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| intermissions | |
| Posted by: Musicals54 05:19 pm EST 01/10/22 | |
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| On another thread, there was a discussion the number of bathrooms in Broadway theatres. Too few. That discussion went in another direction. I want to give a reason why there are fewer than required. Plays and musicals used to have more intermissions. Often two and not unusually more. The three act play was standard. Effectively now, the three act play is in two acts with I and Ii before the intermission. Revivals now follow this. Musicals are usually in two acts and frequently without intermissions at all; the same goes for some plays. Why the change? Part of it is the cost of going overtime; part of it is how works are now conceived. The last 3 act musical on Broadway was the 1971 revival of No, No, Nanette. The last new Broadway musical in three acts was The Most Happy Fella (now performed in 2). Cabaret was in three acts out of town, but opened on Broadway in 1966 in two. Structurally speaking, a three act structure is still common but not in presentation. Another reason for the change is the way scenery was changed. Intermissions provided the time needed. Automation renders it unnecessary. As well, the older post WW iI musicals often followed a pattern with every other scene in front of a drop or a traveler. | |
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| re: intermissions | |
| Last Edit: Chromolume 01:57 am EST 01/11/22 | |
| Posted by: Chromolume 01:45 am EST 01/11/22 | |
| In reply to: intermissions - Musicals54 05:19 pm EST 01/10/22 | |
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| Plays and musicals used to have more intermissions. Some plays did, not many musicals. Musicals are usually in two acts and frequently without intermissions at all. Musicals written in 2 formal acts (which is the overwhelming majority of them) invariably have an intermission. I can't think of any offhand that don't, except in the case of occasional concept productions that deliberately change the material to do so (the most recent West Side Story being an example). There are several musicals, such as Follies, Nine, 1776, and Man Of La Mancha, that were conceived as one-act shows but generally have intermissions put in. The last new Broadway musical in three acts was The Most Happy Fella No - both Anyone Can Whistle and The Apple Tree were after that. And Fosse was in 3 acts as well. And, the original R&H Cinderella was first on TV a year after Most Happy Fella, and then was developed into a 3-act stage version after that. |
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| re: intermissions | |
| Posted by: Musicals54 07:53 am EST 01/11/22 | |
| In reply to: re: intermissions - Chromolume 01:45 am EST 01/11/22 | |
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| Sorry. I meant to say some musicals are written as no intermission. BTY Nine in 1982 was in 2 acts. Sorry I forgot ACW but The Apple Tree was 3 unrelated (except for a reference to the color brown) one act musicals. My major point is the point: fewer intermissions than previously |
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