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AIBU?

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Original poster

To not understand what kind of person hates musicals

474 replies

CrotchBurn · 31/12/2020 07:10

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.

OP posts:
Plussizejumpsuit · 31/12/2020 10:08

I hate Musicals in general. I can't think of one I like. I do love most culture and normally go to the theatre a lot and watch lots of films. I just don't get why they are bursting into song.

I also think often the story and the acting is compromised. But I'm happy for people to like them, I just hope musical lovers can live and let live too!

Yamayo · 31/12/2020 10:09

I have a fond memory of Evita. Years ago my father and I started watching the film.
The beginning (Evita's mother's funeral) is very dramatic and well-shot.
Then it jumps to Evita as a young woman, singing (terribly) something about an apple.

We looked at each other and, without a word, he reached for the remote and switched the TV off.
I smile every time I think about it.

thepeopleversuswork · 31/12/2020 10:10

I love musicals but I can understand why someone might not. They are pretty corny and the music can seem a bit jarring when it comes in.

Surely the whole point is that you have to get past the suspension of disbelief so it should not be too hard to see this?

LakieLady · 31/12/2020 10:10

Is there a story? I thought it was just a random load of people prancing around pretending to be cats with some others singing pretty tiresome songs

It's a tribute to the awfulness of Lloyd Webber's oeuvre that he managed to make something so dire out of some really rather good poetry. T S Eliot has probably been spinning in his grave ever since "Cats" was first staged.

The poems are well worth a read, @Kazzyhoward, even if only for some excellent punning. I fell in love with "Macavity, the Mystery Cat" when it was read to us at school some 50-odd years ago, and still enjoy it when I hear it.

Read them to your kids, they're best read aloud imo.

Haggertyjane · 31/12/2020 10:10

Musicals are a genre all on their own, so you can't say the acting is hammy because it's a different presentation. I'm not mad keen on musicals, but it does depend on what it is.

Hate Cats, love phantom of the opera. Like the old Rogers and Hammerstein musicals like showboat. Loved cabaret because the story is as good as the songs. Hate starlight express.

Yamayo · 31/12/2020 10:14

Re musicals in general, my issue is the incongruity of a dramatic story mixed with jaunty music (West Side story???)
I have the same issue with Disney films. When the music starts there's always a sinking feeling...

I have strong feelings about Grease. Catchy songs but how can anyone take it seriously when the cast all look 20 years too old? And the story is grotty.

The only one I like is Sound of Music. I hated it as a kid but it has grown on me.

MeMarmiteYouJam · 31/12/2020 10:14

The skill required in creating a good musical blows me away.

My mother introduced me to Les Mis when I was 10 - we saw a travelling stage production. I fell in love with it and was obsessed for years. I can still sing most of the songs by heart.

Recently, though, I watched Into the Woods on Disney+ and chuckled at a few bits, enjoyed a few songs, but mostly thought it was too big and overwrought and long. Much too long. And a bit gross.

Oliversmumsarmy · 31/12/2020 10:16

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

Dd loves musicals. Before lockdown she would go regularly and has seen virtually everyone but Cats definitely had her nearly walking out. She hated it too which for her to say she didn’t like a particular musical is unheard of.
Although she did see Hamilton in the West End and said it was done better by a drama school. I too saw both the drama school production and the west end version and have to agree with her

Original poster
CrotchBurn · 31/12/2020 10:16

@ghoulbag
I absolutely love Blood Brothers too, and that song gets me every time!

OP posts:
Vellinbracelet · 31/12/2020 10:17

Showboat is my favourite musical, William Warfield singing Old Man River gives me goosebumps. I also like The Sound Of Music, Oliver and Calamity Jane. Can't bear Les Mis and Moulin Rouge, think they have put me off watching more recent offerings.

ToniTheDonkey · 31/12/2020 10:18

I hate musicals too. If you would class Grease as a musical I would make an exception for that, however the thought of going to a London theatre watching something like Cats or Starlight Express does not appeal at all. Even if I was offered free tickets and free train travel I would decline.

Norwester · 31/12/2020 10:19

They're definitely better seen on stage. That way the spectacle and the songs distract from the (often) dull and predictable story line.

