Areas of Unrest

6 June 1999 - Sevens

There are seven days in the week and lots of sevens I could try to link them to. I started out the week thinking about seven deadly sins through the week. For example, Monday I was slothful and, instead of doing much about all the housework I have been procrastinating on, went to a movie. (I saw Notting Hill which was funny enough but I'd really prefer a romantic comedy where the characters having the romance are the interesting ones, rather than the supporting cast.)

I didn't really get on to other deadly sins all that much, though - a touch of pride on Tuesday for going out and walking despite dreadful weather, perhaps, but absolutely no avarice or lust at all. I still think it would make a neat idea for a journal entry but I guess I am just too good a person.

And then I thought of the seven dwarfs. I was pretty Happy on Monday and Sleepy on Tuesday. But then I came down with a cold so I got stuck between Sneezy and Grumpy. And I would never admit to ever being Dopey. So that wouldn't work either. (Just so it won't drive you nuts trying to remember, the other two are Doc and Bashful.)

Wonders of the Ancient World? Oh, sure, I could probably come up with a story for any of those - for example, the Colossus of Rhodes brings up all the childhood hours at Rhodes Delicatessen, which was really more of a general store than anything else. We'd get sent over to Rhodes to pick up an item or two (loaf of bread, a couple of oranges, whatever) and were often allowed to spend the change. The usual purchase was one bottle of yoohoo and as many comic books as I could afford. Maximizing the number of comics was a good incentive to master mental arithmetic and I'd always come up to the counter knowing the exact total, which impressed the clerks.

But I'd have to stretch to come up with a pyramid story.

So rather than rattle on about various sevens, I will take advantage of the Tony Awards being tonight (and isn't Martin Short adorable?) to ramble about the seven best Broadway musicals of all time. Since revivals are so prevalent these days, maybe I can influence someone?

1. Guys and Dolls. A brilliant score by Frank Loesser, an intelligent and humorous book, and the opportunity for top notch choreography, this musical has it all. The revival a few years back did make me realize how much of a difference orchestration makes, as that is an area in which I think they blew it.
2. West Side Story. Sondheim lyrics and Bernstein music - how can you go wrong? Add in a story that has strong folkloric roots (from Pyramus and Thisbe through Romeo and Juliet). And Jerome Robbins, who was definitely one of the most important choreographers of this century, was an intimate part of the creation.
3. The Fantasticks. Okay, I know it's off-Broadway, but there is good reason this has been playing forever. This is the anti-Webber musical, proof that you can be entertaining without big production numbers and flash paper.
4. She Loves Me. Choosing one Bock and Harnick musical is tough and Fiddler on the Roof would probably be a more natural choice. But I like this score a lot better. And, again, this is a musical where all of the elements (book and libretto, music, choreography) come together to complement one another.
5. Showboat. Predating the modern view of the musical as light opera, there are plenty of contrived songs here, which detract from the overall unity of the show. But the score is magnificent and its revolutionary role in the history of the form earns it a place on this list.
6. Sweeney Todd. This is the other extreme and a fine illustration of the thin line between musical and opera. Sondheim is always at his wittiest when he's at his most warped (listen to the cast recording of Assassins if you doubt that) but it all works here.
7. South Pacific. No list of great musicals could exclude Rodgers and Hammerstein. I'd argue for this one because of the lovely score and serious themes.

But the best news was the Carol Burnett is going to be doing Sondheim's Putting It Together on Broadway in November! Another excuse for a trip to New York!