Musicals

[Deleted]

The French used to be totally allergic to musicals, but in the past few years, they have become fashionable with a vengeance, often in the biggest venues possible.

At the moment, "Mozart, l'opéra rock" is playing at one of the sports arenas, Le Roi Lion is still plugging along, Zorro just opened in a flamenco presentation, and The Sound of Music is getting ready to roll.

May god have mercy on their souls.

[bixaorellana]

Thank you for that last sentence.

I opened this thread with dread, wondering how in hell I could say something politely positive.

Off the hook!

[Deleted]

Many years ago, I got dragged to see Evita in London. Now that was a dreadful evening for me!

[bixaorellana]

I cry for you, Kerouac2.

[Deleted]

Don't cry for me, Bixaoralliiiina.

[Deleted]

I know two soundtracks by heart. Oliver and Cabaret. But,don't count on me busting out in June with these tunes.

[bixaorellana]

I know:

and

[lola]

We just missed a chance to see a touring bollywood production of Wuthering Heights in London this spring. Id love to have read a review of it anyway.

[bixaorellana]

The mind boggles.

[Deleted]

Bollywood productions have invaded Europe, both as stage spectaculars and as shooting locations for the films. They seem to have exhausted all of the possibilities of India and now a lot of the stories take place in Switzerland, France and England.

[spindrift]

I was dragged to 'Piaf' last January. I've nothing positive to say about musicals.

[Deleted]

The radio just said that there are currently 34 musicals on the London stage. Are we returning to some sort of Busby Berkeley depression era need for music therapy?

[spindrift]

34?.......my goodness...

[traveler63]

There are musicals and then there are MUSICALS. For instance, Grease is a musical and then there is PHANTOM OF THE OPERA which I have seen twice and would go again. However, there are very few musicals that I would go to see either in movie form or on stage. I remember some of the movie musicals from my childhood which I loved; West Side Story is one that comes to mind.
Otherwise I can do without.

[Deleted]

While 34 musicals on the London stage seemed stunning, today they said that there are currently 20 musicals on the Paris stage, which is unheard of.

[mickthecactus]

I don't sense much enthusiasm for musicals 12 years ago. How about now?

[htmb]

I’ve attended several live musical performances that I have enjoyed very much: Hamilton, Les Misérables, Book of Mormon come to mind. I enjoy musicals, but I also have a dance background, plus musical performance in my genes. Musicals are not for everyone, but I’ve felt energized and enriched by most of those I’ve attended. I’m sure there are plenty of horrible ones out there, too. I’ve just managed to avoid most.

What about you, Mick? What possessed you to bring up this thread and risk the scorn of your fellow forum members?

[mickthecactus]

I've just been watching an excellent programme on BBC4 with Neil Brand about the history thereof. Just got as far as My Fair Lady. He gives some great history about the song writing besides being a brilliant musician himself. Highly recommended.

And I like musicals...

[htmb]

That sounds like a documentary I’d enjoy watching.

[questa]

My BFF in the early 60s was a superb contralto. It was also the time that the copyright on all the Gilbert and Sullivan operettas ran out, so she got all the powerful woman roles. Her grandparents on both sides had been singers in the great era of musical theatre...G & S, White Horse Inn, Desert Song, Merry Widow etc.
They had good (if predictable) storylines and concentrated on the music and song rather than dance. I know it is corny but I still get shivers when I hear a good contralto singing Katisha's "Hearts do not break" from The Mikado.
Dammit...now I'll be singing it all day!

[mickthecactus]

Tonight was mainly West Side Story, Oliver, Fiddler on the Roof, Chorus Line and one I don’t remember, Company.

[lugg]

I really enjoy musicals, so thanks Mick for resurrecting this thread. I was booked to go to see the Book of Mormon in Cardiff last year but that never happened. Last weekend Radio 2 focussed on musicals and there were some great interviews and music and I now really want to go to see Six, when life returns to normal.
Anyway, not the same as being there in person of course, but I watched Hamilton on Saturday night with my son and his partner ( it is currently available on Disney Plus) Loved it, in fact we all did.

[fumobici]

While I am watching a musical, the moment when the characters first break into song my suspension of disbelief snaps like an already frayed rope I'm afraid. Every time.

[kerouac2]

I basically hate musicals -- and yet sometimes I don't. Something clicks and all of a sudden I am enjoying at least part of it. It probably depends on the sincerity of the singer. The ones who sing and dance perfectly yet totally mechanically are unbearable. Basically, I feel the same about pornography.

[mickthecactus]

Feb 2, 2021 18:24:54 GMT fumobici said:

While I am watching a musical, the moment when the characters first break into song my suspension of disbelief snaps like an already frayed rope I'm afraid. Every time.

You have no imagination....

[htmb]

That’s happened to me twice that I can recall, but the musicals were film versions: Mama Mia (Pierce Brosnan) and Les Miserables (Russell Crowe). Neither actor can sing and, in my opinion, that film version of Les Mis was horrible.

The first major musical I remember seeing live was A Chorus Line at the atmospheric Fox Theatre in Atlanta. That was in the mid-70s and it was different from anything I’d ever seen. I also attended a local production of Rent, and would love to see it done on a big stage somewhere.

[bjd]

I think the only musicals I have seen were Cabaret and the Rocky Horror Picture Show, if those count as musicals. Oh yeah, West Side Story, when I was young and I admit that I didn't like it very much despite its popularity. I walked out of Fiddler on the Roof some years later. Never been to see a musical in a theatre.

[kerouac2]

It's funny that most people don't put operas and modern musicals in the same category, even though they are just an evolution of the same concept.

Frankly, I was thrilled to see the outdoor free opera in my neighbourhood last September (A new park and a masked opera).

[htmb]

While I’ve enjoyed most of the live musical performances I’ve attended, including the ballet, I have never had the desire to attend the opera. Can’t remember ever seeing it except on television.....

Now, I see memories are returning to me: I did attend a performance of Carmina Burana in a gothic-style building on the local university campus. There were dancers (whom I knew personally), a large local orchestra, and vocalists, also from the university. I suppose that was considered an opera, and I loved it. So, for me, lots of movement and pageantry, and not just singing, seems to be the requirement.

I suppose we are all different. I have always had a difficult time following spoken poetry, and also don’t enjoy reading it. While I can appreciate its value, it’s just difficult for my brain to absorb. I’m guessing it’s the same with some forms of opera and theatre.

[onlyMark]

Feb 3, 2021 18:12:16 GMT htmb said:

I suppose we are all different. I have always had a difficult time following spoken poetry, and also don’t enjoy reading it. While I can appreciate its value, it’s just difficult for my brain to absorb. I’m guessing it’s the same with some forms of opera and theatre.

It's not only me then.