Re: Shows with stronger second acts

110 IN THE SHADE.

Not that I'm saying its Act I is weak -- not with "Another Hot Day,"
"Rain Song" (my favorite number in the show), and "Old Maid."

But it's so unusually structured (following the lead of the source
play): Act II is virtually a two-person chamber musical, playing out
in what feels like real time, with occasional cutaways to other
doings. It pulls the characters together after the Act I setup, and
has a different feel and pacing. Each time I see it, I'm reminded how
different its two-act structure is from that of other musicals -- to
good purpose.

JAC