IMO, both Wild Party musicals have wonderful scores. The problem is the source material, and that neither show could make much out of it.
For me, both shows spend most of their time introducing us to seemingly endless party guests ("too much exposition can kill a show," lol), and there's lots of describing feelings going on, which can get indulgent fast. And sometimes the lyrics can get a little too poetic for their own good (I still have no idea what a "lowdown down" is, lol.) But not enough actually happens to make for a compelling dramatic narrative.
And yes, as another poster mentioned, Patinkin was essentially a one-note lunatic, which certainly didn't help. Brian d'Arcy James in the Lippa version at least played a (very troubled) human being, instead of a cartoon.
But both scores are full of great material. |
