Modern Musicals.

Go and see the touring production of Top Hat, it’s fab!

I watched the first 'Wicked' which I thought was going to be an ordinary film. It wasn't, it was a musical but not like the ones I'd be used to. I really want to see part II, but I can't see myself enjoying it!

This thread has been fascinating in showing the differences between us when it comes to our taste in musicals, hasn’t it? Reminds me of that saying One man’s meat is another man’s poison.

Oh I agree about The Lion King. I thought the acting was terrible, the whole thing reminded me of a Year 6 production when I was teaching. I was in the minority though as there was a standing ovation at the end. Similarly DH and I went to Come From Away which had rave reviews and we hated it - again the only ones sitting for the standing ovation!!

GG you've reminded me that we saw the lovely Michael Crawford in 'Barnum'. He was brilliant.

I belonged to a local musical drama group for many years and was lucky enough to be in;
South Pacific
My Fair Lady
Brigadoon
Annie Get Your Gun
Wizard of Oz
The Sound of Music
Oliver
The king and I
I enjoyed them all.
Of the ones I have seen in the theatre , my favourites were
Les Miserables
Joseph
Jesus Christ Superstar
Miss Saigon
Blood brothers
Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
Cabaret
Evita
Carousel
Crazy for You
Spamalot
The Music Man
Ones that I wouldn’t rave about are Wicked, The Greatest Showman and The Lion King.

I love opera having had a mother who had old 78s that were played until they wore out. So yes I loved Madame Butterfly when she took me to see it. But I also loved Miss Saigon and thought it a wonderful reinterpretation of the theme bringing it to closer history. Thank goodness I too saw the version with the real helicopter GrannyGravy I was very late to Gilbert and Sullivan, my mother was an 'opera snob' who didn't like 'operetta', but I discovered them and do like some.
I have a huge pile of programs for musicals I've seen, and while I might not always come away singing the songs I can't think of one that I thought a waste of my time or money.
I don't think anyone has mentioned Notre Dame de Paris, which I saw circa 2001 with Danni Minogue, which had one of the most impressive sets I've seen. Or Showboat that did a limited London run with an all American cast years ago. Old Man River was a total showstopper, the first I'd ever encountered! I loved Lion King, was so pleased I had an aisle seat but found there was so much to look at I'm sure I missed some. My all time favourite for songs has to be Jersey Boys which I've seen 4 times. Only surpassed by seeing Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons on his first time on Broadway in 2012. Oh and Sister Act with Whoopi Goldberg as Mother Superior, when she returned after her mother's illness meant she left the show for a while.
I love live theatre, whether it be a play or musical. Don't go nearly as often these days which I regret, I should go to more local productions and not just rely on going into central London. We saw The King and I locally featuring Helen George of Call the Midwife fame, she was a brilliant singer which I wasn't expecting., and it was an excellent production.

Usedtobeblonde

It’s a good job we are all different because Andre Rieu just leaves me cold.
One of my friends can’t watch enough of him and a few years ago flew to Dublin to see his show.

I cannot cope with Andre Rieu 🤮

Dodo43

I am not really a fan of musicals as to me, the songs often seem to be lacking in melody. The point of a musical is surely that it should be musical.
However, there are a few good ones, some of which have been mentioned, but no one has so far mentioned Phantom of the Opera which, in my opinion, is a stunning piece of theatre in every way.
Give me a rock concert or a blues band or Andre Rieu or a symphony orchestra any day.

We were fortunate to see Michael Crawford’s last night playing the Phantom along with Sarah Brightman. Have seen it at least ten times since.

Have seen Les Mis about the same amount of times, including when Alfie Boe was in it.

We saw the original version of Miss Saigon, complete with life size helicopter, rather disappointed when we saw it on its return to the West End 12 years ago to find the helicopter had been replaced by a screen version.

Have seen most musicals on in London over the years, curtesy of our close friend who owned a ticket agency.

Was extremely fortunate to see Chorus Line in New York on my birthday many moons ago. A surprise birthday weekend away from and with DH.

It’s a good job we are all different because Andre Rieu just leaves me cold.
One of my friends can’t watch enough of him and a few years ago flew to Dublin to see his show.

I am not really a fan of musicals as to me, the songs often seem to be lacking in melody. The point of a musical is surely that it should be musical.
However, there are a few good ones, some of which have been mentioned, but no one has so far mentioned Phantom of the Opera which, in my opinion, is a stunning piece of theatre in every way.
Give me a rock concert or a blues band or Andre Rieu or a symphony orchestra any day.

