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Post by alece10 on Mar 10, 2016 11:28:18 GMT
I have been trying to think of something I have seen that I thought was overrated and cant really come up with anything. I have either really enjoyed it or its been rubbish rather than overrated.
I guess the nearest I can think would have been Charlie and The Chocolate Factory which although
popular and had a lot of hype I found very boring and didnt like the music.
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Post by warmington on Mar 10, 2016 11:34:35 GMT
Wicked for me too. Went with such high hopes but was left a bit deflated at the end. Highlight was Kerry Ellis singing Defying Gravity, but even that didn't entice me back again.
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Post by Phantom of London on Mar 10, 2016 11:41:33 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.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2016 11:41:36 GMT
Cats for most outright 'what the hell am I watching?' reaction. I'm rather relieved to hear that there are a lot of votes for "Cats". I saw it with a group of people who were all in raptures, but if left me cold. I had the same reaction as above but kept quiet about it as I didn't want to spoil the evening (and I was in a minority of one). |
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Post by couldileaveyou on Mar 10, 2016 11:51:36 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 |
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Post by Dr Tom on Mar 10, 2016 11:59:37 GMT
Cats too - the only thing that saved it for me is having very fond memories of the poems it's based on from my childhood - and trying to remember them.
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Post by dgjbear on Mar 10, 2016 12:02:54 GMT
Passion. I know it's Sondheim, but most of the music is God awful and I wanted the main character to die quickly as all she does is moan (similar to Miss Saigon funnily enough). Sondheim isn't the deity many think he is, and this is the evidence.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2016 12:07:01 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 I didn't say it didn't highlight important parts of overlooked US history, I said it wasn't as good as a musical as people seem to think it is. Just because a show looks at something important doesn't mean it's automatically good.  |
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Post by groupbooker on Mar 10, 2016 12:15:26 GMT
Most overrated - of late, I would say JC Superstar. I thought the Lyceum production was superb but the tour after with video cams etc and the stadium tour were awful. Lets hope the Open Air production is superior to those.
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Post by duncan on Mar 10, 2016 12:15:31 GMT
Wicked
I do fear for the sanity of anyone who could sit through it more than once.
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Post by David J on Mar 10, 2016 12:17:25 GMT
Mamma Mia - Hated the film and whilst the stage version the musical is so paint by numbers artificial
The Lion King - as people have said on the broadway world boards The Circle of Life is outstanding but the rest is just boring. Julie Taymour may be a visual storyteller, but it's just the film copied and pasted onto the stage with African masks. Sure there's a few deviations and some African dancing, but who remembers the most? That or the Elton John and Tim Rice songs. The film is better in my opinion.
Wicked - come and learn how the witches of oz became friends, where we'll throw in some important issues like racism and there's more to people than looks. But first let's take you to the Halls of Clicheville, full of every character type from American high school/college films
There was once a time when I was bowled over by Wicked when I saw the original London cast. Used to listen to the music but now the cast recording doesn't even appear on my iPhone.
I do think the music is flawed though I can't put my finger on why. I thought I read somewhere that Schwartz relies on two chord themes (? - I'm not good at music terminologies). I certainly think the musical goes between loud and dark (elphabas theme) and light and ditzy (Glindas)
Anyone like to give a (REASONABLE) explanation why the music and lyrics are perfect/flawed. I'm genuinely intetested.
Miss Saigon - I don't think this is massively overrated (I don't think it condoles the sexist/racist attitudes, it was just the way things were). I love that it has a story that spans years and includes many characters like Les Mis. I just find that it starts strongly as a romance and then the 3 year jump is such a disconnect that I loose all emotional investment until the nightmare fills in what happened. Dramatic licence sure but I never found it the emotional roller coaster people see it as
Billy Elliot - Saw the broadcast and never got why it received all the praise. Having people get into large huge dresses and trance around in 'expressing yourself'. Seriously?
Cats - As others said, not much to it. Hard to even sympathise with the cats (or at least the elders) when they dislike Grizabella for vague reasons
Spamalot tour - not a scratch on the original
South Pacific - I'm not a r&h fan but all this is is a bunch of soldiers and natives hanging around on an island
Book of Mormon - Liked it. Don't need to see it again.
Phantom - AGAIN I don't think it is overtly overrated. I saw it last January for the third time, because if there's ever a reason to see it again it would be JOJ. But I am in no hurry to see it again (unless Earl Carpenter comes back).
Unlike Wicked I keep listening to some of the songs. Mainly the overture and moments with the phantom theme music, the title song, music of the night, stranger than you dreampt it, all I ask of you (reprise), wishing you were somehow here again, past the point of no return, down once more and the final lair.
See any connection between those songs I've listed? They mainly involve Christine and the Phantom (when he's not up in the rafters). Those are the only moments I find fascinating. The rest of the musical I just find boring. Like in a horror film the rest of the characters are types for the Phantom to ruin their day.
And just to round off, if I could give theatres a few million pounds to avoid doing these over-revived musicals they would be
Oliver
Sound of Music
Joseph
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Post by bjorne on Mar 10, 2016 12:30:45 GMT
Miss Saigon. Saw it a couple of times. I tried. I just don't like it.
The Phantom. I'm not saying that it's bad. I just think that now it's more like a brand. That's why it's still so praised.
