Stage Musicals That You Found Unexpectedly Disappointing

[MarmaladeSandwich7]

For me it was The Bodyguard & I was really surprised as I love the soundtrack & Whitney.. It was ok but I thought it would blow me away & it didn’t. Maybe some things just work.better on the big screen.

This is a useful thread. Very different views though ' I'm going to put six on my list.

My underwhelms were
The lion king (looked tired, even costumes)
Les miserables (dull, with some good music- not enough to save it).
Just saw 101 dalmatians- kids loved but too like bad panto for adults. Frustrating, as it could have been great with a better script.

Loved war horse, frozen, book of Mormon.
Surprise likes were Heather's, wicked (her voice!) Evan Hanson, phantom
Hands down, the best production now imo is Stranger Things - though its not strictly a musical. Even if you're not a superfan, it's got all the wows. Over 12s though.

It's hardly Game of Thrones set to music (now THAT would be an awful night at the theatre...)

What the actual? That would be absolutely fantastic! 😁

LOVED
Come from Away
42nd Street
Jersey Boys

LIKED
Matilda
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Chicago
Hairspray
Newsies

LUKEWARM
Starlight Express
Motown: The Musical
Sunset Boulevard

Is Priscilla Queen of the Desert worth seeing?

Guys and Dolls at The Bridge Theatre, London, was one of the best things I've ever seen! Saw it three times! It's really magical when it all comes together with brilliant performers and songs, amazing sets and a clever script. I think a lot of musicals have one of the three but really need the whole shebang for a classic musical!

Cats - utter shite with no plot or storyline

Bat Out of Hell - left at the interval, couldn’t make any sense of the ridiculous story and hated the musical theatre versions of Meat Loaf songs.

Whistle Down The Wind - only seemed to have one song ( the Boyzone one) sang over and over again.

I saw a youth theatre production of Whistle Down the Wind a few years ago and it was terrific - moving, and definitely more than one decent song. Maybe it's one of those shows that works better with actual children. DD was in Seussical once, which was a mainstream disaster, but has taken on a second life as a youth piece.

But imagine the toilet queues! It would take a million hours and one might even sympathise with Joffrey if he got to sing about his feelings.

Came here to say this but your beat me to it

Came here to say this. 😀I'm glad there is at least 1 other person that thought the same

This, it was rubbish and why the fuck did Anne Boleyn talk in a weird baby voice?

Seen tina earlier this year was amazing , youngest son has booked for me and him for my birthday next year actually on my birthday in newcastle

AB was influencer/Essex girl vibe which DD and her friends immediately got.

Hated Six. It wasn't a musical. It was rubbish.

Really want to see Paddington The Musical!

That's on my list as well 👍

I can’t see that anyone else has said Gone with the Wind the musical. Hopefully that is because you were all spared the experience of seeing it during its short West End run. I had high expectations, I loved the book and the film, I had a mild crush on Darius Danish (RIP) and knew he could sing.

It was terrible. No decent songs, went on forever (three and a half hours). You knew what was going to happen and just wanted them to get on with it. Not even Darius could save it.

I see a number of people have mentioned Moulin Rouge - again I loved the film. The musical was meh. Very expensive and only alright. I left wondering why there was so much hype around it. I agree with the PP who said the Duke seemed like a good option in this version.

On the other hand I love Les Mis, and the heaped on misery. Have seen it numerous times in the West End, and the staged concert with Michael Ball which was amazing. The film was only ok as they put in too many Hollywood stars rather than musical theatre professionals who could carry the story.

Absolutely love musicals and have seen loads, but did not enjoy either Joseph or Sweet Charity.

Dream girls, just women screaming at everyone and caterwauling the songs.

The Lion King
The Phantom of the Opera
Hadestown

Cabaret is outstanding

It's been a relief to see so many other people dissing The Lion King. For the first few minutes we were spellbound but after that it was so tedious we almost left at the interval. By the end we wished we had.

Lion king. Not sure if cause watching it as a adult rather then a child or had built it up so much. Disappointed. Adult Simba was very very annoying! And the staging wasnt as amazing as thought it'd be! I get the concept etc. The songs some lovely..some bit meh. It just felt very flat.

Sister Act with Alexandra Burke.Her American accent was intresting. Then saw Bodyguard and was her again! Same dodgy accent.

Loved &Juliet saw that on tour.

When we saw Sister Act, I think it was Beverley Knight who played the lead Dolores.

Love Beverley Knight