@cushioncovers Wicked was awful, wasn't it? I took the dc to see it in the West End and the worst part was the canned music - no orchestra. I don't see many musicals (I usually enjoy them but prefer plays or opera or concerts), so maybe this is usual now? I thought it was crap to deny a load of musicians work on a musical by playing prerecorded music.

Original poster
CrotchBurn · 31/12/2020 10:19

@Yamayo
It's funny because there's something about Sound of Music that often seems to appeal to people who dont generally like musicals.
My dad absolutely fucking loathes them, but enjoys that one. That and Cabaret. Now that I think about it, maybe it's to do with the music being inherent to the story? Sure there are a few random songs thrown into SoM (I am 16 etc) but overall it's about a singing governess so the music "makes sense". Same with Cabaret!

OP posts:
Theimpossiblegirl · 31/12/2020 10:22

I was quite excited seeing this thread and hoping to discuss musicals with others, but it did seem to get a bit derailed.

I love musicals and have been streaming them during lockdown. It's not quite the same but it gives me my fix until live theatre is open again.

But not Cats or Starlight Express. Did anyone really like them?

LakieLady · 31/12/2020 10:22

Oh yes I forgot Lttle Shop of Horrors and Rocky Horror. Love both of those too and seen multiple times. I've never seen Hair

You didn't miss much. I saw it in approx 1968, and it was shite then. I doubt if it's stood the test of time well. Imo it would have closed in six weeks if it wasn't for the nudity, which was very rare on stage back then.

However, I had completely forgotten that I have seen the Rocky Horror Show not just once, but twice. The first time was in the mid-70s and I can remember little about it except the friends I went with and the fact that I got appallingly drunk in an Italian restaurant afterwards.

I gave it a second chance about 12 years later, by which time the audience were all dressed in Rocky Horror costumes and make-up and sang along. This made it even worse.

So, I feel I've given musicals a fair crack: Hair, Rocky Horror x 2, On Your Toes (so called, imo, because I was overcome with a strange compulsion to have it on my toes less than halfway through) and half of Cats. Hated every minute of every one.

I'd still go and see Porgy and Bess though.

Original poster
CrotchBurn · 31/12/2020 10:23

@Theimpossiblegirl

Those are the exact same two I can't get on board with either. Think it's because it's too upbeat. I like my musicals to feel epic and tragic!

OP posts:
LadyPenelope68 · 31/12/2020 10:24

@CrotchBurn
Brumplescruff This thread isn't about you.
And still you haven’t realised Brumple wasn’t making it about her, she was saying she doesn’t like musicals, as have many others on this list, yet you’re targeting her. Or is it because you do t like that this thread isn’t all about you now?

Original poster
CrotchBurn · 31/12/2020 10:25

@LadyPenelope68
You are exhausting. This one's for you:

OP posts:
nevernotstruggling · 31/12/2020 10:27

I worked at a performing arts camp in the us. Don't get me wrong it was a fantastic experience but when you hear Les mis 100 times you learn to dislike it....

enigma16 · 31/12/2020 10:28

I have always hated musicals. I still shudder at the memory of being made to sit through Rent and The Lion King.

theres no difference between opera and musicals

Oh yes there is! The music in musicals is crap, as shown in the clip you shared in your original post. Operas, on the other hand, are wonderful! Tosca, Tristan und Isolde, Carmen...the music is breathtakingly beautiful and thrilling. There is no comparison, OP.

Noshowlomo · 31/12/2020 10:29

God no, they make me cringe.
I do love Annie though 😊

LadyPenelope68 · 31/12/2020 10:29

This reply has been deleted

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Sirzy · 31/12/2020 10:30

I live musicals but don’t expect everyone else to just because I do.

Oliversmumsarmy · 31/12/2020 10:30

I don’t mind some musicals but I wouldn’t see something twice (apart from Book of Morman)

bristolone · 31/12/2020 10:31

I'm not a fan of them and have been to see a fair few.

I have been bought a lot as presents because "you'll like this one." But I don't.

The worst part is when everyone with you starts to get up and dance and sing dramatically and has a go at you for not joining in. Pure hell for me!