1,057 posts
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Post by David J on Mar 10, 2016 12:33:19 GMT
Okay I thought if we are going to start the overrated musical thread, I'll balance things out.
Wonderful Town - Seeing the 2012 tour I was amazed at how the musical could devote time such an array of interesting characters, and I enjoyed the song 'Ohio'. And it had the craziest moment I've ever seen, when everyone drops everything and ends the first act with a Conga through the auditorium. Only the ending let it down.
The Beautiful Game - Okay, not the best ALW scores of all time, but I thought it addressed how conflict affects innocent bystanders with sincerity, and the Union Theatre production was nicely intimate.
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155 posts
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Post by synchrony on Mar 10, 2016 13:04:05 GMT
The Hunting of the Snark. Ground-breaking for its time I think.
Napoleon. So sad that this closed so quickly. I listen to the soundtrack often and think it’s very beautiful and moving.
Lend Me a Tenor. I only went to see this because the tickets were cheap and there was nothing else I wanted to see on at the time. Both my friend and I were in hysterics throughout – loved it! I thought it was so funny, especially the surtitles in Facciamo L'Amor, and May I have a moment?
The Drowsy Chaperone. So funny and clever, and also touching.
The Umbrellas of Cherbourg. I realise I’m in a minority here, but I LOVED this. So quirky, original and different to anything else I’d seen. I was in floods of tears by the end and had a very long post-show conversation with my friends about whether the two leads made the right life choices and were truly happy in the end.
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677 posts
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Post by westendcub on Mar 10, 2016 13:19:08 GMT
'Dirty Rotten Scoundrels' I think it's such a charming, smart show with a great memorable score. Back on the old forum a lot of people remarked it had a not so memorable score which I've never agreed with.
I would also say 'Sunshine on Leith' - it has a good reputation but underrated as it hasn't played a main West-End house, it was a delight getting to see it at the Bridewell last year!
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2016 13:37:18 GMT
Ghost, Viva Forever! (yup, you read that correctly), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, I Can't Sing!, Made in Dagenham and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown.
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677 posts
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Post by westendcub on Mar 10, 2016 13:41:33 GMT
Ghost, Viva Forever! (yup, you read that correctly), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, I Can't Sing!, Made in Dagenham and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. Agree with you on all bar (Choc factory and the broke down women - never appealed to me and haven't seen them!)
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155 posts
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Post by synchrony on Mar 10, 2016 13:55:08 GMT
Ghost, Viva Forever! (yup, you read that correctly), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, I Can't Sing!, Made in Dagenham and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. Agree with you on all bar (Choc factory and the broke down women - never appealed to me and haven't seen them!) I liked Women on the Verge! I thought it was immediately obvious that the music and lyrics were by the same people as for Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (which I personally liked a fair bit less).
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Post by d'James on Mar 10, 2016 14:20:44 GMT
Yes. Lend Me A Tenor deserved a much longer run.
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571 posts
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Post by westendwendy on Mar 10, 2016 14:31:17 GMT
This one is Easy.
CARRIE!
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341 posts
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Post by adrianics on Mar 10, 2016 15:06:47 GMT
High Fidelity. It has a nicely eclectic soundtrack, genuinely funny lyrics, does a great job of both satirising and celebrating pop music (the Bruce Springsteen parody Goodbye And Good Luck is particularly funny) and some moments of real pathos near the end. Also a mighty lead role and nice supporting roles thrown in, would love to see a fringe theatre like the Union or Southwark Playhouse put it on.
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Post by d'James on Mar 10, 2016 15:10:39 GMT
Carrie seems very highly rated.
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270 posts
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Post by littlesally on Mar 10, 2016 15:17:24 GMT
Steel Pier. Curtains.
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4,369 posts
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Post by Michael on Mar 10, 2016 15:18:56 GMT
Rock of Ages. Loved everything about it. I grew up to listening to 80's rock music, and hearing all these songs sung by the brilliant cast was such a treat. The show was so funny that I couldn't stop laughing and didn't take itself seriously. Because of all the adlibs, no two shows were the same.
This show should have run much longer.
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341 posts
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Post by adrianics on Mar 10, 2016 15:26:28 GMT
Tailor Made Man had some pretty glaring flaws but some really nice songs, and the subject matter was incredibly important and interesting. It's such a shame that there doesn't seem to be any interest in revisiting it or reviving it because there was a great show in there somewhere!