Newsies. Cool choreographies but the score is not memorable. I don't get the hype at all.
Kinky Boots.
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Post by Someone in a tree on Mar 10, 2016 12:36:59 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 How is racist ? |
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Post by synchrony on Mar 10, 2016 12:54:55 GMT
Cats – for all the reasons previously given.
Once – I know so many people who loved this, but I just found the music forgettable, and the storyline incredibly boring, summarised by 'boy meets girl - nothing happens - the end'.
Maybe I am heartless.
Caroline, or Change – How did this win Best Musical?!?! I can’t remember a single song, struggled to empathise with any characters, and have rarely come out of any show feeling so depressed by the futility of life.
Rent – such loathsome, self-centred characters, and the ending is so cringe-worthy. I do like a lot of the songs though. Would prefer a concert version I think.
The Book of Mormon – some catchy tunes, and a good production, but don’t understand why tickets are so much more expensive than for other (in my opinion) better things.
Also – not musicals – but I thought One Man, Two Guvnors was massively overrated. I didn’t laugh one single time and was left bewildered as to why people thought this was funny. Guess slapstick puerile humour isn’t for me. I also found Art one of the most boring evenings I’ve ever spent in a theatre. Maybe I was too young when I saw it and missed some kind of hidden meaning or something.
I really love Miss Saigon and Wicked!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2016 13:09:08 GMT
Cats - As others said, not much to it. Hard to even sympathise with the cats (or at least the elders) when they dislike Grizabella for vague reasons She's considered the star of the show, yet spends most of it in her dressing room and when she does eventually turn up she sings one of the most overdone songs in musical theatre history. Twice. Seems like reason enough to me. |
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Post by westendcub on Mar 10, 2016 13:11:58 GMT
Oh 'Cats' is up there, saw this in my childhood and even then I just didn't understand what the fuss was and why is was a hot ticket, must see show - I haven't gone to the recent revival or ever seen again since the 90's!!
Unpopular opinion but I must say 'Kinky Boots' - I did have a nice evening but I found the book so weak with so many unresolved plot lines and under developed characters. I went in thinking this was my new 'show' so maybe my expectations were a little too highly pitched, I have a feeling I will end seeing this again soon as my sister has mentioned she wants to go see a musical with me and hedging my bets she will pick this show so perhaps I will have a change of heart upon 2nd viewing (happened with 'Mamma Mia!' for me!!)
Oh 'The Book of Mormon' glad I can see I have seen it, won online lottery tickets last year. It was amusing, had some good numbers and moments but would't want to sit through it again and thought it was overrated - saying this the friend I took declared it to be the best musical he has ever seen!!
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Post by TheatreDust on Mar 10, 2016 13:33:57 GMT
Book of Mormon for me too - reasonably good, reasonably funny. Don't get the adoration this receives though.
Phantom of the Opera - a few impressive/memorable numbers, but I don't see how it's lasted (well, I do - tourists).
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2016 13:35:13 GMT
Miss Saigon and Jersey Boys... so, so overrated!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2016 13:53:48 GMT
Just a quick note, I am quite surprised to see the universal dislike of Wicked, anyone I've met in the theatre who has sat near me, who I have talked with after the show, has given nothing but rave reviews of the show for its music, lighting, costumes and set design. I am genuinely curious as to why people would describe it as dull or boring etc... I think it does depend a lot on the cast also. I have seen Wicked 15 times to date and I adore the show more than ever, that's not to say however that certain cast members have let me down on occasion and can affect the overall perception of the show (especially if the roles of Elphaba or Glinda are very badly cast) And to the member who commented on the sanity of those who see Wicked more than once, I have seen the show 7 times in 4 days and they still allow me to go about in public  On the main topic of this thread, I would have to say Phantom of the Opera, the music was beautiful but the show was sometimes very slow and didn't do much to keep my attention (also, the dreadful legroom in the circle of Her Majesty's probably did not help) |
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Post by anita on Mar 10, 2016 13:57:37 GMT
O yes I forgot about "Once". That was truly boring.
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Post by galinda on Mar 10, 2016 14:07:29 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.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2016 14:10:21 GMT
I forgot about The Lion King... it was fun, the first 10/15 minutes are stunning, but after that it is all a bit too pantomime for my taste.
Also Stomp... never, ever understood how it is so popular!
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Post by crabtree on Mar 10, 2016 14:10:45 GMT
for me, Oliver. A surprisingly thin piece, and clumsily structured.......
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Post by d'James on Mar 10, 2016 14:26:49 GMT
I've never wanted to see Wicked. Interesting to see the comments here. My Mum went to see it and has completely forgotten everything about it.
I'll add Guys and Dolls to my Hairspray. I saw it this time last week. Mostly forgettable songs with overly long scenes.
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Post by Michael on Mar 10, 2016 14:34:28 GMT
Les Mis. Yes, there are a few standout songs (which have been played/sung to death by now), but that's about it. I don't care for any of the characters or their fate and I find the plot boring and completely random. I have no intention of seeing this show ever again. And I don't like sung-through shows anyway.
Kinky Boots. It is completely beyond my understanding how this show could win one award, let alone several. Musical Theatre at its worst.
Miss Saigon.
And lastly, everything Sondheim.
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