Top 10 Non Romantic Broadway Duets

Mame is a free-spirited widow who captures the essence of the Jazz Age. Her best pal, Vera, is an acerbic Broadway actress who’s quick with a quip and a martini. They love each other, but their hilarious duet is proof that with friends like these, who needs enemies? “Bosom Buddies” is an anthem to a great pastime: insulting your friends. These two take aim at everything from each other’s age to their talent to their morals. And they do it all while maintaining their elegance. That the roles were originated by Angela Lansbury and Bea Arthur, who became lifelong pals themselves, makes it that much more delicious.

Elder Price has been handed a missionary trip to Uganda. His new pal, Elder Cunningham, is coming along for the ride. That he’s being relegated to Price’s second fiddle doesn’t even faze him, he’s just happy to have a new best friend. “You and Me (But Mostly Me)” plays Price’s self-importance against Cunningham’s childlike excitement. It’s a fun number for two gifted comedians to showcase their skills. If you aren’t listening closely, it sounds like a typical high energy and inspiring song a lot of musicals have in their scores. But the sly and ironic lyrics give it an extra layer that makes it even funnier.

This classic musical comedy’s been revived and revised throughout its 90 year history. “Friendship” was not included in the original production but has been a highlight of subsequent revivals. In one version, it’s sung by nightclub performer Reno Sweeney with two men, but more recent versions have made it a duet between Reno and the criminal she befriends on the ship. No matter who sings it, though, it’s a classic showtune. It’s got a peppy melody, fun one-liners, and turns of phrase that only Cole Porter could write. The lyrics see the two characters pose wilder and wilder scenarios that they’d help each other out of. Lovers and trends may come and go, but they’ll always have each other.

After he’s escaped parole and devoted his life to being a model citizen, Jean Valjean is tracked down by the dogmatic Inspector Javert. “The Confrontation” is exactly what the title suggests. Two sworn enemies come face to face, with Javert unwilling, and maybe even unable to hear Valjean’s protests that he’s a changed man. Even when he was incarcerated, Javert didn’t believe in his innocence. He’s even less charitable toward Valjean now that he’s a fugitive. The two spend the song speaking past each other. Both men stand firm in their convictions, making for an intensely dramatic duet.

We’ll admit, this one might straddle the line between romantic and non-romantic. Some productions opt to make Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett’s relationship more one-sided than it might look on paper. But whether they are a true romantic couple, this isn’t a love song. “A Little Priest” is the first act closer to Stephen Sondheim’s “Sweeney Todd.” It sees the desperate piemaker and the vengeful barber having an epiphany about how to get rid of a dead body and save her pie shop at the same time. After all, itw would be a crime for all that fresh meat to go to waste. Full of delightful wordplay and wicked humor, this is one unhinged business plan.

Annie Oakley and Frank Butler are the best sharpshooters in the Wild West, and they have the egos to prove it. “Anything You Can Do” finds the two trading quips, taking digs, and most importantly, trying to outdo each other’s accomplishments. The irony here is that these two characters do actually end up together. But out of context, it just sounds like two old friends, or even bitter enemies, reading each other down. Irving Berlin’s original lyrics have been rewritten to suit different performers and situations over the years, but the general formula remains the same.

Founding fathers Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr spend most of the musical at odds with each other. While the duet that leads up to their fatal duel is stunning, it’s “Dear Theodosia” that lays bare the humanity behind their ideological differences. The song sees both men becoming fathers. Their hopes for their newborn children are all tied up in their hopes for the country they helped found and the legacy that they might leave behind for their descendants. The great tragedy is they’re not singing to each other. Neither one will ever know just how much they have in common.

These two princes are so handsome you’d be out of your mind to turn them down. At least, that’s what they think. Stephen Sondheim’s take on several classic fairy tales has some of his most beautiful, and most gut-busting, songs. Finding themselves in love with Cinderella and Rapunzel, the princes can’t conceive that these women aren’t giving them the time of day. They can paint a clear picture of their desirability and everything. Well, at least they’ve got self love if nothing else. Watching these tortured beauties compare their pain and list their many, many virtues is musical comedy gold.

This tear-jerking rock musical follows a group of young artists fighting to live an honest life amid poverty, sickness, and rising rents. Not that they pay that rent, but it’s a bummer nonetheless. “What You Own” is a defiant battle cry about what matters in modern America. Despite their belief that the culture around them is obsessed with capital, buying power, and material goods, their community reminds them that human connection is what’s most important. Roommates Mark and Roger aren’t beaten down by the world. They fight against it, re-dedicating themselves to their art. It’s as triumphant as “La Vie Bohème,” but it’s the streak of anger running through it that makes it powerful.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.

“Say My Name,” “Beetlejuice”
Lydia’s Depressed, but Not Depressed Enough To Pass Up Teasing Beetlejuice

“Class,” “Chicago”
The Murderous & the Matron Lament a Lack of Decency

“Santa Fe (Prologue),” “Newsies”
Jack & Crutchie Dream of a Life Away From the City

“Who Will Love Me As I Am,” “Side Show”
Conjoined Twins in a Traveling Sideshow Wonder If They’ll Find Love

“Two-Player Game,” “Be More Chill”
A Friendship Duet Between Two High School Outcasts

Elphaba, dubbed the Wicked Witch of the West by the people of Oz, is about to be attacked by an angry mob. Her old friend, Glinda, arrives to warn her. The two have been driven apart by the political machinations of the Wizard, but they realize their friendship is still very much alive. In fact, knowing each other made them better people. “For Good” is their tearful and powerful goodbye. In their last moments together, with their lyrics sailing past each other and their voices blending in perfect harmony, they say what they need to say before they part forever.

Did we get this one right? Tell us the best platonic duets we may have left out.