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Post by d'James on Mar 10, 2016 15:28:23 GMT
Rock of Ages. Loved everything about it. I grew up to listening to 80's rock music, and hearing all these songs sung by the brilliant cast was such a treat. The show was so funny that I couldn't stop laughing and didn't take itself seriously. Because of all the adlibs, no two shows were the same. This show should have run much longer. The film put me off ever wanting to see the show.
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219 posts
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Post by PalelyLaura on Mar 10, 2016 15:34:13 GMT
Tailor Made Man had some pretty glaring flaws but some really nice songs, and the subject matter was incredibly important and interesting. It's such a shame that there doesn't seem to be any interest in revisiting it or reviving it because there was a great show in there somewhere! I forgot all about that show until you mentioned it! Yes, it was pretty promising.
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4,369 posts
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Post by Michael on Mar 10, 2016 15:53:58 GMT
Rock of Ages. Loved everything about it. I grew up to listening to 80's rock music, and hearing all these songs sung by the brilliant cast was such a treat. The show was so funny that I couldn't stop laughing and didn't take itself seriously. Because of all the adlibs, no two shows were the same. This show should have run much longer. The film put me off ever wanting to see the show. The show is so much better. Didn't like the film at all: Some odd story changes and I felt that it was heavily autotuned. Also found Julianne Hough terribly miscast; her voice didn't suit the rock tunes at all (she was much better in Grease live though). Seriously, if you have a soft spot for 80's rock songs and silly but funny things, give it a go if there'll ever be another production.
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837 posts
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Post by duncan on Mar 10, 2016 15:59:07 GMT
Tutti Frutti - don't think it ever got beyond Scotland, a crying shame for a top top show.
The Drowsey Chaperone - one of the best musicals I've ever seen and a crying shame it died on its backside in London. On the plus side I did get a very lovely free booklet from them about the background to the actors within the show within the show and such like.
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Post by d'James on Mar 10, 2016 16:11:09 GMT
The film put me off ever wanting to see the show. The show is so much better. Didn't like the film at all: Some odd story changes and I felt that it was heavily autotuned. Also found Julianne Hough terribly miscast; her voice didn't suit the rock tunes at all (she was much better in Grease live though). Seriously, if you have a soft spot for 80's rock songs and silly but funny things, give it a go if there'll ever be another production. When I came out of the cinema after seeing it, me and my friend were talking about how bad it was. This aggressive woman came up behind us and barked 'the live show is much better.' It was therefore a combination of the film and its fans which stopped me seeing it.
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243 posts
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Post by musicallady on Mar 10, 2016 16:36:18 GMT
I went to see 70 Girls 70 with Dora Bryan and loved it. We only went to fill in a night but I loved it.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2016 16:39:15 GMT
Finding Neverland - so charming and thoroughly enjoyable. I've never understood people's negativity towards it.
The Girls - as above. Deeply funny too.
Here Lies Love - just wonderful! Everything Evita should've been, but wasn't.
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92 posts
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Post by bjorne on Mar 10, 2016 16:52:49 GMT
Made in Dagenham Violet Bat Boy
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2016 16:58:41 GMT
A vote for Love Never Dies. Beautiful score, ruined on stage by poor concept and design. Needs resurrecting some day when ALW can't interfere...
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4,176 posts
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Post by anthony40 on Mar 10, 2016 17:06:10 GMT
Ordinary Days. Saw the production here in London and have since bought the car recording. So sad, yet clever and recent.
Sunday in the park with George. Every time I watch the DVD or hear one of the songs it simply NEVER fails to move me
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Post by panda on Mar 10, 2016 17:37:02 GMT
I loved Children of Eden at the Prince Edward in the late 80's. Many of the design concepts that seemed so original then have since been resurrected and applauded in The Lion King and other shows.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 10, 2016 17:40:33 GMT
I loved Children of Eden at the Prince Edward in the late 80's. Many of the design concepts that seemed so original then have since been resurrected and applauded in The Lion King and other shows. I'm glad you have raised this... The design of that show was stunning, and so many little touches were later "borrowed" and included in other shows as if they were original!
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