Question month is over

[dhbearguy]

But I have to ask in general and to kevin_v5... for people who have such a love for music, how is it that one can dislike musicals?

I found inquiring that a couple of others I know do not like musicals, and asked them what musicals they saw.

One person based his whole musical dislike on "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat". While I liked the music in that show, this is certainly not the musical to base your dis-like for all of them.

Another person I ask who said he did not like musicals, saw, Phantom, Cats and LeMiz. I have only seen Phantom, and have heard the music of all 3 and I don't like them. I used to not be interested in musicals myself, but then went to see RENT.

I most enjoy comical, upbeat musicals, Chicago, Hairspray, Wicked, Spelling Bee, Avenue Q. All of these have different kind of music. I would think that a music lover would at least give the music a listen and see if it something they would be interested in before saying "I don't like musicals" You might just find there is something out there that you would be very entertained by.

Comments

[fuzzygruf.livejournal.com]

Musicals suck!

;-)

[bearfuz.livejournal.com]

In the good way!

[bearfuz.livejournal.com]

Musicals certainly do not all fit one description, other than that there is drama and part of it is sung. Other than that, the style, approach, integration of music and/or dance with storytelling, and overall feeling of it runs the gamut. Some are artichokes, and some are corn-on-the-cob. People should explore them with an open mind... if their wallets can handle it.

Long-ass answer

[kevin-v5.livejournal.com]

Well first I have to say I don’t hate ALL musicals. Some of my disdain is done for comic effect and to wind some people up. There have been some musicals I’ve enjoyed (Chicago, Grease, Cabaret) and even a few I’ve loved (Hedwig and Moulin Rouge).

But there are a few reasons why I generally don’t enjoy musicals. First of all, I find that musicals that involve characters breaking into song in the middle of a scene completely throws me out of that scene. Good theater, like good movies, can be completely involving. You can forget you are sitting in a cramped little seat in a darkened theater, watching actors perform. When someone breaks into song I always thinking, “oh look now they are singing. Why are they singing? Who does that?” and boom I’m back in the theater. Some musicals sidestep this by structuring the music is into the play, usually as a performance. Chicago and Cabaret are examples. This at least seems more “logical” to me. This all may be that I go to see a lot of concerts. Here the main focus is the performance. There is no shift from story to performance because there is no story.

The second and more important reason is that I simply don’t enjoy a great deal of the music written for musical theater. There seems to be a certain kind of phrasing and mannerisms that are employed in much of the music I’ve heard that I just don’t like. This is possibly due to the fact that much of it shares the same influences –for example, I hear an awful lot of Sondheim influences around in things.

I also don’t find musical theater very compatible, musical with rock music at least in the things I’ve heard like Rent. To me it always sounds like someone’s idea of rock music rather than the real thing.

Ultimately though none of this is anything more than a preference- like someone saying they don’t like impressionist painters or soap operas. And while I certainly haven’t heard every musical out there, I’ve heard and seen enough of them to form an opinion. And who knows, maybe next year Aaron Sorkin and I don’t know, Sonic Youth will team up and write a kick ass musical that I’ll love. Weirder things have happened!

[mrdreamjeans.livejournal.com]

It's an interesting question you pose. Of course, I come at my perspective as someone who does musical theatre for a living. If I have the means, I try to see every musical I can. First, because I love the art form; secondly, because it's research for future employment:) My particular favorite genres of music are Broadway, Country and then bits and pieces of other types of music. Broadway and Country share an affinity for strong melodies and story-telling.

I find I don't enjoy concerts much. I actually don't enjoy being part of the crowd, I don't like loud music; I could be a friend of someone who loves rock or alternative music, but I'm not the right person to accompany them to a concert featuring it:) To me, it's just so much noise ... Having said that ... I've been surprised on both the up and downside ... For instance, I was surprised that I liked "Rent" very much. I found it moving.

I saw the worst musical I've ever seen last year in SF and was furious at spending the money. It was at ACT. From the pedigree, I thought I might like it. Tom Waits wrote the music; Robert Wilson directed; Marianne Faithful starred. It was called "Black Ryder" and was the most pretentious drivel I've ever set through. It was awful. Any musical I sit through or do ...any music I listen to ... My entry is always through the vocal performance. The actors in this production were encouraged to sing off pitch and screech alot. OY!

No matter my strong opinions ... I believe I should listen to and see all kind of musical/theatre performances. I'm never to old too learn or to appreciate something new or different.

[markosf.livejournal.com]

I also saw Black Ryder and was disappointed Marianne Faithful didn't sing more. Other than that, I had no idea what was going on.

[markosf.livejournal.com]

I think the people who like musicals have had the experience of being swept up by one. When a compelling story is fused to compelling musical dialog, it can really add to the intensity of the emotion and stick with you. I feel sad for people who've never had this experience. For me, this happened with Dreamgirls, Evita, Rent, Joseph, Annie, Miss Saigon, and West Side Story the first time I saw them.

Isn't the most viewed movie of all time still the Wizard of Oz?