Re: Second Act Opening Show-Stoppers

On May 8, 10:11=A0am, Eagle <eaglenewsgr...@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> wrote:
> I'm trying to think of what shows open their second acts with a show-
> stopping number. =A0I know what one would consider to be a "show-
> stopper" is a subjective judgment, but I would not consider something
> like "I Feel Pretty" from WEST SIDE STORY to be among them, much as
> it's a fine and famous song from the show (Sondheim's reservations
> about his lyrics notwithstanding). =A0"Don't Cry For Me, Argentina"
> perhaps? =A0Not sure about that one. =A0It's certainly the most famous
> song from the show, but even so -- I can't quite think of it as a show-
> stopper either (I'm most familiar with the original album that the
> show is based on, and "Argentina" always sounded to me like the end of
> Act I, with "High Flying, Adored" as the Act II opener, though I know
> that's not how the show breaks it up). =A0Here's some that I do think
> qualify as show-stoppers:
>
> "Hey There, Good Times" -- I LOVE MY WIFE
> "Too Darn Hot" -- KISS ME, KATE
> "Side By Side By Side" -- COMPANY
> "It's an Art" -- WORKING
> "Please Hello" -- PACIFIC OVERTURES
> "Steam Heat" -- THE PAJAMA GAME

Subjective indeed. It's been a while, but I thought there was a fair
amount of scenage before "Please Hello." I would consider that more a
ten o'clock number than an act two opener. And if you consider "High
Flying, Adored" an act two opener, the same could also be said for the
title tune in DOLLY! with the first fifteen or so minutes of the
second act more like Dolly's personal intermission. Ditto "Bosom
Buddies" in MAME (which is the first *new* song of that act.) I can't
recall if the dance for "Masculinity" in the original LA CAGE stopped
the show, but it certainly received one of the stronger hands of the
night.

And is the Tea Party now the act two opener in DEAR WORLD?

In short, I think the who idea of the ten o'clock number was to get
everyone settled back in their seats and THEN go for the  big number.
The question remains how long do you allow your audinece to settle
before you thrust a number on them. very few second acts bring up the
curtain and start with a new, show-stopping number.