[moongoddess82]

I know many people have stated how reprises and recurring themes are just lazy writing or being uncreative, but I'd like to discuss the times when there is a poetic/literary significance to them.

For example I noticed that at the end of Jane Eyre, during Brave Enough for Love/Finale- there is a reprise of Painting Her Portrait, first a musical reprise in the orchestration and then in Rochester's melody when he's singing "I am no better, then the old chestnut-struck down by lightening," etc. I find this interesting because it shows just how their roles have reversed, and also how their stories/lives are parallels of eachother- they are both insecure and don't think they deserve the other's love. Also, with the Sirens and its reprise, when their counterpoint is reversed for the reprise, this again reminds us of the parallel of their lives and how each one goes through a similar journey in order to earn the right to be together.

Does anyone notice this sortof thing in any other musicals? Do share!

[theatre_grl]

of course reprises can be extremely important if used/placed correctly

but sometimes they aren't, so it just seems like no one could think of another melody so they just stuck the same one in again, lol. for example, in j&h there's like 8 'facade' reprises, which is generally considered as pointless and annoying

[moongoddess82]

I totally agree that some composers reprise melodies just for lack of a better thought (PotO is a great example of this), and that's why I wanted to start this thread- to get the examples of good reprises out there.

theatre_grl, can you think of any examples of when a reprise has had a literary significance? When it has been used to make a point?

[what_the_heck013]

Have you guys ever heard of Sondheim?

The man is the king of motifs.

I love when a reprise or motif is put in an ENTIRELY different context or spun in the COMPLETE opposite direction. An example is "You, you, and nothing but you. Miles and piles of you" from the Last Five Years. At first used to mock Jamie, but later to praise him.

[theatre_grl]

[theatre4life]

[JeffF]

The Camelot Reprise is a perfect song and ties up the whole idea of the show perfectly. It's actually one case when I think the reprise is even better than the original song, which is saying a lot.

[le_moofin]

[windscreen]

I have recently used my first reprise and feel no shame. I'd already ditched 7 songs as I didnt have any space left for them so it wasnt a case of being lazy. Rather more it is a sinister version of a song in the first scene and is sung by the same person in order to confuse the audience as to her true personality.

I would never, never use a reprise with exactly the same music and feel...shame on those who do.....

[thexredxbaron]

Excluding reprises that are... pointless, I think 99.999 percent of the time they are used for irony purposes- or to ruin the thought of the orginal song and to contrast the change from that song to this song.

Examples: All I Ask Of You (Reprise), I'm Not that Girl (Reprise), My Strongest Suit (Reprise), Agony (Reprise), One (Reprise)

That's all I can find by typing 'Reprise' in my Itunes search.

The See, I'm Smiling vs. Better then that Example is good. Better then That is one of my favorite songs just because it really shows the distance of those five years- ("He blew me off with a heartfelt letter," "Miles and Piles of You", "focus on his carreer") and how some things haven't change in Kathy at all ("I think about what I wanted...wasn't like that at all").

[Robinflamingo]

Even in fluffier shows, like Annie Get Your Gun, the reprises can be quite different in intent, and move the show forward. When Annie reprises "You Can't Get a Man with a Gun" at the end of Act One, it's slower, sadder, and she has lost (she thinks) her love.

Reprises can be very important. Gratuitous reprises (sometimes added for superstars during a Broadway run) - not so much.

[Yip1982]

I wouldn't mind reprises, as they tie the score of a musical together, rather than chart new territory with every song. I think that if a song is good and it serves more dramatic moments than one, then a reprise would work.
However, I've never really felt happy with the way that R&H used the reprise of Some Enchanted Evening. I think it's a little too reckless to waste a reprise of this song between "Wash That Man" and "Wonderful Guy" when we may have only heard the song 20 minutes ago. I know it sums up Emile's impulse very well, but it's perhaps more effective to place it at the end, just like what the OBCR has achieved.

[Kasana]

[rcs]

There are actually two reprises of "Some Enchanted Evening" in South Pacific. I like the way the first reprise (just before "A Wonderful Guy") establishes that Nellie feels a new kind of love for Emile, after learning of his background, although I prefer the way it's done in the movie, where we just hear an introduction ("Born on the opposite sides of a sea...") followed by the bridge of the song, and an instrumental underscoring leading into "A Wonderful Guy." But I absolutely LOVE the second time the song is reprised, in Act 2 when Nellie is begging Emile to survive and come back to her. I think this reprise is essential and expresses the character's feelings at this moment much better than another song would.

In the same musical, I also love the reprise of "Younger than Springtime" ("Younger than springtime were you...") after Cable has lost Liat. Necessary and perfect for this moment in the show.

[Yip1982]

I'm terribly sorry this reply is pretty late.

It's good of you to mention this. However, after listening to the OBC album, I was touched by the way that Goddard Lieberson moved this reprise to the Act Two finale, such that Nellie and Emile sing it just after the reprise of Dites-Moi. There are times when I think that if the reprise of Some Enchanted Evening were to be placed at the end of the show and not before Wonderful Guy, it would probably be much better. I know you'll probably argue back with a defence of the original stage positioning, but I keep thinking that it's too early to waste a reprise. I think it makes dramatic sense at the end because it shows that Nelliw is vowing to never again leave Emile.

Now, what would you think about the reprises in Lionel Bart's Oliver, especially the reprises in Act Two of the title song and As Long as He Needs Me?

[rcs]

The reprise of As Long As He Needs Me is pure genius. It makes it clear that Nancy is questioning her allegiance to Sikes, as well as realizing that someone else (Oliver) needs her. The defining nature of Nancy's character is that she is torn between her love for Sikes (and her hopeless determination to see good in him, even when there is none) and her desire to protect Oliver, and this reprise exemplifies that characterization perfectly.

[Anno_Domini]

Jekyll & Hyde had I think four or five reprises of "Façade", which is certainly overdoing it a tad. I enjoyed the first two, because they showed the distinction between the upper class (the "good" half of society) and the slums (the "dark" half)

[lottielou22]

Agony Reprise in Woods is a really good one... I think somebody might have already mentioned it. "You Are Music Reprise" In Maury Yeston's Phantom is perfect there too.

[Monsieur D'Arque]

I use mini-reprises, almost more like tags, for transition pieces and scene changes. Never just to bring back a song, but only when it's appropriate for a scene.

[lilmissbroadway]

[Monsieur D'Arque]

Yeah. Lilmissbroadway, have you been reading the songs for Beetlejuice the Musical that I've been writing? Since most of the play takes place on one unit set, teh Maitland house, small fragments of song are good ways to draw attention from one part of the house into another, refocusing a scene on a particular character to allow for a time or costume change.