show stoppers (the wrong kind)

Ok, you've got a show you enjoy, or really love. But there is that one number that you can't stand. It brings the whole show to a stop, and not in a good way. It just doesn't fit, or it's just plain bad, or is an ok song but has nothing really to do with the plot of the show, and you just basically wait till it's over, for the show to begin again.
for me "All I Need is the Girl" is one. It's not a bad song, and it sort of sets up the romance, but I still find myself waiting for it to end...so, any others?

"More I Cannot Wish You" in Guys and Dolls. What a snoozer.

wow, that's the other one I was trying to think of. You are so right, Hometown.

I agree with "All I Need is the Girl." It seems like they just said "Okay, it's a musical, we have to have some number where a good-looking young guy flirts with the girl and dances with her."

obsessedjb, I thought "Inutil" was pretty good by the standards of that show, it was "Enough" that really struck me as a disaster in that show as it seemed like it was intended to be some sort of big, character-driven last-straw explosion and it really didn't do anything for the audience.

"Brush up your Shakespeare" is another one for me, from Kiss me Kate. Just feels like they thought they had a cute, lyrically clever song and stuck it in there. But I just find it annoying.

Tony, I totally agree about "Out Tonight." That's always been my least favorite song in Rent...

For me personally:
Class from Chicago
The Miller's Son from ALNM

It's not I don't like them but I feel they really throw a wrench into the pacing of the show.

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I completely agree with "Sing" from ACL. It's just plain annoying. I also can't stand "Growltiger's Last Stand" from Cats. It's just too much.

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LITTLE LAMB in GYPSY
GROWLTIGER in CATS

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Well, I used to feel that way about "All I Need is the Girl", but it's nice to hear a male voice every now and then... not something that happens that often in that show. And I like watching how strictly they've followed Robbins' choreography... and it's just fun. Can't think of a truly horrible show-stopper... I don't like "Pass the Football" from Wonderful Town. Wreck is sort of a throwaway character in the musical, so I just don't see why we need to hear him sing. And there are plenty of good male voices to be heard in that show. In the play, his role in the plot is more important.


That written, a friend of mine who is not into musicals at all, with the exception of Sweeney Todd, feels that "Green Finch and Linnet Bird" is skip-worthy. I disagree. Have always loved a particular verse in that song and feel like the show's incomplete if I haven't heard it.

Updated On: 9/12/08 at 03:06 PM

As much as I love Side Show and believe the record and the cast are amazing.. I always skip over that stupid "Song Birds on Display" song that opens the second act.. grrr. I always blame that song as the reason the show failed :) ... They cut "She's Gone" but left that!!!! what were they thinking

No sally1112 it's not just you. I love the song too but I've also met many who hate it. I think it's beautiful and shows a softer/more serious side of the show kind of like "There's a Fine Fine Line" does in Avenue Q.

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Love that number....But it can drag along!!