What was wrong with SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS?- Page 2
What was wrong with SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS?
#25re: What was wrong with SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS?
Posted: 7/24/08 at 5:15pm
I saw all of the nominated musicals in the 2001-02 season, and always felt that Sweet Smell of Success was underappreciated. I felt it had the strongest score and boasted several of the best individual performances of the year.
With that said, I agree that it could be a bit unfocused at times. The most egregious instance in my mind was "Rita's Song". The show was building tension nicely and had established a very dark atmosphere when all of sudden this cheery throwaway solo number by a minor character comes out of nowhere. I assume that the number was there to lighten the mood a bit, as well as to build up the audience's feelings for this character so when something nasty happened to her - they would be shocked. However, I don't think the mood needed to be lightened and she could have been established without the use of a big solo number.
I also have always felt the SSOS would have done better if it had opened in some other season. I don't know if the climate in NYC was right that soon after 9/11 for a dark drama about the seedy underbelly of New York society. At that point audiences were more interested in escapist comedies like The Producers, Thoroughly Modern Millie, or even Urinetown.
#26re: What was wrong with SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS?
Posted: 7/24/08 at 5:24pm
"Oh, well, if it is highly regarded then it must be good. Boy am I wrong.
SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS is a masterpiece, and all that"
This is so very obnoxious. I didn't say it was a masterpiece... I didn't deny your right to dislike it. I just said I was suprised that someone would feel it isn't interesting. Even if you don't enjoy the film... it's interesting in any number of ways, and film that is highly regarded is often "interesting," even if you don't like it.
TooDarnHot
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/7/08
#27re: What was wrong with SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS?
Posted: 7/24/08 at 5:25pmSWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS is one of the most underrated musicals in history.
Roscoe
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/15/03
#28re: What was wrong with SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS?
Posted: 7/24/08 at 6:22pmedited, not worth it.
#29re: What was wrong with SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS?
Posted: 7/24/08 at 8:32pmThe score was phenomenal. The cast was superb. The designs were wonderful. The main characters were horrid, horrid people that were difficult to like. It's hard to enjoy a musical when absolutely everyone on stage is doing everything in their power to screw over the people in their lives and to destroy their reputations. If there was a way to make us like these characters it might work better.
sabrelady
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/16/03
#30re: What was wrong with SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS?
Posted: 7/25/08 at 5:30pm
CATSNY put the virtual finger on it. It was a very dark show, and sadly they tried to turn Sydney into a hero when he isn't/ hasn't been for the whole show.
******* Spoiler*****
And then when you kill off your nominal hero with NO retribution/redemption for anyone ( OK OK Susan and her beau)
well, for a musical it just got an awful lot like the daily news and is that what people pay $90.00 plus for an evening?
****End Spoiler****
That being said I enjoyed the show alot more than I had a right too, the music was lovely, the dancing well performed, very well staged. I agree Lithgow occ pushed it into an almost melodramatic level of malevolence bordering on the opera buffo villaney but there were moments. (tho he never matched Lancaster as a civilized monster) I loved kelli in the show- my 1st intoduction to her work.
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