243 posts
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Post by theinvisiblegirl on Mar 10, 2016 17:52:37 GMT
Cats, I hated it.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2016 17:56:44 GMT
Gypsy was the one show I was not expecting to see on here, especially after all of the hype! I can see why the hype and stuff would make it overrated, so I can't blame you for that I suppose.
I personally think it is one of the greatest musicals ever written, and possibly is one of my favourite musicals of all time.
Wicked, Gypsy and Cats... all three have appeared on here but all three just happen to be my favourites haha!
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3,057 posts
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Post by ali973 on Mar 10, 2016 18:00:12 GMT
Miss Saigon. It basically reads like Boublil and Schoenberg went "well, people liked Eponine and Thenardier, what can we do next?", and I absolutely do not get the rapturous outpourings of adoration it receives. Apart from the helicopter, that was pretty awesome. Indeed. I'm stunned that in this day and age of hypersensitivity whenever race and gender are concerned, a show so blatantly sexist and racist can still be so popular. Never mind the completely ridiculous second act where nothing at all makes sense. Yes on all points. BUT I STILL LOVE IT!
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716 posts
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Post by theatre-turtle on Mar 10, 2016 18:01:17 GMT
1. Anything with music by Stephen Sondheim (except Sweeney Todd). 2. Rent. 3. Grand Hotel - how anyone could enjoy anything about it is beyond me. 4. The Last Five Years. 5. Gypsy - which I enjoyed very much, but not as much as the hype and awards would suggest. Grand Hotel is in my top 3 favourite musicals
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3,057 posts
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Post by ali973 on Mar 10, 2016 18:09:16 GMT
Wow..so many:
Jersey Boys (I nearly died of boredom) and Memphis (at least in London..Though it won the Tony in Broadway I felt that it went unnoticed).
Regarding Cats, I think a lot of the responses here are based on the recent revival. Cats is a relic, and although I see how totally bizarre and ridiculous it is, I can see why people nowadays who have never seen the original, can think it is just a piece of crap. I saw it when it first re-opened with my friend who has seen it in the 90s as well, and we both thought it was both ridiculous but also ridiculously fun, but mostly nostalgic and a reminder of our pre-teen years in the 90s. I saw it with friends (same age group) who have never seen it, and they just thought it was strange and well, bad.
Wicked can be easily snubbed by theatre fans, but I honestly think that it is very important for the industry in general, and from a cultural standpoint. Wicked is pretty much an entry level show to commercial musical theatre. Most musical theatre virgins start becoming more interested in musicals because of it. I've seen it myself with people who have never seen a musical, but would now see multiple shows a year, because of their Wicked experience. It's pretty much a global cultural phenomenon, and I think is the equivalent of Phantom of our times.
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4,631 posts
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Post by Phantom of London on Mar 10, 2016 18:18:29 GMT
Agree with Once the music is good, however that book, I had an embarrassing moment last time I saw this, I forgot to pick up one of those free sick bags from the foyer.
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4,631 posts
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Post by Phantom of London on Mar 10, 2016 18:21:29 GMT
Wicked is way up there, also City of Angels on Broadway On Your Feet and A American in Paris. A couple of people have said Miss Saigon, which I the end it was far from pointless and ended up as a important piece of work, it highlighted the Bui-Doi (Dust of Life) children, children born between vietnesse woman and American GI's, these poor soles ended up in camps and despised by the vietnesse, so before this went to Broadway, it made the US front up and take responsibility and take a lot of these people in as US citizen. It was said in the Vietnam war that the American GI's went into the villages to win the heart and minds, it was the Vietnesse that won the minds, Miss Saigon shows this excellently. A part from the fact that is racist is Miss Saigon racist because Chris isn't black? As in reality most of the people conscripted for nam were black, young white people managed to swerve by hiding in Canada. Yes, it is racist then.
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122 posts
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Post by Joseph Buquet on Mar 10, 2016 18:25:02 GMT
1. Anything with music by Stephen Sondheim (except Sweeney Todd). 2. Rent. 3. Grand Hotel - how anyone could enjoy anything about it is beyond me. 4. The Last Five Years. 5. Gypsy - which I enjoyed very much, but not as much as the hype and awards would suggest. Grand Hotel is in my top 3 favourite musicals Blimey!
