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've tried. Seen several. Did find the Book of Mormon extremely funny and enjoy the songs from it (partially because they have a wit that is lacking in most musicals).

Hamilton was okay for a while but I was bored by half way through.

Cats (stage, not movie) might be the worst thing I've ever seen.

Has anyone ever enjoyed Cats.

I wonder how it kept going for so long

I remember watching Seven Brides for Seven Brothers - it felt like all 14 people sang five songs each. Absolute torture.

I do absolutely love Rocky Horror Picture Show though. The songs are great. Hot Patootie anyone?

I mean everything's cracking on as expected and then all of a sudden someone starts singing?!

Yes, with a tiny little pause before the song, while the actor adopts the 'pose' - in film musicals! Always an eye roll moment.
But stage musicals I do like, if I like the music and it has a dark side - 'Lady in White' by Lloyd Weber wasn't too corny/sentimental, and I think Phantom is mostly great - again, a dark sort of story.

Whereas cheery singing and dancing ones - yawn! I can enjoy a number or two but wouldn't sit through it all Chitty Chiity etc - give me strength!
Mamma Mia is good though, as it's just tribute to Abba really, and not much of a plot to concentrate on.

Generally I haev a love and hate with theatre overall - it does feel artificial esecially the way actors speak (as they need their voice to carry) - but if it's a great play/great actors it can be really immersive unlike a film, just not keen on the 'audio' side if it but can live with it if the play worth it.

@ineedaholidaynow

For people who don’t like musicals because people don’t just start singing like that in real life, do you watch films that don’t deal with real life eg Star Wars type films, animation. Do you only read books that are about real life events?

And music in general do you like that? Why do people sing etc, only for entertainment, so not ‘real’

It’s easier to step into whole world alternate realities than to accept piecemeal changes to reality.

I do like music, and I do really appreciate people singing, especially when there is authentic emotion involved. I’ve even been known to sing to myself spontaneously to express emotion or mood. Similarly so a little dance. But not in concert or in formation. But not really to drive narrative.

But a lot of music is pretty fake or contrived and I don’t enjoy that. Perhaps that’s why I don’t enjoy musicals. The music seems forced and contrived, shoe horned in rather than a genuine and spontaneous expression of emotion.

I fucking love them. Musicals, theatre, flash mobs, nativities, pantos, the lot.

That was for @ineedaholidaynow btw

partially because they have a wit that is lacking in most musicals

Again, someone who clearly hasn’t seen many musicals

I don't like starwars, or any programme of that sort.

I also don't like happy songs in general.
Give me a gritty real life documentary type of programme anyday.

I have seen musicals - I remember being taken to see Evita for my 21st which I enjoyed, but generally find the implausibility of people bursting into song every two minutes incredibly irritating.
If I'm paying to go to the theatre, I'd always choose a play over a musical.

That post made me realise how much I've missed going to the theatre this year - would usually go at least once a month, and I can't even remember the last thing I went to see

It’s you and me, @TheKeatingFive

When all this crap is over, we’ll go to a rip-roaring musical and have the time of our lives. Let the haters hate.

I’m imagining a biz by Berkeley type
Production tentatively entitled ‘on the street where I live’ depicting the emergence of us all from the shitshow. All to be involved obvs. Piglet, The Keating Five and others here to have central rules obvs.
Many involved in synchronised window opening, waving, chatting, dancing, group eating and of course Hugging.
Every street and lane and block and alleyway and remote property to be involved.
That will give me something to over the next few days. Simples !
HNY ALL.

@HeronLanyon I’m dying laughing and already starting to compose the overture.

Novel approach piglet. This means you already have all main musical themes ready to go ! I think you may be our impresario - I am imagining you have a small cape for some reason.

I am if i May sorting out the inclusion aspect on my street. I have a few elderly neighbours who may be limited to waving crutches (hips) and there is one very old dog who I don’t think will follow direction well. Don’t worry - I’m turning my ‘mind’ to it. Our local street sweeper depot will provide wonderful splash of neon with carts clattering and clanging ‘clang clang clang’ stylée. Reserving major spectaculars for the sunny side of the street obvs.

Me.

Cannot bear the spontaneous singing, the garishness and the overacting.

I actually prefer the kind where they sing the whole thing, less cringe. I quite like opera though.

For someone who hates them I have seen a few as I used to get free tickets and would take my mum or gran.

A low point would be Prisoner Cell Block H the musical with Lily Savage

Brilliant @HeronLanyon

My small cape and my collection of go-to musical numbers are some of my most prized possessions. Looking forward to dusting them all off.

In all seriousness, IRL I can be the most negative, depressed cow, particularly in the middle of all this. But a good musical just somehow makes my cynicism melt away!

I remember dancing in the aisles with my dad during “Hairspray” in the West End. It was wonderful.

Me. I can't bear them. The way they'll be speaking and just start singing makes me cringe so hard sorry

Ha ha piglet. Although I’m not at all a live musical person and dancing in The aisles worries me a lot.
Prefer mine on screen and pretty old style here.
Also huge opera lover and go a lot. I may sneak in some operatic elements for my street - in fact we do have an opera singer actually on the street so I think I will have to !
Busy busy - lists and drawings and sheet music a gogo here.

The guy who didn't like musicals.

I watched the film of Les Mis recently & just kept thinking of questions. The main one being, after escaping Javert with Cosette, why didn’t Valjean have the sense to change his name & move them both as far away as possible?

Maybe the book covers that but it makes no sense in the film.

Maybe the book covers that but it makes no sense in the film

The book covers a lot. It has a lot about Waterloo.

I love annoying DS with songs from musicals. We would love to go to 'Vietnam' and everytime we mention it - it's "Vietnam, I mean you no offence but why does nothing here make sense'.

Then you've got Tonight, Maria etc

There's usually a song from a musical for most occasions

I don't like musicals