Ever Felt You're At a Different Show Than Everyone Else?

[hitmewithurbethshot]

Caroline or Change. Everyone around me seemed to love it, I was falling asleep.

[Stasia]

Fun Home
Company
Follies
42 street

I enjoyed some kf the oerformers, aprreciated the design/ certain characters/had a chance to see these famous shows live. But I didn’t emotionally connect with the story.
Despite being “simplier” and more in your face, Jamie and Kinky Boits made me cry and Fun Home didn’t. Despite being the only single girl in the company of couples, I couldn’t feel the same emotions as Bobbie (although could certainly relate to the things happening to her). Despite admiring Imelda, I couldn’t warm to her character. I found the 42 street the opposite of touching and moving, especially compared to The King and I.

Sometimes it is just wrong day for me, sometimes the show is not my cup of tea, and I’m more than fine with that. You have to have “liws” in your theatre emotions to value your “highs” more.

[Mark]

Bat Out of Hell for me. Whilst I appreciated it, I wasn’t overly familiar with all the music beforehand. The audience however went wild for it.

[manu]

Tina and Motown for me

[viserys]

I almost always feel in a different show when I'm seeing shows here in Germany. Most of the shows people here go wild for I either actively detest (Tanz der Vampire) or feel completely indifferent about.

I was worried that I wouldn't get the fuss about Company in London and went in with low expectations, but found myself won over.

So I only nominate Follies here. There were some terrific bits in it, such as Tracie Bennett's "I'm still here" but I just loathed the two leading couples and their story so much, it ruined the evening for me.

[Deleted]

Ooooh how could I have forgotten Follies. Didn't get, still don't get the hype there, I was bored and am still dissapointed by it. The best part was I'm Still Here and that's on YouTube so I'm good.

[Deleted]

Definitely! Most recently at Kiss Me Kate, which I found really dull. Previously at the McKellen/Stewart Pinter thing which OH MY GOD I hated. We were on the end of a row and dashed straight out at the end while everyone else was cheering and having a standing O.

[frankubelik]

Increasingly. But I am aware this is to do with age and experience of seeing some truly great stuff here and in New York. I also will not apologise for being a devotee of the "golden age" of both productions and performers. Nevertheless I keep trying but am inevitably disappointed but that's mainly due to lacklustre performers who seem to continue to work despite their (to me) obvious shortcomings (Ria Jones, Tracie Bennett, Janie Dee and the like). I wholeheartedly agree with previous posters about HAMILTON, FUN HOME and of course COMPANY (aside from Ms LuPone naturally). I simply did not understand the "Rocky Horror" style reaction to MORMON either. That's one party I was not invited to!

[Deleted]

Dec 15, 2018 9:01:46 GMT frankubelik said:

Increasingly. But I am aware this is to do with age and experience of seeing some truly great stuff here and in New York. I also will not apologise for being a devotee of the "golden age" of both productions and performers. Nevertheless I keep trying but am inevitably disappointed but that's mainly due to lacklustre performers who seem to continue to work despite their (to me) obvious shortcomings (Ria Jones, Tracie Bennett, Janie Dee and the like). I wholeheartedly agree with previous posters about HAMILTON, FUN HOME and of course COMPANY (aside from Ms LuPone naturally). I simply did not understand the "Rocky Horror" style reaction to MORMON either. That's one party I was not invited to!

I definitely agree about the age and experience thing. I've seen some fantastic stuff over the years, and sometimes I think the people raving on Twitter about how utterly AMAZING and FANTASTIC and MINDBLOWINGLY AWESOME shows are, just haven't seen much to compare. I think it's great that people are enthusiastic about stuff they've seen, and are loving things, but I feel a bit jaded in comparison.

Having said that, my regular theatre companion is half my age and we usually agree on what we just don't get, when the rest of the audience seems to be losing their minds over something.

[Deleted]

Oh god I'd forgotten Lion King (I think I repressed the memory) for me it was 10 minutes of 'Oh great! you're a Lion!' and another 2 hours of 'Oh GREAT you're a Lion'

[ptwest]

The one that comes immediately to mind is Cats, by far the most bored I have ever been at a musical, apart from possibly Fame. I was clearly in the minority that night. Some shows have a hit or miss effect on me, such as wicked - have seen it three times, loved it twice, but on the other there was nothing going on on stage to warrant anything other than polite applause.

The big change in my opinion is the way in which audiences react. I enjoyed Dreamgirls for example, but didn’t feel the need to stand up and scream every time Marisha hit a high note or got even louder. Likewise I loved Hamilton but didn’t feel any of the actors warranted entrance applause. I like to enjoy shows in a quieter manner but I often find myself wondering what I have missed due to not being in a state of hysteria.

[Deleted]

Dec 15, 2018 10:05:40 GMT @elanor said:

Dec 15, 2018 9:01:46 GMT frankubelik said:

Increasingly. But I am aware this is to do with age and experience of seeing some truly great stuff here and in New York. I also will not apologise for being a devotee of the "golden age" of both productions and performers. Nevertheless I keep trying but am inevitably disappointed but that's mainly due to lacklustre performers who seem to continue to work despite their (to me) obvious shortcomings (Ria Jones, Tracie Bennett, Janie Dee and the like). I wholeheartedly agree with previous posters about HAMILTON, FUN HOME and of course COMPANY (aside from Ms LuPone naturally). I simply did not understand the "Rocky Horror" style reaction to MORMON either. That's one party I was not invited to!

