Musical Theatre ( that's right dears )

Dominic · January 2017

I am labelled a hater in my own home.
My wife is an ex-dancer ,choreographer and dance teacher with West End ,Broadway and TV credits .My daughters are both dancers / singers
They are all mad about Musical Theatre and there is never a time somebody isn't studying/practising or listening to a show-tune in the home.I cannot escape it but I applaud their accomplishments ;however...........
I'm sorry but I just can't bare them ;other than the old odd Irving Berlin or Cole Porter masterpiece I found them just dreadful especially the Lloyd -Webber type. The words are always mis-fitted around the tune or over-sung to phrase the line/story and the music itself is usually meandering infill. I just don't like the genre at all .
Torture for me would be Elaine Paige on the radio on Sunday afternoon being made compulsory .
I even find some of the modern Disney film scores simply a more expensively produced dose of the same thing.............
Do you wanna build a snowman ?

olafgarten · January 2017

I agree that most of it is crap, but isn't that the same with all music? It's just that you don't hear the less mainstream stuff that is good.

Dominic · January 2017

Yes and no ...........I think showtunes are very much a specific genre no matter what the musical style . Gershwin excepted.

Fretwired · January 2017

West Side Story is quite cool ..

cruxiform · January 2017

My ex-wife used to to drag me (usually kicking and screaming) to the theatre but every time I went I enjoyed it. I even shed a tear during Les Miserables. I wouldn't listen to the tunes outside of the theatre but seeing musical theatre live can be an exhilarating experience.

Fretwired · January 2017

cruxiform said:

My ex-wife used to to drag me (usually kicking and screaming) to the theatre but every time I went I enjoyed it. I even shed a tear during Les Miserables. I wouldn't listen to the tunes outside of the theatre but seeing musical theatre live can be an exhilarating experience.

I agree ... I wouldn't listen to the soundtrack from West Side Story but seeing the show's a whole different ball game. I also like Opera ...

cruxiform · January 2017

Fretwired said:

cruxiform said:

My ex-wife used to to drag me (usually kicking and screaming) to the theatre but every time I went I enjoyed it. I even shed a tear during Les Miserables. I wouldn't listen to the tunes outside of the theatre but seeing musical theatre live can be an exhilarating experience.

I agree ... I wouldn't listen to the soundtrack from West Side Story but seeing the show's a whole different ball game. I also like Opera ...

Never been to an opera but it's something I like to try. I find some of it quite moving so in a live theatre I imagine it's a very emotional experience..

Teetonetal · January 2017

Yeah. Show tunes need to be in the show otherwise they lose the point. Same with opera. Madame butterfly is so moving if you see it but just listening is meh.

Gassage · January 2017

If you DO go to the opera, another pre-requisite is in orginal langauge.

ENO murdering Au Foud du Temple Saint was one of the least edifying musical experiences of my life.

Jussi Bjoerling would have turned in his grave.

fields5069 · January 2017

I like a few of the old classic tunes from way back, but mostly I am of the opinion that musical theatre is shit. Return to The Forbidden Planet was quite good when I saw it in the 80s / early 90s i suppose.

fields5069 · January 2017

But Opera is mostly t'awesome.

Dominic · January 2017

Just to be quite clear.............Opera and Musical theatre ....................Very different things

boogieman · January 2017

Gassage said:

If you DO go to the opera, another pre-requisite is in orginal langauge.

ENO murdering Enfant du Temple Saint was one of the least edifying musical experiences of my life.

Jussi Bjoerling would have turned in his grave.

This.
My dad was a huge opera fan but I never really understood it. He reckoned I should go and see a live performance and then I'd appreciate it more so my wife and I went to ENO. It was terrible. We later saw a decent opera in the original Italian. Chalk and cheese. I still don't like a lot of opera but I love the popular stuff like the duet from the Pearl Fishers and Nessun Dorma.

Not a fan of modern musicals at all, but I do like old Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly stuff.

SteveRobinson · January 2017

You have my sympathies. I'm a "hater" outnumbered by my wife and three daughters and now granddaughter, often plus their friends who are all mad about musical theatre and, yes, Disney.

As you say the tunes are formulaic, the lyrics shoehorned in.

I've been dragged to a few, the worst by a long chalk being Blood Brothers which makes one tune last for hours. And hours.

cruxiform · January 2017

I first heard this in the Hannibal movie (sorry) but it has stuck with me over the years. I'd love to see it performed. It's such a beautiful piece that moves the soul.

Gassage · January 2017

One of the best things that used to go on- the Amex Holland Park Opera season.

Saw Turandot and the Tannheiser there over the years.

I wanted to go and see La Boheme there in the last year of it but it was cold and my tiny hand was frozen.

frictionfraction · January 2017

I must admit that "musical theatre" does not rock my boat... however Ive played for several shows and really enjoyed it. Compared to your average rock band gig it is challenging plus the musicians Ive met have been on the whole a pleasure to play with and very forgiving of my far inferior abilities. Plus when you get into it you can appreciate what it is doing. It's like most music - if you give it a go you nearly always find something you like in it (except for line dancing country tunes and ceilidhs)

Gassage · January 2017

If there's a better vocal performance, ever, in any genre of music, I've yet to hear it.

Bjoerling was the sweetest and most musical tenor in history. Merrill arguably the greatest baritone too (fucking Aussie!) Bjoerling makes Pavarotti sound like Katy Perry.

Chuffola · January 2017

I love a lot of musicals but then I was in a few when I was at school.

Oliver, My Fair Lady, Fiddler on the Roof - brilliant stuff. On stage I've seen Chicago, Evita, Grease and Jesus Christ Superstar which are all fantastic for different reasons (the suspenders and basques in one - can't remember which)

West Side Story is also filled with incredible music.

Cats is dreadful, Starlight Express awful and I'd have no interest in the Disney ones.

As someone above said - its like all music. Some great, some shite, some meh.

Now, get me my leotard and legwarmers!

Dominic · January 2017

Gassage said:

Saw Turandot and the Tannheiser but it was cold and my tiny hand was frozen.

Oh Mimi ........proper Opera buff right there ,probably got a collapsable Top hat in his closet !!! and the opera glasses
On second thoughts ...Che Manina Gelida is La Boheme

Gassage · January 2017

Dominic said:

Gassage said:

Saw Turandot and the Tannheiser but it was cold and my tiny hand was frozen.

Oh Mimi ........proper Opera buff right there ,probably got a collapsable Top hat in his closet !!! and the opera glasses
On second thoughts ...Che Manina Gelida is La Boheme

Eh? See original.
My Mum, as I have posted before, is a huge opera buff. I was brought up on it.

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Musical Theatre ( that's right dears )

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