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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:
Mrsjayy · 03/08/2023 23:38

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!

I would have left I've never wanted to leave a shoe, but bought tickets for a birthday present, person who I was with still doesn't know I hated it !

Cookerhood · 03/08/2023 23:39

Hamilton & Les Mis.
Also (can't believe no-one has mentioned it so far) the recent version of Oklahoma! Absolutely awful. Lots of people left at the interval.

My favourite is Blood Brothers which I must have seen at least 10 times.

EineReiseDurchDieZeit · 03/08/2023 23:39

To be honest the book of Wicked REALLY helps with the plot, I admit that parts flawed.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Theatre
swimminginthesun · 03/08/2023 23:40

Bellavida99 · 03/08/2023 23:18

I hated Wicked. Others like Pretty woman I haven’t exactly raved about but we’re ok. But Wicked was such rubbish. Too long too boring and pretty offensive suggesting if that girl tried hard enough she wouldn’t need her wheelchair

Nessa was able to walk because of an enchantment being put on the ruby slippers, not because she “tried hard enough”.

Never knew there was so much hate for Wicked! I loved it. But the book is better (and much darker).

Mrsjayy · 03/08/2023 23:40

Mrsjayy · 03/08/2023 23:38

I would have left I've never wanted to leave a shoe, but bought tickets for a birthday present, person who I was with still doesn't know I hated it !

Show quote history

A show obviously not a shoe !

AdaColeman · 03/08/2023 23:41

Andrew Lloyd Webber's Aspects of Love, in spite of Trevor Nunn being involved, and there being some well known names amongst the cast, it was just soooo duuuull. The show seemed to last for weeks, though in reality just a few hours, but that's time I've wasted, never to be recovered. 🙁 🙁 🙁

salamithumbs · 03/08/2023 23:42

Can't believe some people hated Billy Elliot!! Blasphemy 😱

I really disliked:
White Christmas
Waitress
Wicked
Evita
Grease
Book of Mormon

And based on the clips I've seen, I feel sure I would also hate Hamilton, Six, and anything Andrew Lloyd Webber (especially Cats and Starlight Express)

Fridaytomorrow · 03/08/2023 23:42

Oliver!
The ! is part of the title. It’s the only musical I’ve seen that I dislike. I’ve been involved in three productions of it so far and unfortunately will be working on another before Christmas. ( I hope this isn’t too outing 😉.)

JudgeJ · 03/08/2023 23:43

This is one for the very oldies, like me! We saw Jess Conrad in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, we were having a day in Blackpool and it was raining. We were seated about 4 rows back, it was almost empty for a big theatre. Unfortunately in the summer term OH had put Joseph on in school so our two knew the words by heart and at one point eldest leaned across to Daddy sitting 2 seats along and said, just as the music faded away, 'It's not as good as yours is it Daddy'! It wasn't either! She got glares from the stage.

Frances0911 · 03/08/2023 23:43

As someone else above has posted - Wicked. Unfortunately I was sat by the speakers and the singing was so loud and screechy that I couldn't concentrate and left during the interval.

MajesticWhine · 03/08/2023 23:44

I am very amused to see how many people hate Wicked, I saw it about 15 or more years ago - liked it and was thinking of going again soon but maybe I will give it a miss and keep my happy memory in tact.

My least favourite recently was Frozen, which I was quite excited about but it was underwhelming.

SoShallINever · 03/08/2023 23:44

Wicked, my God, the shrieking 🙄.
I'm not really a musicals fan, despite this I've seen most of them.
Only really liked "come from away".

choirmumoftwo · 03/08/2023 23:44

Absolutely adore Wicked and Hamilton. Cannot stand Les Mis.

StillWantingADog · 03/08/2023 23:46

Dombasle · 03/08/2023 22:03

Billy Elliot when it first came out circa 2005/6.

I hated the film but went with friends and sat there wanting to fall asleep whilst everyone else appeared delighted.

Wow. I saw BE on broadway and thought it was mesmerisingly good.

Tulipvase · 03/08/2023 23:47

Musicals are not my thing so I don’t have a lot to compare with but we saw We will rock you 20 years ago and I thought it was ok.

Frances0911 · 03/08/2023 23:47

Also forgot to say as well, Les Miserables. Couldn't understand what the heck was going on as it was all in French, but also not really my thing.

StBrides · 03/08/2023 23:48

Billy Elliot - nearly left during the interval but that's just anathema to me so I stuck it out.

Reluctantly went to see Wicked and loved it!

Both West End productions.

salamithumbs · 03/08/2023 23:49

Forgot to say Funny Girl! Nothing funny about it, absolute shite

AngelicaSchuylerAndHerSisters · 03/08/2023 23:49

I hated Cats - left at the interval. I have never seen another Lloyd Webber as a result. Also was very bored during Heathers.

Fantina · 03/08/2023 23:49

Come from Away is one of the best I’ve seen and I love Hamilton and enjoyed Wicked. No one has had a bad word to say about Come From Away on this thread which obviously puts it in a class of its own.

I hated Mamma Mia and for reasons too boring to say I’ve been twice and hated it both times. I prefer not to know the storylines so only think things like Charlie and The Lion King, Matilda etc are only ok. Matilda’s songs are memorable though which is a sign of a good show/

Six is like a mini pop concert and no need (imo) to see the show - just listen to the songs at home as there’s no story linking them together or staging.

for all the talented people who want to work in musical theatre it is surprising that so many people on here have had poor performers. I do find a lot of the singers to sound very similar though, I presume it’s the training needed to sing so often. That’s what makes Hamilton stand out for me as those performers don’t have identical singing styles.

colouringindoors · 03/08/2023 23:51

Least favourite would be Wicked. Looong, poor sound quality and too much green 😅 Do not understand how that massive theatre is still being filled!

Loved Les Mis, Miss Saigon, Matilda. Enjoyed dear Evan Hansen more than I expected!

XDownwiththissortofthingX · 03/08/2023 23:51

Only ever been to two musicals, way back in the early 80's. I can't stand the concept. I just find the whole thing so absurd it completely cringes me out.

So the premise of the question is flawed. All musicals are garbage because it's a garbage concept 😛

swimminginthesun · 03/08/2023 23:52

Frances0911 · 03/08/2023 23:47

Also forgot to say as well, Les Miserables. Couldn't understand what the heck was going on as it was all in French, but also not really my thing.

Did you see it in France? I’ve seen it twice (in London and Edinburgh) and it was definitely sung in English…

Teentrauma · 03/08/2023 23:52

Big. It had a very short run in the West End a few years ago, not surprisingly! Was supposed to see Tina The Musical (which we saw subsequently & was great!) but cancelled at short notice due to cast illness. Got offered tickets for Big instead so went for it. Absolutely dire, not one memorable song. My friend fell asleep! Decent cast but they couldn't save it.

Was a bit meh about Lion King & Wicked too. Have seen many I preferred. Had wanted to see We will Rock You as love Queen but no-one wanted to go. Seems I had a lucky escape.

Oblahdeeoblahdoe · 03/08/2023 23:53

Chess. Absolutely dire