I definitely agree about the age and experience thing. I've seen some fantastic stuff over the years, and sometimes I think the people raving on Twitter about how utterly AMAZING and FANTASTIC and MINDBLOWINGLY AWESOME shows are, just haven't seen much to compare. I think it's great that people are enthusiastic about stuff they've seen, and are loving things, but I feel a bit jaded in comparison.

Having said that, my regular theatre companion is half my age and we usually agree on what we just don't get, when the rest of the audience seems to be losing their minds over something.

On the other hand some just get stuck, as with haircuts and clothes, so experience is a two edged sword and can hold people back. Take Company, for example. The original was ground breaking for its time, the Mendes revival was perfectly attuned to its time and the Elliot one now is stunningly recreated for now. None is ‘better’, just aimed differently.

One thing that I have changed on is spectacle. I used to think it mattered but now I can take it ir leave it.

[danb]

Yep, Cats & Dreamgirls for me too. Could be the weak stories in both, but Dreamgirls especially was just dull.

[ruby]

Footloose and Book of Mormon for me.
I think I already documented this on the board but it still annoys me that some people thought the shoddy production values and general (though not all) lacklustre performances in Footloose were the best that live theatre has to offer.

[daisy24601]

I generally do enjoy things, but some I could take or leave. Having seen The Lion King once I'm in no hurry for a repeat visit, I'd rather watch the film. I'd also agree with those who said Cats. Some enjoyable songs but pretty dull overall.

The one I've probably enjoyed least was the play Translations. Started off okay but omg so boring. I was glad when it was over.

I did like Company but that's one where I felt like I was seeing something else when it comes to Patti. Sorry folks, just don't get the big deal with her *hides*.

[lou105]

Dec 14, 2018 19:55:59 GMT @emicardiff said:

We all know what I'm going to say:

One Man Two Guv'ners.

I will take being bored senseless any day over being the ONLY person not dying with laughter. Painful.

Me too. But I generally find farce less funny then I'm apparently supposed to. 

And We will Rock You, but then I think it's not unusual to be underwhelmed by the story in that and it was just so loud (I know, sign of old age).

[Deleted]

Dec 15, 2018 11:49:16 GMT lou105 said:

Dec 14, 2018 19:55:59 GMT @emicardiff said:

We all know what I'm going to say:

One Man Two Guv'ners.

I will take being bored senseless any day over being the ONLY person not dying with laughter. Painful.

Me too. But I generally find farce less funny then I'm apparently supposed to. 

And We will Rock You, but then I think it's not unusual to be underwhelmed by the story in that and it was just so loud (I know, sign of old age).

Yes, I usually preface my hate of 'One Man' with 'I also hate farce' so I knew I was getting into something I wouldn't LOVE but man was I not prepared for how much I HATED it. 

Also I found WWRY a bit dull...admittedly I'm not a HUGE Queen fan either (I like their music just never been massively into it) but I was also reminded that I just don't enjoy Ben Elton's writing much either. 

[Deleted]

Dec 15, 2018 11:48:47 GMT daisy24601 said:

I generally do enjoy things, but some I could take or leave. Having seen The Lion King once I'm in no hurry for a repeat visit, I'd rather watch the film. I'd also agree with those who said Cats. Some enjoyable songs but pretty dull overall.

The one I've probably enjoyed least was the play Translations. Started off okay but omg so boring. I was glad when it was over.

I did like Company but that's one where I felt like I was seeing something else when it comes to Patti. Sorry folks, just don't get the big deal with her *hides*.

*whispers* I was bored to tears by Patti in Gypsy. I don't know if it's Gypsy I hated or her though. Both are obviously highly unpopular opinions. 

I did enjoy her in Company though. Mainly perhaps she was doing 'Patti LuPone does Patti LuPone crossed with Karen Walker' and that's a vibe I'm HERE for in life. 

[showgirl]

I thought I was the sole dissenter (again) at Dreamgirls - phew!

[sf]

Dec 15, 2018 10:57:51 GMT @theatremonkey said:

Oh yeah, forgot "Dreamgirls." Late teenage clown-boy behind me whooping, everybody else stoney-faced.

Spectacle, has to be original now, I think. More than just flying something on an extendable arm, really.

And certainly more than just shoving a hydraulic lift up Elphaba's bum and disguising it with black drapes. That "flying" effect in Wicked is laughably bad.

[latefortheoverture]

The only show I can say that I absolutely hated was School of Rock, there's no denying the kids are really good, but my life I was bored to tears.

The audience loved it but me and my Grandad really did not enjoy it.

I must say I went about a year ago, Saturday night, and the theatre was near enough half empty. I think that added to my boredom, there wasn't an ounce of atmosphere. I'm quite surprised this is still running considering it was quiet a year ago, god knows that it must be like now.

And to top the night off as we walked out of the theatre we watched a taxi hit a woman, throwing her in the air! Great night has by all!

[jgblunners]

For me it was Hamilton and Fun Home this year - in both cases, I agree that almost every aspect of these shows was brilliant and they both stand out as unique modern musicals that have developed the genre rather than fitting into the standard form. However, in neither case did I feel completely blown away emotionally. There were moments in both shows that were touching, but I clearly wasn't feeling the same emotional engagement as other audience members. I wouldn't say I was disappointed by either of them, but I clearly didn't have as strong a response to them as others.

[ali973]

Farinelli and the King
By Jeeves
Bat Out Of Hell
Gone With the Wind

[Deleted]

I misread the above as 'Bat Jeeves' and wondered what the hell that was.

[distantcousin]

The show that most springs to mind for me in that context was "Sunday In The Park With George" down the Wyndhams Theatre around 2007.

I absolutely hated it and couldn't understand why most of the audience were so enraptured and moved by it.