Stage Musicals That You Found Unexpectedly Disappointing

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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.

Phantom of the Opera.
DH booked it as a "surprise" for a big wedding anniversary some years ago. It certainly was - I was very surprised that someone who'd known me for so long could possibly have imagined that I'd enjoy such tripe!
Though it doesn't really fit the brief as it wasn't unexpectedly rubbish, I knew I wouldn't like it as soon as I realised what we were seeing.

Miss Saigon. Cool helicopter but just pfff. Dull.

When I went to see Phantom the lead’s singing was awful.

There are way too many musicals now; personally I prefer the older ones like South Pacific and Guys and Dolls (absolutely terrific at the Bridge).

The Lion King. Trite and formulaic.

Completely agree - my DS wanted to leave at the interval

Wicked - hated every single twee second of it - found the songs completely forgettable and couldn't stand all the baby language. Left before the end - the only saving grace was that the sets and costumes were stunning.

Wicked was beyond dull but Loved Blood Brothers as did my youngest. I always cry at the end ‘Tell me it’s not True’.

Les Mis on the other hand. I do like some of the set pieces but it really drags otherwise. Everyone dies, which is fine, but they don’t just die, they have to sing about it. Their regrets from the past, their hopes for everyone in the future etc etc whilst I’m silently screaming ‘FGS Just die!’ The first time I watched it I ended up counting how many people were on stage and how long it would take each one of them to die ‘Les Mis’ style. I came to the conclusion I was going to be sat there for three days and nearly cheered when half of them were wiped out at the barricade without singing about it! 😂

Sorry just had to get that out! Same issues with Miss Saigon and didn’t realise it was the same writers until half way through 😂

Fell asleep in Dear Evan Hansen. We Will Rock You was awful.

Love Hamilton, Come From Away and Operation Mincemeat and have seen them all twice.

I think I’ve finally learnt to avoid shows that are just remakes of films. To me they’re just never as good. Similarly shows that are based on one musician’s songs. The stories are usually so weak.

It's a tricky question because I've seen a show and loved it, then seen it again with a different cast and director and been really disappointed (Aspects of Live, Wicked, Mamma Mia).

I've also liked shows as a teenager which I don't like as an adult (Rent).

Mainly, it's films I love which have been translated to the stage which I find disappointing. So Lion King, Dirty Dancing, Strictly Ballroom.

I think I saw that version. I agree the narrator was annoying. I liked Potiphar being a child though.

Same. Hated it. Was a blessed relief when it was over

I’m glad there are so many people who hated Wicked, I felt like there was something wrong with me! My BIL took me to see it as it’s his favourite musical, he’s seen it five times. It was so unbelievably dull! The only song I remember is Defying Gravity and that’s pretty mediocre. I would have left in the interval if I’d been there on my own. I was surprised I disliked it so much as I’m pretty easily pleased when it comes to musicals - have seen and enjoyed many mentioned on here: Grease, Phantom, Chicago, Cabaret, even that new Great Gatsby musical is more fun than Wicked (though I hate the book, so anything was an improvement). And I won’t hear a word against Les Mis - LOVE it, and have seen it multiple times.

Hamilton was awful. And it's years since i saw it but I seem to remember I didn't like Jesus Christ Superstar but can't remember why now

Prince of Egypt, Wicked for the production values couldn’t hear it properly! Plus they cast seemed bored.

Oh and Moulin Rouge, a bit meh, none of the zing of the film.

I really enjoyed Gatsby! I know it was panned by the critics but I had a great evening out and (having given the book a quick re-read beforehand) I thought the plot changes they'd made were sensible.

Chicago.

which really surprised me as I usually prefer musicals to the film version.

Oh and Les Mis - I can't even sit through the film.

Bat out of Hell was so dire I feigned illness after 20 minutes and left !

Oh I LOVE Bat Out Of Hell, seen it three times! And for me, Les Mis is just wonderful. Everyone has such different tastes.

Wicked- awful, clunky storyline , unlikeable characters
We Will Rock You- utter tripe

I'm one of those weirdos that loved Wicked (had me crying!) Has anyone seen the touring version of Mary Poppins? Thinking about getting tickets in December. It's very long though and I don't want that trapped feeling if it's not very good. Will have an 8 year old with us. She's very good mind, and sat through Wicked with no problems.

^This . We would have left except the tickets cost £££ and we kept hoping it would get better. Another couple in the same row didn't return after the interval

Another vote for Hamilton. I was enjoying it at first but after the interval it went rapidly downhill. Didn’t have a clue what was going on tbf either. Clueless on American history.

Come From Away is available for non-professional casts now, so you might get to see it more locally. It might be just as good, and certainly less effort to get to it.

Here are some - you could go to several for the price of a cruise. 😀
I’ll be going to one at the ADC in Cambridge next June.
If my link doesn’t work, just search for “amateur productions of Come from Away’’.