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What's the worst musical you have ever been to?

647 replies

Sonolanona · 03/08/2023 21:52

I love musicals, and DS2 who has autism is obsessed so we go to as many as we can. We've seen Cats (not the film!) 7 times, JCSS 7 times, Blood Brothers, Les Mis, Evita, Chicago , Cabaret..and many others. (JCSS is my personal favourite)

Today we went to We Will Rock You.
OMG.
It was cringingly awful. Even if you love Queen, it was still so bad. Worst 'plot' and dialogue ever, the choreography was...interesting and it was played for cheap laughs and smutty out dated jokes, headed by Ben Elton who cannot..and should not..sing.
Never again!!!

OP posts:
Molly499 · 03/08/2023 23:21

New production is even better, there are some good deals around on tickets.

AlleycatMarie · 03/08/2023 23:23

I actually love WWRY and have seen it many times. Not the best storyline but you have to go with it! Hates Joseph and also Sweet Charity. Loved everything else I’ve seen. And I’ve seen a lot! Favourites are probably Les Mis, Six, Prince of Egypt and Cats. Also loved ALW Cinderella and sad it’s gone.

Bluebutred · 03/08/2023 23:24

I LOVE a musical, I love the book ‘Her Benny’ - I was so excited the musical came on the theatre - NO - it was awful, I left at the interval !!

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Mrsjayy · 03/08/2023 23:24

WGACA · 03/08/2023 23:16

Also absolutely hate Joseph and his amazing technicolour dream-coat!!!

Nooooo! it's one of my favourites i know its shite but It has a special place in my heart I saw it last year with Jason Donavan and if was a great night !

giraffesaregreat · 03/08/2023 23:25

Can't believe more people haven't said 'Six'. Script may be witty, but the awful shrieking singing from the wives for 80 minutes was just terrible. The only time I have ever been to a theatre and wanted to cover my ears to block out the sound. The songs weren't catchy or engaging at all and there was no dialogue to give the audience a break from the noise.

Most of the audience seemed to love it though, and 10/10 to the performers for the effort they were putting in. If they could have been muted it would have been much better.

Molly499 · 03/08/2023 23:26

Molly499 · 03/08/2023 23:21

New production is even better, there are some good deals around on tickets.

This was about the new production of crazy for you

toottootpipip · 03/08/2023 23:26

Saw Bugsy Malone and couldn't catch a word of what bugsy was saying, the kid couldn't do an American drawl and so all his words rolled into one. The audience was also full of cast members' families who whooped when their child came on (this was a professional production, but thus felt like a school play)

Have seen about 20 other different musicals including SIX and Matilda and lion king and enjoyed them all 🤷‍♀️

RandomUsername22 · 03/08/2023 23:28

So interesting to see how many people love and hate the same thing! For me, Blood Brothers makes me cry my eyes out every time I see it (and I’ve seen it a lot of times 😂) - the opening notes play and I’m gone! Also loved ALW Bad Cinderella and was gutted when it closed. Big fan of Wicked and Les Mis, thought Six was boring and overhyped and couldn’t get through Matilda - the shrill stage school children just set my teeth on edge. I’ve always enjoyed Evita too and think it’s a shame it never tours!

unfor · 03/08/2023 23:28

giraffesaregreat · 03/08/2023 23:25

Can't believe more people haven't said 'Six'. Script may be witty, but the awful shrieking singing from the wives for 80 minutes was just terrible. The only time I have ever been to a theatre and wanted to cover my ears to block out the sound. The songs weren't catchy or engaging at all and there was no dialogue to give the audience a break from the noise.

Most of the audience seemed to love it though, and 10/10 to the performers for the effort they were putting in. If they could have been muted it would have been much better.

I saw Six on tour and I have to agree the quality of singing was not good. I went home and listened to the soundtrack and appreciated it much more.

ifIwerenotanandroid · 03/08/2023 23:29

Don't think I could stand a live one, but I once tried to see a bring-a-picnic open air screening of Moulin Rouge, if that counts. They advertised advance tickets as well as tickets on the gate, but when we arrived they wouldn't sell us tickets until just before it started, so we'd have to wait in line for ages & not be able to eat our picnic before the film started. Then they told us we'd have to sit separately from people who'd paid in advance & they couldn't guarantee we'd be able to see the screen. Er... not much point, then. We left.

Later I rented the film. I didn't make it to the end.

Trusttheprocess1 · 03/08/2023 23:30

I’m a drama teacher and have staged numerous musicals but God I find it tricky to choose as I don’t even like most of then. WWRY is dire, Lion King tedious, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory was appalling but only topped by Wicked, which was one of the worst things I’ve ever seen. Second only to Dreamgirls which is beyond shit. Our House and Billy Elliot are amazing, I’ve seen Blood Brothers 14 times through work and it’s still great. Matilda is the cleverest lyrically and musically imo. Such a personal thing but there’s some drivel out there.

SweetBirdsong · 03/08/2023 23:30

Mamma Mia. Loathe it so much for so many reasons.

wyntersuhn · 03/08/2023 23:32

Mammamia

(Absolutely adore Wicked and WWRY, and Book of Mormon is hilarious).

Mrsjayy · 03/08/2023 23:32

Oh I like the film dream girls I was so disappointed in the stage show it was rubbish.

Doodar · 03/08/2023 23:32

Wicked was shite.

Procrastination4 · 03/08/2023 23:33

A toss up between Six and Hamilton.

AMuser · 03/08/2023 23:34

The Bodyguard in the West End. Fucking dire.

Tina the Musical only marginally better.

Hbh17 · 03/08/2023 23:34

Wicked. Just a lot of awful screeching - I really didn't get why people like it so much.

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 03/08/2023 23:34

Totally agree @giraffesaregreat

Dox9 · 03/08/2023 23:34

Book of Mormon. I did not find it entertaining at all.

KathySeldon · 03/08/2023 23:35

OK, so I've worked in musical theatre, and DH still does.
Worse one was called Jekyll. (Not to be confused with Jekyll and Hyde)
Played for about 1 or 2 weeks in Bromley years ago and promptly (rightly so) closed!
More recently, I'd say I didn't enjoy Wicked, nor Hamilton.

DD loves theatre, so have seen a lot of shows with her. She LOVED Newsies, but didn't like Dirty Dancing
My recent fav was Book of Mormon. Although pretty offensive in places (we all know to expect that) I thought the show was very well done and very funny.
I would be interested to hear what people think about the new Phantom production compared to the pre covid version??
It caused quite a stir in the business, but interested to hear anyones opinion.

Paul2023 · 03/08/2023 23:35

I saw Wicked about ten years ago and I had absolutely no idea what it was all about.

TheChosenTwo · 03/08/2023 23:36

Wicked. Absolute squealing screeching dirge. We left during the interval. Would have left within the first 10 minutes but didn’t want to look rude!

Davros · 03/08/2023 23:37

AMessageToYouRuby if you like musicals I think you'll probably love Sunset Boulevard. I'm not a big fan of musicals and this was classic ALW, good costumes and sets etc but I can't remember a thing about the music or singing 😂 I have always lived the film so was a bit "offended" to see it bastardised. We got tricked into going because SIL had tickets and couldn't go. I told DH it was fine to leave in the interval as I knew the story and we could bluff when we saw SIL

TheChosenTwo · 03/08/2023 23:38

And I’m surprised to see it mentioned so much on here - usually people absolutely love it and I’m the teeny tiny minority (of one!!).