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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2016 14:38:43 GMT
I'll add a vote to Les Mis. I don't hate it, but I've seen it twice (one tour one West End) and could happily live without ever seeing it again. There's nothing actually wrong with it...I just don't get needing to see it again.
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270 posts
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Post by littlesally on Mar 10, 2016 15:13:25 GMT
Phantom. Held off seeing it for years but finally weakened to appease a friend. I was bored and there was no chemistry between the leads.
Kismet at the ENO. Dreadful, messy and dull.
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219 posts
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Post by PalelyLaura on Mar 10, 2016 15:32:44 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 was underwhelmed by Miss Saigon the first time I saw it, but loved it the second time. The comments about The Lion King are interesting - I remember loving it when I saw it (the opening sequence made me cry because it was so amazing) but this was fifteen years ago so I don't know how I'd feel about it if I saw it again.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2016 15:37:50 GMT
In the heights - think I might be alone on this as all I have read on this and the old message board are positive reviews. Kinky boots - I didn't hate this but feel it's not as good as everyone says it is - in my opinion anyway! Agree with both of those... Over-hype always leads to disappointment. |
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Post by duncan on Mar 10, 2016 16:06:06 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.
If this was the "Musical that lived down to your limited expectations" then I'm sure it would be attracting many more comments. Its one of those shows a bit like Starlight Express that ran for years but which doesn't seem to engender emotion either way in the majority of people.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2016 16:34:49 GMT
Once - a terribly bland musical with a lot of hype surrounding it. And possibly one of the most sleepy scores I've ever had the misfortune of sitting through.
Evita - how I didn't walk out halfway through is beyond me. Aside from the two famous numbers, this show doesn't have one single redeeming feature.
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2,775 posts
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Post by daniel on Mar 10, 2016 17:37:13 GMT
Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar are both shows that I went into expecting to love due to their decades of success...don't know if it was down to dodgy casting and/or the Kenwright production, but I absolutely hated them both.
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Post by panda on Mar 10, 2016 17:39:49 GMT
In the heights - think I might be alone on this as all I have read on this and the old message board are positive reviews. Kinky boots - I didn't hate this but feel it's not as good as everyone says it is - in my opinion anyway! Not actually seen this one live I have only heard the cast recording and watched you tube clips etc but Hamilton. Completely agree with act one of In The Heights but I was completely won over by the end. Had I not been there with a group of friends who were loving it, I may have done the unusual for me, and left at the interval. |
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2016 17:44:09 GMT
Evita and Jesus Christ Superstar are both shows that I went into expecting to love due to their decades of success...don't know if it was down to dodgy casting and/or the Kenwright production, but I absolutely hated them both. A Kenwright production is never going to blow anyone away. And the casting of these shows in recent years has been "dodgy" to say the least (ALW himself rounded up a right motley crew for the arena tour!) so I suspect you have been short-changed on both counts. A pity... |
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134 posts
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Post by Joseph Buquet on Mar 10, 2016 17:49:46 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.
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249 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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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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