Musicals - Likes/ dislikes

3offTheTee

3offTheTee

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We have been to a few musicals over the years and still think they are a mixed bunch and some over rated.

Cats was boring with no story, walked out of Chicago at half time which could not come quick enough. Jersey Boys great if you are a 4 Seasons fan.
Thought Phantom was OK but the 3 stand out for me were Les Mis, Blood Brothers and Miss Saigon which we saw again today. Outstanding in every aspect. Music, acting and story.

What are you thoughts?
 
I'm going to go old school now, My Fair Lady. There, I said it. Classic stuff.

Chicago not for me, Cabaret I would have left at half time but my then girlfriends cousin was in it so I had to endure it all, 42nd Street was hammy but I think that is partly the point.

My mum has seen quite a few and her favourites are a toss up between Les Mis and Phantom. She still has nightmares about Hairspray :eek:
 
The love for Les Mis always intrigues me. I'm a sound engineer in theatre. I've worked on most of the musicals mentioned (local am dram to national touring level). I did the sound design for a production of LM once and have a friend deeply involved in the running of LM in town.

Absolute hate it. Music is OK, story - "I stole a loaf of bread and my life's turned to ***".

Standouts for me? Matilda, Lion King, Billy Elliott. That said, for viewing pleasure, I'd much rather go to the opera.
 
Recents include Wicked, Elf & Mary Poppins.

Off to see Matilda next week.

Always go with my usual cynical outlook and by the end am completely emotionally engaged.

Much prefer plays, musicals, ballet to films / TV.

They're more real
 
The sooner you treat Bat Out Of Hell as a Meatloaf tribute show rather than a musical the more you'll enjoy it; hang on to the misconception it's a musical and you'll be very disappointed.

Of the current crop Tina takes some beating; Adrienne Warren is utterly brilliant in the lead role. Thoroughly enjoyed Les Mis, Jersey Boys and The Lion King. Sunny Afternoon (The Kinks), All or Nothing (The Small Faces), Beautiful (Carol King) and Memphis (original musical by David Bryan of Bon Jovi) are also great.
 
Seen so many since the first run of Evita. The one that I hated was Grease with the furthest away from Olivia Newton John you could imagine was Sonia. The ones I'd have seen every week if I could Les Mis, We Will Rock You, 42nd Street, an early version of Oliver and particularly one called "Return to the forbidden planet" - a fantastic fun musical but so many I've seen were great nights out
 
Could watch Les Mis over and over again. Think it is utterly brilliant. Wish they’d stop adding little songs in here and there though!

Blood Brothers was very good when I saw it a number of years ago. I remember being really choked by it in the theatre, and how the mood suddenly changes.
 
Lord Tyrion said:
I'm going to go old school now, My Fair Lady. There, I said it. Classic stuff.

Chicago not for me, Cabaret I would have left at half time but my then girlfriends cousin was in it so I had to endure it all, 42nd Street was hammy but I think that is partly the point.

My mum has seen quite a few and her favourites are a toss up between Les Mis and Phantom. She still has nightmares about Hairspray :eek:
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i wouldn't say i was a musicals type, only two ive been to is Little shop of Horrors and Rocky Horror.. both great
 
chrisd said:
The one that I hated was Grease with the furthest away from Olivia Newton John you could imagine was Sonia
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Unfortunately we saw that as well, really bad.

Seen quite a few over the years both at local theatre and the West End, Phantom is still my favourite with Les Mis and Blood Brothers close behind.

We haven't been for a few years, the missus wants to see Billy Elliot or Wicked next time.
 
I like my musicals with an orchestra rather than a band, so Les Mis, Mis Saigon, Phantom.

Saying that, Jesus Christ Superstar at the Regents Park open air was amazing.

The only one I didn’t like at all was Guys and Dolls.
 
I loved Guys and Dolls but it was a school performance with little Shark playing one of the main characters. Shame she doesn't ever want to watch the DVD of it now though. It will come out at her wedding for sure.

Loved Mamma Mia - real singing not the trash that Meryl Streep and Pierce Brosnan came out with. Preferred the film version of Jersey Boys myself.
 
The Book of Mormon is undoubtedly the best. It's not even close.

I did like the Lion King though. Les Miserables was ok, but depressing unsurprisingly.

Shrek and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory were total rubbish. For some reason in Charlie they didn't even use the good songs that you know from the film, they wrote new ones that were awful dirges.
 
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