Great Musicals With Flop Scores (Or Scripts Or Lyrics)

[darquegk]

Posted: 10/13/13 at 10:03pm

We have discussed the opposite to death, so what about this? What are some shows that succeed in being good shows despite being saddled with a problematic element? A shoddy score, awkward lyrics, or a book that doesn't work, and yet the show still feels okay?

[adam.peterson44]

Posted: 10/14/13 at 2:02am

Big Fish, Avenue Q, and Book of Mormon all fall into this category for me. I enjoyed them on stage but had no desire to listen to their cast recordings afterward.

[JayG]

Posted: 10/14/13 at 9:27am

THe Producers

[yankeefan7]

Posted: 10/14/13 at 10:55am

Spamalot

[madbrian]

Posted: 10/14/13 at 11:24am

I'd say that In The Heights overcame a weak book with choreography, energy, and great performances.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 10/14/13 at 11:30am

Countless well-scored shows have books that don't work. In fact isn't that topic precisely "the opposite" one we've discussed many times to which you are referring?

Count me as one who doesn't think a musical is ok if the book is shoddy. No matter how good the other elements.

Posted: 10/14/13 at 3:35pm

A more apt opposite would be "hit" shows with bad scores.

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 10/14/13 at 7:15pm

Yes, I don't see how a musical can be "great" with a bad score. Though there have been some fine musicals written with good-not-great scores but killer books.

I would put FIORELLO!, 1776 and maybe even A CHORUS LINE in that category.

[darquegk]

Posted: 10/14/13 at 8:09pm

Thats what I meant. Shows that succeed despite a deficit of some kind in one of their three wings, where the other two parts are strong enough to carry it.

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 10/15/13 at 1:03am

For me BILLY ELLIOTT is a great show with a so-so score, but expert staging and script that papered over the deficits brilliantly.