Showstoppers-A Pointless Rant

I'm in Grease right now *JUMPS UP AND DOWN, WAVES*-ask me about tickets!-and there's a song called "Beauty School Drop-Out". In a show full of fun, funky music, this is the song that isn't just content with making you smile. It aims to get you out of your seat, to shake that thang, to clap along, to hoot instead of politely clap-to ride along on the sudden outpouring of crackling energy. This kind of musical number has a name-The Showstopper. Every good show worth it's salt has one-even C-Grade crapola like Seussical has that one song that drives the crowd wild. So what's the Best Showstopper ever? What stands head-and-shoulders over the others to send the audience over the edge every time? Onscreen, there's really no doubt-Jennifer Hudson has the category all locked up. But what about live? Onstage? I really struggled with this, trying to recall every show I'd ever seen-yes, I'm that bored right now. There are a TON of truly great showstoppers. Some find their strength in numbers and sheer choral force-"Circle of Life" with its parade of brilliant "animals" ascending to the stage as the sound of the song builds and builds, "One Day More" with its unforgettable hook and dizzying vocal crescendos. Others are love duets on steroids-"I'll Cover You", "Wheels of A Dream". But the most common showstoppers-from Thoroughly Modern Millie to Company-consist of a troubled woman, left abandoned onstage to let her agonies out in song. It was in this category that I uncovered what I have deemed the Ultimate Showstopper-"Rose's Turn" from Gypsy. The plot is this-stage mama Rose Hovick has alienated her kids. She's out of a job. Her almost-husband has broken off the engagement. If the show is the story of a confused woman quietly imploding, this song is where she explodes-where she lets out her inner thoughts, her deep regrets about being "born too soon and starting too late." It's a song full of key changes, flats and sharps that grows higher, louder, stronger, until that famous final note that seems to come from the soul and not the throat. The entire show we've watched this woman fight the odds and lose. So when she finally declares, that, no matter what, "everything's coming up roses this time for ME!", the explosion of audience approval is potent and palpable. Every actress brings something different to it-Bette Midler a greedy clinginess, Bernadette Peters a sexy vigor, and PATTI LUPONE-who I SAW LIVE IN THIS SHOW-a childlike sense of misplaced anger and need. But the sensation that comes after this number is always the same-the audience shoots to its collective feet like puppets on wires, the whistles and "woo-hoo's!" growing louder and louder as Rose walks about the stage, smile on her face. Often tears, exhilarated laughs, excitable chatter, struggled to catch one's breath. We've been blown away, entertained and made happy in the most primal, simple way-by watching someone standing alone on a stage do something really incredible. That's just my two cents. There are plenty of other excellent showstoppers-"Tomorrow", "Take Me Or Leave Me", everything in between. What's your favorite?