best/most powerful finales of a show- Page 5

[Jarethan]

Posted: 3/30/17 at 4:47pm

I have to admit that I associate the word powerful with dramatic, so these tend to be heavy.  Finale suggests musicals, but i decided to include both.

 

Dramas (In no order):

Long Day's Journey into Night...Mary Tyrone rambling around in a narcotic stupor is spellbinding, if the actor is up to it.

A Streetcar Named Desire.  What can top 'I have always relied on the kindness of strangers'.

Cyrano de Bergerac.  At least the version with Derek Jacobi in the 80s.

Moon for the Misbegotten:  To this day, the 1973 production with Jason Robards Jr. and Colleen Dewhurst represents the single most powerful evening in the theatre, and the ending was unforgettable.

The Great White Hope:  I don't remember if it is the absolute ending of the play, or close to the end, but James Earl Jones carrying Jane Alexander's body across the stage would have had bigots in tears.

 

 

Musicals (in no order):

Cabaret.  The Sam Mendes version specifically

Man of La Mancha.  I may have missed references, but I was surprised this wasn't mentioned...the best part of the show.

Gypsy / Rose's Turn.  Goes without saying.  To me, Angela Lansbury's was the best of the many I've seen to date...her acting ability made it just that more powerful.

Sweeney Todd, Follies.  Boy, could Sondheim and Prince create powerful endings... although, in some ways, they are very similar...chaos erupting on stage.

Hamilton.  That ending, complete with Eliza's discussing what she does for the rest of her life, is spellbinding.

1776:  No music, just bells, and boy are they powerful.

 

[illiniparkie]

Posted: 3/30/17 at 5:37pm

Les Miserables - Tears

1776 - Stunned

King and I - Tears

Sweeney Todd - Stunned

Sunday in the Park with George - Tears

Hamilton - Stunned and Tears

[BwayDreamer00]

Posted: 3/30/17 at 7:11pm

CABARET HANDS DOWN......the ending was so powerful and thought provoking 

[dianamorales]

Posted: 3/31/17 at 12:45pm

I dont know if I would say it's my all time favorite, but the ending of Hair is so powerful. I was in complete shock the first time I saw it.