To not understand what kind of person hates musicals

[CrotchBurn]

Love them. Love all musicals. I just don't understand how you can have people who like stories, and who like music, and they have this hatred of musicals.

There's also so many different types of musicals from Cabaret to Blood Brothers to Cats to Sound of Music, how could you dislike them ALL?

Is it about the singing preventing you from engaging with the story? Because it feels artificial? But surely all films and plays feel artificial? I just think there's no better way of getting huge amounts of info across quickly than in musicals. This scene from Les Mis for example, in one song you understand the conflict, both characters' motives and back stories.

Also isnt there a bit of snobbery here - theres no difference between opera and musicals except musicals are more fun.

Me, I hate musicals. I find the singing corny, OTT and hammy. Each song seems like extreme overacting and just a bit naff.
But I'm perfectly OK with people who do enjoy them as we all like different things and it's not a personal slight if you do or don't. Hth.

I wouldn't describe myself as hating musicals. Most are not to my taste. I also differentiate between something such as Gilbert and Sullivan or Rodgers and Hammerstein, where the play and music are written together, and the kind of 'jukebox' musical where the story is almost nil and the original artists usually are much better with the songs.

I respect some of the writers as well, especially the works of Sir Tim Rice and Lord Lloyd Webber, because they don't pretend that what they have written is anything other than family entertainment.

The people who hate musicals and the arts in general include the government, whose response has been pitiful to the arts as a whole.

I love musicals on stage but I really can't stand them as films! I'm not sure why, except that maybe they feel "right" as a theatre production but all wrong in a film!

I’ll bite - there are a few I like cabaret and my fair lady but tbh I just get bored in the singing and dancing bits and just want the story to move on. A bit like I feel about fight scenes in action films - boring. I find many of the songs weak but I’m a rock kid at heart so too saccharine for me. I also can’t bare strictly if that helps. You might get one good song and dance but doesn’t make up for the endurance of watching the whole thing!

I hate musicals, I hate opera too.

I like some of the old musicals like Guys and Dolls but I really hate all the others.
As a teenager I saw cats and thought it was the worst thing I'd ever seen. It's just bad songs with a stupid story.

I don’t like them.

They literally give me rage when the people start singing.

Would never watch one voluntarily.

Also don’t like opera.

Do love a live concert by those whose music I like but that’s all about the music. It’s the love action - burst into song - live action or sung all the way through I don’t like.

Music is about music. It’s not about watching acting.

@MakeItRain
Maybe stage musicals feel more like disbelief is suspended anyway so you can roll with it!

I get annoyed with some of the more recent musicals where singing is just done for the sake of it. Its like no, each song needs to be amazing in it's own right, you cant just have filler tunes.

Why is that hard to understand OP?

Do you like opera OP- that could be classed a a musical.
Some people like heavy rock music, some baroque music, some people like watching ballet, Country and Western, classical?

We all like different forms of entertainment, different styles.

I personally don't like musicals, or musical theatre in general, all abit too hammy and contrived.
But if that's your thing- fill your boots.

Not sure of the point of this thead actually.

I don’t hate them, but I wouldn’t choose to watch one. I find them, on the whole, a bit corny and they tend to sentimentality. I love plays, ballet and opera, though. Different musical tastes, I suppose.

*live action

I hate musicals, have never really considered why before but yes your probably right in the singing making it seem 'artificial' or distracting from the flow of the story... I mean everything's cracking on as expected and then all of a sudden someone starts singing?! I like to get fully immersed in a story so it just doesn't work for me.

Thinking on it some more, the only times I don't mind it is in pantomimes, and the Greatest Showman... One of the best! Brilliant soundtrack as well which definitely helps! Actually come to think of it I also love Disney movie 'musicals' 🤔 so not really sure now!

I hate musicals - too twee and chintzy for my liking. And I'm not cultured (or posh) enough to get any enjoyment out of opera.

@Brumplescruff
😂 It did make me smile to imagine someone sitting there fuming as the singing starts!

People like different things. Shocker. Most musicals are corny and overstaged. YABU.

[quote CrotchBurn]@Brumplescruff
😂 It did make me smile to imagine someone sitting there fuming as the singing starts![/quote]
Not sure what’s funny?

I had to endure my kids watching grease and the sound of music, for example when they were younger and it actually made me feel sick. I would be nauseous and really struggling.

It’s a real visceral reaction to them I can’t help. I absolutely loathe them.

I hate musicals. I just don't get it.

The only one I like is Book of Mormon. All others are cheesy and just boring.

I love books. I read a lot. I read to my kids all kinds of stories.

I love music. It’s something I listen to a lot.

But I cannot stand musicals or opera and I would never go to one.

But I also wouldn’t start a snobby thread on a forum to berate those who think differently to me.

I love musicals but they are inherently cheesy and twee! So I can see why someone who doesn’t sing or who’s into more rock or metal type music might think they’re awful.

I hate musicals, corny, hammy, cheesy make me cringe to my boots

Love live music though gigs & festivals

I don’t like them either. I feel cringe when the singing starts, even if I like the songs themselves. Just not my cup of tea at all. Not an opera fan either.

They literally give me rage when the people start singing.

This is me. One that sticks in my mind is Westside Story. What kind of credible gang struts, clicks fingers and bursts into song?

I hate some musicals, love others
OH hates them and generally wouldn’t entertain the idea of seeing one, but I suggested we go to see Blood Brothers and described it as a “play with songs”
He loved it

As a kid I found musicals confusing because in real life no one stops what they are doing & sings a loud song or does an ensemble dance routine for several minutes. My parents loved musicals so I saw hundreds, though... and now don't mind them but never seek them out. DD was in the (huge production) school musical 4 yrs running so naturally I watched those, or have gone with my parents who still like going to theatre when they visit.

I would like to see Hamilton but not pay to see it! I know the songs & believe that the choreography to be very good.