My first date with my now husband was to see Hair. Very risqué in its day.

A local opera company rehearses in our church hall. I was attending a meeting there and on the way out, I spoke to a member of the company and told them I liked the music but didn’t recognise the songs. It was ‘Made in Dagenham’. Apparently, the traditional musicals we grew up with don’t fill seats the same as the modern ones. I enjoy them all, old an new, but still think ‘Sister Act’ is one of the best.

My favourites of the ‘old’ musicals :-
My Fair Lady
Oklahoma
Calamity Jane
Guys and Dolls
On The Town

Modern era:-
Chicago
Les Miserables
Priscilla Queen of the Desert
Billy Elliott
Rocky Horror Show

Booked for this year
Blood Brothers
Dirty Dancing
Moulin Rouge

@Kate1949 . Thanks Kate you’ve given me an ear worm now 😂. All that’s going through my head is ‘you’re drunk you’re drunk you silly old fool , till you cannot see’ . I cannot remember any more so it’s going round in circles!

Yep, me! Friends bought us tickets as a wedding present and we saw it on honeymoon.

Is anyone vintage enough to have seen 'Hair'?

This will really age me but I absolutely loved Calamity Jane with the fabulous Doris day, and Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Really dated story lines but every song was a winner. I also love Oliver, Chicago, 47th Street, and anything from that era. My mother used to take me to the cinema to see them and then bought the LP and I’m pretty sure I would still be word perfect for every song as they were played so much. I tend to swerve the modern musicals.

Jersey boys, utterly fabulous, my all time favourite😀

I saw a modern musical in Blackpool a few years ago it was called Around the world in 80s days , the traditional Jules Verne story but set to 80s music and it was fabulous, the humour, the singing and acting and the nostalgia of the music was a real treat and of course the gorgeous Grand theatre .

Modern musicals are usually really boring with tenth rate songs music, story lines and characters. And very long winded.

What happened to Musical films and great memorable songs which survived the decades?

Nowadays, they try and make them sound and seem more interesting with millions spent on stage and elaborate costumes. Tricksy set productions.

And obviously so they can charge more.

Opera suffers from similar problems but the music is usually a lot better.

Seems you can make a Musical about anything really. They seem to be really running out of ideas now.

I think that there should be a revival.of Gilbert and Sullivan and Noel Coward for old people. At least they were fun

West Side Story is still acknowledged by Musical Critics as the finest musical ever made.

I rest my case.
😻
Xxx

JackyB

The last one I saw live on stage was Matilda. I enjoyed that, mainly because the children were so good at it.

Les Miserables didn't grab me at all. Actually I would have classed that as an opera because there isn't any spoken dialogue in it, as far as I remember.

The best musicals in the old days were not only full of memorable songs, but were about music. Singing in the Rain, Sound of Music to name a couple.

But these days they just take any old story and construct a few songs to suit the theme. I think that might be the problem - putting the story first, rather than the songs. But I can't really judge as I live so far away from any theatres that might show such things I don't get to see many. So I won't mind if someone comes up with the opposite viewpoint.

No idea how anyone could not be ‘grabbed’ by Les Mis… But each to our own.
I love all the old Musicals and ages of the new ones, but I think there are too many gimmicky ones nowadays. The old ones relied on TUNES, and a good storyline.
Can anyone please tell me if ANY of the Streaming services, ( Netflix etc) have a section for the really old Ivor Novello musicals like THE DANCING YEARS, & Glamorous Night etc? I don’t use my DVD any longer but would love to see some of that vintage again? Anyone?

TwiceAsNice

I am going to see Kinky Boots mid April with the Lovely Jo Jo from Strictly- now can’t wait to see that !

I went with a friend to see it in London, thoroughly enjoyed it (laughed and cried)

I hope you have a fabulous time

Usedtobeblonde

South Pacific, Oklahoma, The King and I, even Salad Days, they all bring back such memories of the Theatre Royal in Nottingham.
Such happy far off days😢

How nice someone else remembers Salad Days. Occasionally a song from that show pops into my head…and I sing along …in my head! No one would like to hear it if it can me out of my shot vocal cords!

I went to Hamilton the Musical last year. The dancing was the best part, but the,singing, the music and the distortion of history left me unmoved.
Recently I saw,Lark Rise to Csndleford, a lovely uplifting work.