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3,057 posts
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Post by ali973 on Mar 10, 2016 18:25:30 GMT
The racism and orientalism in Miss Saigon has been discussed twice on the old forum, rather grandly. It's one thing to see its racism and still manage to enjoy it (me). It's another not to see it at all.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2016 18:32:40 GMT
1. Anything with music by Stephen Sondheim (except Sweeney Todd). 2. Rent. 3. Grand Hotel - how anyone could enjoy anything about it is beyond me. 4. The Last Five Years. 5. Gypsy - which I enjoyed very much, but not as much as the hype and awards would suggest. Joseph Buquet, hold your tongue! (Although I agree with The Last Five Years... Now he's an over-rated composer!)
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2,452 posts
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Post by theatremadness on Mar 10, 2016 21:43:12 GMT
I'll also throw my vote in for RENT. It's perfectly fine, but I don't understand the hype it's received!
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573 posts
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Post by Dave25 on Mar 10, 2016 22:27:32 GMT
Miss Saigon. It basically reads like Boublil and Schoenberg went "well, people liked Eponine and Thenardier, what can we do next?", and I absolutely do not get the rapturous outpourings of adoration it receives. Apart from the helicopter, that was pretty awesome. Indeed. I'm stunned that in this day and age of hypersensitivity whenever race and gender are concerned, a show so blatantly sexist and racist can still be so popular. Never mind the completely ridiculous second act where nothing at all makes sense. This music and emotion and story is absolutely breathtaking. There is a reason the whole audience is in tears every night. This show is not about a helicopter, I find that part boring. If you think that is the highlight you just don't get it. The second act makes everything come together. And what is sexist in your eyes? History? So the hookers should play cards instead to make you happy? Get out of here.
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573 posts
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Post by Dave25 on Mar 10, 2016 22:35:35 GMT
A part from the fact that is racist How is racist ? No idea. Maybe towards whites because Chris remarried? Because Ellen comes off as bitchy? Kim is the absolute heroine, portrayed as strong willed, faithful, loving, fighting, good hearted young woman. Because John stands up for the Bui Doi? Everyone using the word "racism" for this show is too dumb for words. Pardon my words, but I mean it. This show's characters and story go so much further than any form of race, I feel sad for the people who can't look past that.
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3,478 posts
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Post by showgirl on Mar 10, 2016 22:47:41 GMT
Definitely Wicked - I only went to see what all the fuss was about, but was baffled and bored.
Miss Saigon, on the other hand, though it seems risky to admit it, I found tremendous.
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13 posts
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Post by The Hoff on Mar 10, 2016 22:55:05 GMT
Cats has to be the worst things I've ever seen!
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Post by Laineee on Mar 10, 2016 23:03:03 GMT
Cats - saw it when I was about 9 or 10, and wild horses couldn't drag me back to see the revival. Rock of Ages is a close second.
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57 posts
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Post by mrcurry on Mar 10, 2016 23:28:45 GMT
What is the plot of Wicked ? Wicked is women gossiping in song for two hours.
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456 posts
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Post by mistressjojo on Mar 11, 2016 1:50:11 GMT
Surprised not to see Blood Brothers mentioned. Saw it a couple of years before it closed at the Phoenix. I thought it was boring and silly, I didn't like any of the songs, and the character of the Narrator irritated me beyond belief.
I'd forgotten I'd suffered through Blood Brothers until I read this. Boring songs, completely unbelievable plot. I was hoping the Narrator would get killed off! Not even Petula Clarke saved it.
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3,478 posts
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Post by showgirl on Mar 11, 2016 4:44:59 GMT
Oh yes, if we're allowed to cite the hallowed Gypsy, that was another show I just didn't get. I could admire the performances but it was more a question of enduring, rather than enjoying, the show itself.
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2,570 posts
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Post by viserys on Mar 11, 2016 6:11:23 GMT
Everyone using the word "racism" for this show is too dumb for words. Pardon my words, but I mean it. If this is how a "discussion" on this new forum is going to go, I'm done discussing here. You are welcome to turn two blind eyes to the racism and sexism of the show, just as everyone here is welcome to love and enjoy their favorite shows, but that gives you no right to insult others. I'm done talking about Miss Saigon and I'm out of this discussion.
