Modern Musicals.

One of my earliest memories was, as an 8 year old, sitting between my parents at the London Coliseum, watching the London production of Annie Get Your Gun, with Dolores Gray and Bill Johnson in the lead roles. I totally fell in love with musicals that night, and remember hankering after Annie's white fringed culottes, white cowboy boots and very fashionable white Stetson. The song that stayed with me was the duet 'Anything You Can Do, I Can Do Better'., which still makes me laugh. Some years ago I found in a charity shop an EP of songs from that production of the show, which I now treasure. Too bad we can't post photos on Gransnet, otherwise you could see her outfit! More than that, how amazing that over 40 years later, I was to find myself sitting in another London theatre, watching Dolores receive a standing ovation after ripping through her amazing version of Stephen Sondheim's 'I'm Still Here' in his musical Follies. She was still in great voice and still looked fabulous. What an artist. What wonderful music. I guess that's what the magic of musicals is all about.

After seeing Sunny Afternoon, my first musical in December and absolutely loving it. We booked yesterday for Jesus Christ Superstar which I remember being somewhat intrigued by as a child! I don’t know why I wanted to see it then, I was only about 8 and my parents weren’t the sort to take us to the theatre, far too poor for that. Anyway I got to thinking that if I don’t go now at 61, when will I? I hope I like it and more importantly understand it but it’s an experience either way.

Oh and I’m a great Gilbert and Sullivan fan - The Mikado is my favourite.

I do t care for any of the modern musicals, but love all the Rogers and Hammerstein, Lerner and Lowe favourites. I’m an opera fan these days.

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

My granddaughters school does a musical every year. They have a great Music and Drama dept and it’s always fabulous.

This year they did Les Mis which I think is more difficult as everything is sung not just the songs. She had the part of Fantine and I know I am biased but she was so good. I was so proud of her. They got a standing ovation on their final night . She is doing Drama for A-Level this year .

The last musical I saw was Hades Town on Broadway in Dec 24. The rest of the family loved it , grandaughters had gone with school to see it in London so that’s why we booked it.Have to say I didn’t really like it at all but I don’t like Greek myths.

You cannot beat West Side Story, the 1960's film version with Natalie Wood. Wonderful lyrics and music, superb choreography and brilliant dancing from George Chakiris and Rita Moreno. Emotionally engaging, the ending always makes me cry. Leonard Bernstein was a genius.

Agree 100% much prefer the old classics West side story oliver king and I etc . Did enjoy Jersey boys Six and Hamilton of the newer ones but wish we could see more productions of the classics .
I'm guessing theyre more expensive to produce?

I was blown away by Wicked when I saw it in the West End. Brilliant lyrics, clever story and marvellous tunes. And the costumes! The film is ghastly, very overblown and every song is stretched out to its limit. "Popular" is a brilliant song but they ruined it by too much "business".

DD has a dance school and uses many of the older musicals for competition and stage show routines. They're always very popular, and vote winners

Sound of Music, Wizard of Oz, Mary Poppins for the younger performers through to West Side story and Oliver.

Generally, modern musical shows rely heavily on the creativity of the lighting, sound and special effects, which are very clever in their own way.

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.

Hilltop

I love the film Carmen Jones, merlot gran
Any Gilbert and Sullivan fans on here?

Yes, I’m a fan but mostly because back in the day they were the mainstay of school productions.
My all girls school did Pirates of Penzance. As a tomboy I was thrilled to be in the pirate chorus and not the Daughters. 😂

We also did the Gondoliers but it wasn’t as much fun.

I love the old musicals and often rewatch them on tv. One of my favourites is Evita. Last year, however, my DD took us to see The Greatest Show in its purpose built theatre in Earls Court and I loved it.
I was not impressed with Hamilton.

GD absolutely loves musicals and has travelled to London to see Six, Hamilton, Wicked, Starlight Express and Hadestown off the top of my head.
She appears in school productions too and they have done The Lion King, School of Rock, Evita, Chicago and Hadestown. For a sixteen year old she has an amazing repertoire of songs.
I never used to go to musicals until GD appeared in them now I appreciate how much work goes into the productions.

I love the film Carmen Jones, merlot gran
Any Gilbert and Sullivan fans on here?

Book of Mormon was hilarious!

Bizet’s Carmen, itself an adaptation of an 1845 novella, led to Carmen Jones, a 1943 stage musical and then a 1954 film.

🎶🎵🥁💃 Beat Out Dat Rhythm on a Drum.

Romeo and Juliet = West Side Story

Yes 🎶🎵🎶🎵🎶🎵

hollysteers

Why would you see a rip off like Miss Saigon when you could see the real thing, Madam Butterfly?

Why would one watch, see or read anything? Miss Saigon is simply a modern take on Madame Butterfly, both, imo, worth seeing.

Romeo and Juliet = West Side Story

Many different versions of Barnum exist too and lots of other “stories” are retold in different ways.

Each to their own, we are all different, there is no wrong or right.

I’d forgotten about Rocky Horror and Little Shop of Horrors, both great, both seen twice.

I’ve also seen and enjoyed Book of Mormon, not everyone’s cuppa.

I too enjoy opera, ballet and plays, but this thread is about musicals

I love Musicals and living 30 minutes on the train to London . I try and go regularly. I saw Evita at the palladium last year and saw Elaine Paige in the role back in the late 70s .
Les Mis is one of my favourites and I loved Hamilton.
I’m pretty easy to please , I like traditional musicals like 42 street and more modern ones like Six . Another favourite is The Girl from the North Country based on Bob Dylan’s songs .
The one I was disappointed in was Matilda. Enjoyed the film and read the book to my kids . But the musical was a bit meh .

Magenta8 and FGT2
I quite like the old musicals,but I don't enjoy the newer ones .
I prefer Opera as well .
It all started when I was given Madame Butterfly aged eight .

I've seen Madam Butterfly. I went with my daughter. We were bored.

hollysteers

Why would you see a rip off like Miss Saigon when you could see the real thing, Madam Butterfly?

Because it was good?
Because we can see both if we wish? Because some of us remember the Vietnam War ad the suffering of the people?

I'm sure rip-off is not really an appropriate term to describe a musical which shows the suffering of people in more modern times than Puccini's opera, which was based on a short story.

Kate1949

Allira We've seen Blood Brothers a few times. We were lucky enough once to see Helen Reddy as Mrs Johnstone.

Years ago we saw Hair, The Mousetrap, Budgie (I think it was) with lovely Adam FAith. We also saw Becket with Derek Jacobi and Robert Lindsay. Lovely memories.

Clodagh Rodgers was superb in Blood Brothers, Kate1949
I hadn't realised she had died last year.
RIP Clodagh