Different is nice, but it sure isn’t pretty . . .

Musical
Theater and Straight Plays are different.

I’m not just
talking about the fact that one has chorus girls and sequins and higher price
tickets.

There is an
inherent difference in the expectations of the audiences that creators of
musicals need to recognize.

Need an
example?

At the end
of Romeo & Juliet, what happens?  They both die.  Tragedy. 
Sadness.  Love itself dies with them.

Now, let's
look at the musical adaptation of Romeo & Juliet, West Side Story, arguably the greatest musical ever
written because of its seamless integration of music, book and dance.

What happens
at the end of West Side Story?  Only ONE of them dies.  Ah ha!  Already
you're starting to see the difference.

But wait for
it . . . wait for it . . . West Side isn't over yet.  

After Maria's feisty "How many bullets are left" speech, the Jets
start to carry off Tony's dead body.  But, like Jesus carrying the cross,
they falter.  Who comes running to their aid?  A Shark!  That's
right; the two warring gangs come together right before your eyes.  And a
ray of sunshine is cast on what was a very dark tragedy.  Suddenly, there
is hope that
the future will be better.

Doesn't sound
like R&J, does
it?

Musical
theater audiences don't mind tragedy.  In fact, they love a little
drama.  But you can't leave them with a tragic aftertaste.  No matter
how dark your tale, it's important to leave them with the idea that things
could get better.  That the sun will come out . . . you know when.

Want another
great example of this?  Look at the ending of the original London
production of Miss Saigon.  Then look at what they did when they came to
Broadway. It's a subtle change that demonstrates exactly what I'm talking
about. 

Email me if
you figure it out.

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