I vividly remember the time and saw (and loved) both original shows. Whereas SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE is a brilliant work, you can't ignore the historical meaning of having a major HIT musical at the time that focused positively on a gay relationship.
The show of LA CAGE itself was a juggernaut of popularity whereas like many Sondheim shows, SUNDAY was not necessarily embraced by the general public in quite the same way.
As for the score, Jerry Herman hadn't had a hit score in many years so, like "Dolly", this was very much a triumphant return of a beloved composer, writing in the style that screamed old time BROADWAY! This was the kind of show that people left the theatre humming the songs upon first hearing.
SUNDAY, as we all know, is beautifully crafted and there are moments of sheer brilliance (the title song is for me one of the greatest moments on stage.) But it was again a battle of heart over mind and the heart won.
And it really wasn't much of a battle. Like many Sondheim scores and shows, it takes time and reflection to truly appreciate the work. It certainly was appreciated and it, of course, won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama. But momentum was definitely behind LA CAGE from the start.
This is not necessarily a new phenomenon for Sondheim or for productions, in general. GYPSY lost out to THE SOUND OF MUSIC (and FIORELLO!) and WEST SIDE STORY lost to THE MUSIC MAN. All fine works of course but some shows take time to be fully appreciated.
So, was this a "mistake"? Not really. It perfectly reflected the times and LA CAGE remains an enduring work, winning not just Best Musical for the original production but also for Best Revival - TWICE. Time has also been kind to SUNDAY. In the end, awards are fun but the true test of a great work is time. In this case, both LA CAGE and SUNDAY have earned their places in musical theatre history.
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