Maybe by the time I’m rich enough to do theater, deconstruction will be back in. Bartlett Sher is correct, every musical must begin and end on an empty stage. The world is constructed, once the essence is released the stage-world of its own accord must fade, leaving only essence.

Okay but cmon, Chicago ending with the merry murderesses shrugging on their coats, collecting their paychecks and walking off the stage, now denuded of its pretense, all rope pulleys and rising cycs?

Okay but cmon, Night Music ending with grandmother and granddaughter alone, granddaughter wheeling her grandmother, her hour past, out of this life and off the stage, now denuded of its pretense, all rope pulleys and rising cycs?

I will return to this thread when I come up with more musicals that can end with the stage denuded of its pretense.