honestly, rent.
It is still my favorite show so obviously the time element isn't that awful, but it really could be a bit shorter and i always find myself getting anxious towards the end.
I have to second Blaxx and Rentheadut and say RAGTIME. I love every moment individually, but sitting through it all at once, it is entirely too long.
Sunday... has always felt a bit slow too.
Phantom of the Opera should cut out that second notes song. UGH, torture.
I would have said LES MISERABLES but when I saw the last Broadway production, every time I heard something that was cut or shortened, I was like "heywaitaminute!!" It didn't sound right.
CATS would be better without the Rumpus Cat and the Growltiger bit...I think that's what it was called. The pirate cat thing. That dragged on way too long and wasn't that entertaining.
"Ragtime fo' sho'. Amazing show...waaaay too long."
How long is it?
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