Which score do you prefer: The Full Monty or Dirty Rotten Scoundrels?

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/10/09 at 8:52pm

I think this has been done before. But I don't feel like searching. But after seeing Monty at Papermill, I was curious to find out what people thought again.
Which David Yazbek score do you like better? The Full Monty or Dirty Rotten Scoundrels?

I'm going to have to say Monty. Monty doesn't have many songs, but each song works. I feel like DRS has too many songs, and a few of them are thankless. Both scores have a similar sound, but I think Monty is superior. Too bad The Producers had to sweep everything.




Updated On: 7/10/09 at 08:52 PM

[Dre2387]

Posted: 7/10/09 at 8:54pm

DRS

[little_sally]

Posted: 7/10/09 at 8:54pm

Full Monty, definitely. The lyrics are so good. I agree that DRS has too many songs, many of which only work in the theatre and not on the recording.

[fgreene1938]

Posted: 7/10/09 at 9:00pm

DRS is the better score. Yes, it has a lot of songs, but there are many hysterical numbers ("Love is My Legs"), a lot of great production numbers and some terrific chorale work. Monty's score is less complex and could use some more oohph, though it's marvelous as well. Yazbek has a knack for strong melodies.
Updated On: 7/10/09 at 09:00 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/10/09 at 9:04pm

I think his lyrics are far better in Monty.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 7/10/09 at 9:06pm

Full Monty is vastly superior in both lyrics and music.

[pushdabutton]

Posted: 7/10/09 at 9:20pm

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels

[AndAllThatJazz22]

Posted: 7/10/09 at 9:21pm

I'm going to have to go with DRS on this one.

[blaxx]

Posted: 7/10/09 at 9:23pm

Neither? I think I'm the only one who thinks his shows sound like they were composed in the 80's.

[Tom's Cat]

Posted: 7/10/09 at 9:26pm

Scoundrels. Absolutely. The lyrics are brilliant, fun, and memorable.

[clever name]

Posted: 7/10/09 at 9:31pm

I just love DRS. Sometimes it's all I need to put me in a good mood.

[IdinaBellFoster]

Posted: 7/10/09 at 9:41pm

Dirty Rotten Scoundrels.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 7/10/09 at 9:44pm

Scoundrels without a doubt. I really didn't care for FM. (and I liked the movie.)

[adamgreer]

Posted: 7/10/09 at 9:48pm

I say Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. As a whole, I think that show just "works" better than Monty does.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 7/10/09 at 9:51pm

Definitely Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Which is not to knock The Full Monty because it's pretty good too, but he definitely out did himself with Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. Nothing in The Full Monty comes close to the awesomeness of "Dirty Rotten Number" and the theme from the Overture that expertly captured the mood of the show. I only wish they would have recorded the act two opening when they basically repeated the act one finale only slightly different, which sounds stupid in writing, but it was hysterical on stage.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 7/10/09 at 10:13pm

Regardless of the score, Monty certainly has a better book.

Nobody from Wicked was in Monty though. Therefore-it sucks.

[bwayfan7000]

Posted: 7/10/09 at 10:17pm

Dirty Rotten, I'd say. I can't for the life of me figure out all the negativity surrounding that show. I thought it was wonderful.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/10/09 at 10:18pm

LOL, Bobby.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 7/10/09 at 10:20pm

DRS, while a serviceable show, really tacked spark. Mitchell's choreography, for example, is one of the most forced efforts in recent memory.

Aside from the performances and some great songs, DRS really was a mediocre show at best. Monty had all the elements. It was overshadowed that season by the lesser The Producers but got far better reviews than Scoundrels. Why? It was better all around and had more spark.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 7/10/09 at 10:22pm

While The Producers certainly didn't deserve all 12 of its Tonys (Monty should have won Score and Featured Actress), I think it's got by far the funnier book, and was overall a much better show than Monty.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 7/10/09 at 10:23pm

It's a flashier show but I don't think it's better. Monty has the more complex score. And they lyrics are far more clever than Brooks' rather obvious Producers puns.

[adamgreer]

Posted: 7/10/09 at 10:27pm

McNally's book is terrible, which is Monty's biggest hindrance. I agree with you about the score, though. Still believe The Producers to be a better show, though.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 7/10/09 at 10:28pm

I know very little about The Full Monty, but I hate DRS so much I'll go with The Full Monty.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/10/09 at 10:29pm

McNally's book is better than Jeffrey Lane's book for DRS.

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 7/10/09 at 10:58pm

Full Monty, hands down.

And blaxx, I noticed that too, which is part of why I love it.