You must have a very short memory, lol. I confess that even when I would LIKE to have forgotten a show by the time I'm outside the theatre, that never really happens.
I tend to think that the Americana nature of the show put it forward in the voter's minds, given the political atmosphere of the Gulf War. (I remember that being speculated at the time as well.) There was clearly no way that Miss Saigon, a show about a war that many people feel the US had no business being involved in, was ever going to win in 1991. Much as I love the score to The Secret Garden, and much as the original production was gorgeous, I think the book/storytelling is unfortunately a bit sprawling (though frankly, I think the book to Will Rogers suffers from even more of that). I didn't see the original production of Island, though it's a favorite show of mine in general - perhaps at the time it seemed almost a bit too modest in comparison to the huge production values of the other 3?
I don't think Rogers is the strongest show of the 4, despite a mostly wonderful score and of course the amazing Tune production and choreo. But neither would I dismiss it as forgettable in any way. (In fact, I think one of the show's big pitfalls is that just in case you didn't know about Rogers' accomplishments beforehand, they are all drilled into you with the force of a jackhammer during the show, over and over...lol) |