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18,845 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 11, 2016 7:07:43 GMT
Book of Mormon - Cheap looking and unfunny. A load of cobblers.
Blood Brothers - Tell me it's not true. Sadly it was. Endlessly moaning scousers. Like we need more of those.
Cats - Dire.
Lion King - Pretty but boring. Pretty boring!
Spamalot - another comedy that wasn't. Tour casting absolutely hideous. Cheap tat.
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169 posts
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Post by jess173 on Mar 11, 2016 7:12:02 GMT
Cats - That was just horrible. Every single cat got to sing a song and then it was over. No thanks...
A gentleman's guide to love and murder - I wish I had listened to the music before I went and got tickets to that. Everyone around me was apparently loving it and people were laughing their asses off. I thought the music was horrible and the jokes were just lame and unfunny. I could have seen Hedwig with NPH for a second time but I chose to see this. Big mistake...
Once - This was the most boring thing I have ever seen. Everyone raved about it and we couldn't get rush seats so we paid a lot for those tickets just to see it. It was definitely not worth it. I nearly dozed off several times...
And finally Hamilton - This is a matter of taste I guess but I absolutely don't get all the hype. The lyrics are quite clever but the music is simply not my cup of tea. I never really liked rap music but I decided to give this a go because I wanted to know what all the fuss was about. For me this show just dragged on and on. Definitely not worth paying hundreds of dollars for it like most people do nowadays.
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642 posts
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Post by greeny11 on Mar 11, 2016 7:12:23 GMT
I would agree with those who say anything Sondheim. I've listened to a number of his scores and I've yet to find one score of his that I like.
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18,845 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Mar 11, 2016 7:33:44 GMT
Cats - That was just horrible. Every single cat got to sing a song and then it was over. No thanks... A gentleman's guide to love and murder - I wish I had listened to the music before I went and got tickets to that. Everyone around me was apparently loving it and people were laughing their asses off. I thought the music was horrible and the jokes were just lame and unfunny. I could have seen Hedwig with NPH for a second time but I chose to see this. Big mistake... Once - This was the most boring thing I have ever seen. Everyone raved about it and we couldn't get rush seats so we paid a lot for those tickets just to see it. It was definitely not worth it. I nearly dozed off several times...
And finally Hamilton - This is a matter of taste I guess but I absolutely don't get all the hype. The lyrics are quite clever but the music is simply not my cup of tea. I never really liked rap music but I decided to give this a go because I wanted to know what all the fuss was about. For me this show just dragged on and on. Definitely not worth paying hundreds of dollars for it like most people do nowadays. The producers of Once have asked for permission to use your review for the tour posters... "Everyone raved!" "Rush! Get those tickets!" "Just See It!" "Definitely Worth It, Several Times!"
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Post by Deleted on Mar 11, 2016 8:37:04 GMT
The recent revival of Miss Saigon - first time around with Lea Salonga and co was great but I found this version to be very much ado about nothing.
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5,292 posts
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Post by mrbarnaby on Mar 11, 2016 8:45:06 GMT
I didn't laugh once during Spamalot. Absolute rubbish.
Cats- load of tosh.
Rent- tedious American whining. One good song.
I don't think it's an overrated musical but I hated the revival of Crazy for You in Regent's Park. A very naff rip off of what was a glorious original production at the Prince Edward. With a z list cast.
I loved Once for its brave simplicity. I thought it was a breath of fresh air in the west end.
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240 posts
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Post by Anniek on Mar 11, 2016 8:52:36 GMT
Cats.
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260 posts
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Post by emsworthian on Mar 11, 2016 9:24:26 GMT
Evita. Three or four great tunes but the plot! Woman comes from the slums to be a film star. Then she marries a Fascist dictator. Then she dies. Am I supposed to care about her?
Its analysis of the politics of the period makes "The Sound Of Music" appear positively sophisticated.
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573 posts
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Post by Dave25 on Mar 11, 2016 10:10:58 GMT
You are welcome to turn two blind eyes to the racism and sexism of the show, just as everyone here is welcome to love and enjoy their favorite shows, but that gives you no right to insult others. I'm done talking about Miss Saigon and I'm out of this discussion. Good, you are welcome to turn a blind eye on history.
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3,057 posts
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Post by ali973 on Mar 11, 2016 10:20:44 GMT
Dave25, are you Donald Trump?
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