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re: off the criteria of "every element of musical theater"

Posted by: ashleylm 12:46 pm EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: off the criteria of "every element of musical theater" - Chazwaza 07:24 pm EDT 03/13/14

And I don't remotely believe that a show must excel at "every element of musical theater" in order to be great.

The elements of the show itself (independent of the production) are Music, Lyrics, Book, and the production's elements are Acting, Singing, Dancing, Direction, Lighting, and Set & Costume Design.

Sure a show with unexceptional lighting and blocking but with a spectacular book, score, and performances would be something worth seeing!

My favourite film of all time is All About Eve (1950). It's cinematography didn't set the world on fire, but the script was so witty and the performances so apt, I love it. It did what it needed to do. Next to Normal doesn't have a big dance chorus, but doesn't require it. Scottsboro Boys didn't break the bank on costumes, but I was sobbing at the end. I personally really disliked the Light in the Piazza set, but loved, loved, loved the production anyway.


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re: off the criteria of "every element of musical theater"

Posted by: Chazwaza 01:25 pm EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: re: off the criteria of "every element of musical theater" - ashleylm 12:46 pm EDT 03/14/14

And even a universal favorite and unquestionably "great" musical like Guys & Dolls doesn't have much in the way of dancing, outside of the Hot Box Club numbers. Sure there is musical staging, but it's not dancing the way there is in Carousel or Fiddler or Chicago or Chorus Line or Spider Woman or West Side Story.


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re: off the criteria of "every element of musical theater"

Posted by: AlanScott 06:31 pm EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: re: off the criteria of "every element of musical theater" - Chazwaza 01:25 pm EDT 03/14/14

Guys and Dolls has a good deal of dance. In addition to the Hot Box numbers, there's the opening "Runyonland" mix of dance and pantomime, there's the Havana sequence, which if done well will bring down the house, and the crap-shooters' ballet.

It's not as much as West Side Story or On the Town or Oklahoma! but it's a pretty good amount.


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re: off the criteria of "every element of musical theater"

Posted by: Chazwaza 06:42 pm EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: re: off the criteria of "every element of musical theater" - AlanScott 06:31 pm EDT 03/14/14

I guess my My Fair Lady example post was probably more apt... besides Doolittle's two song, there's very little dance that wouldn't be part of the scene as it plays out. So unlike those other dance-heavy shows we've mentioned, dancing is not integral to the way things are expressed in MFL as a musical. At least that I recall.


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re: off the criteria of "every element of musical theater"

Posted by: AlanScott 06:52 pm EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: re: off the criteria of "every element of musical theater" - Chazwaza 06:42 pm EDT 03/14/14

Indeed, "Get Me to the Church on Time" perhaps kind of goes on too long in the full original arrangement. When Harrison did that revival, he insisted it be cut way down as friends of his had told him it was too long. But that was perhaps a mistake. The audience does kind of like a break there.

Worth remembering is that MFL was conceived to have a major ballet in the first act, which got cut out of town.


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re: off the criteria of "every element of musical theater"

Posted by: Chazwaza 07:46 pm EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: re: off the criteria of "every element of musical theater" - AlanScott 06:52 pm EDT 03/14/14

I did not know that there was an intended ballet, and I'm very glad they cut it.


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re: off the criteria of "every element of musical theater"

Posted by: AlanScott 08:18 pm EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: re: off the criteria of "every element of musical theater" - Chazwaza 07:46 pm EDT 03/14/14

You can read about it in some detail in Dominic McHugh's book on My Fair Lady (see linked review). The book is now available as a paperback (or will be shortly).

Link Loverly

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re: off the criteria of "every element of musical theater"

Posted by: Chazwaza 01:54 pm EDT 03/14/14
In reply to: re: off the criteria of "every element of musical theater" - Chazwaza 01:25 pm EDT 03/14/14

In fact there are quite a few classic/great musicals that do not employ dance in a memorable or significant way. My Fair Lady is a great exception. Besides some light choreography for Alfred Doolittle's 2 songs, and the dancing that happens in the scene for "Rain In Spain", and the in scene dancing at the ball, the rest of the show is pretty dance less.


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