Worst ALW show (besides Love Never Dies)

[Alex Kulak]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 7:30pm

What's the worst musical Andrew Lloyd Webber had a hand in? Excluding Love Never Dies, cause that's too easy. 

 

For me, it's Aspects of Love. The Score is insipid, the lyrics are garbage, and the second acts concerns a 34 year old man trying to screw his 14 year old cousin.

[ozjust4]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 7:34pm

I think Cats is awful. Everything about it sucks. The music, choreography, costumes, all of it.  It is the worst musical ever, after American Idiot. 

Updated On: 8/4/16 at 07:34 PM

[broadwayboy223]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 7:36pm

ozjust4 said: "I think Cats is awful. Everything about it sucks. The music, choreography, costumes, all of it.  It is the worst musical ever, after American Idiot. 

 

"

Cats is truly awful in my opinion as well. So so so bad 

Posted: 8/4/16 at 7:37pm

ozjust4 said: "I think Cats is awful. Everything about it sucks. The music, choreography, costumes, all of it."

Agreed. It is nonsensical, and not in a profound or intelligent way. Cats is his worst.

Updated On: 8/4/16 at 07:37 PM

[Alex Kulak]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 7:38pm

at least with Cats, some of the songs are pleasant to listen to. I didn't hear a single interesting melody in Aspects of Love.

[pupscotch]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 7:39pm

Alex Kulak said: "at least with Cats, some of the songs are pleasant to listen to. I didn't hear a single interesting melody in Aspects of Love.

 

"

Did you mean worst score? Or worst show? Because those are two different questions. I'm not a fan of Cats, but the score is the best part of the show (not that it's great).

[Alex Kulak]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 7:41pm

Worst show. I agree, Cats has some of his better melodies,but the lack of coherency makes it suck.

[jo]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 7:47pm

ASPECTS OF LOVE is a personal favorite here --

 

 

The score is lyrical, achingly romantic ...and as the late critic Sheridan Morley once wrote in his review, almost Sondheimesque in tone. It is also very beautifully sung by the excellent cast.

The book and lyrics are derived very faithfully from a novella by David Garnett of the  bohemian Bloombury Group in mid-20th century  England, which included Virginia Woolf.

To each his own!

Updated On: 8/4/16 at 07:47 PM

[curel1]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 7:49pm

I think Cats is some of his better work, score-wise. I don't mind the lack of plot, it's not a deep show and it's entertaining to watch

[Alex Kulak]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 7:53pm

@jo

Not only is Aspects Of Love the worst show. It's the biggest missed opportunity. The idea (various permutations of romantic relationships over many years) is so profound, and he wastes it on 34 year old Michael Ball trying to bone his pubescent cousin. And this is set in like 1960s England. It's not cool, man.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 7:58pm

Cats made me want to murder people. I'd say Cats followed by Starlight Express. 

I loved Aspects. 

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 8:09pm

Cats

[jo]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 8:12pm

Here are brief clips from the Broadway staging of ASPECTS OF LOVE --

Love Changes Everything

Seeing is Believing

Anything but Lonely

Reprise of Love Changes Everthing.

 

 

 

 

 

There are also a number of other wonderful songs  -- solos, duets, ensemble singing. I do think the score is very engaging.  There is also Chanson d'Enfance, The First Man You Remember, Hand Me the Wine and the Dice, Other Pleasures, The Mermaid Song,  etc...and it is one of Lloyd Webber's scores that I revisit often.

 

 

As for the theme  of multiple relationships -- that reflected the mores of the times with certain groups of people, captured in fiction.   I had seen the production in its original staging in London and the slightly revised production on Broadway.  The first clip shown on this thread came from the TONY Awards, where ASPECTS OF LOVE was a nominee for BEST MUSICAL!

 

Btw,  I had also seen a scaled down production directed by Gale Edwards ( the original was directed by Trevor Nunn) and the score was still sparkling and evocative of that time in a part of England.

 

 

 

 

Updated On: 8/4/16 at 08:12 PM

[MCfan2]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 8:14pm

I like the music of Aspects, but most of the characters are loathsome. I always feel like I need a shower after listening to it. It's better when I hear the songs out of context, on solo albums. They just sound like normal love songs then.

It's hard to think of any ALW show that comes even close to LND's abysmal awfulness. But I suppose I'd go with Starlight Express.

[Phantom of London]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 8:14pm

Alex Kulak said: "@jo

Not only is Aspects Of Love the worst show. It's the biggest missed opportunity. The idea (various permutations of romantic relationships over many years) is so profound, and he wastes it on 34 year old Michael Ball trying to bone his pubescent cousin. And this is set in like 1960s England. It's not cool, man.

You have seen a poor directed version of the show, because you clearly don't understand the story.

Alex doesn't try to 'bone his cousin,' his cousin tries to make advances on him, which he bats away successfully but does show he is tempted, yes it does include resisted peodphilia but that is the story to show every aspect of love, including in the same scene a fathers lover for his child.

"

 

[broadwayguy91]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 8:18pm

Jesus Christ Superstar

School of Rock

Sunset Boulevard

[Marianne2]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 8:29pm

Not knowing every single one of his shows, I would go with Phantom of the Opera. I do like some of the music, but the story line just seems like a really bad Lifetime movie.  I'll also admit to almost laughing at an inappropriate moment.

[MichelleCraig]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 8:34pm

I know I'm veering off topic here, but are there any fans of "The Beautiful Game" here? I saw the original production in London and loved it... 

[AnnieBlack]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 8:35pm

I was a 14 year old phantom freak when it the show came out in NYC and got the aspects of love London cast album before it came to NYC- it is a show that, as a score, is quite good- on stage, it is quite bad. 

[jo]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 8:44pm

MichelleCraig said: "I know I'm veering off topic here, but are there any fans of "The Beautiful Game" here? I saw the original production in London and loved it... 

"

 

I saw it in London, too, and I thought it was one of the saddest and most poignant musicals I have ever seen.  The focus on the theme of sectarian violence in Northern Ireland and the plight of Irish immigrants ( as they leave their homeland for political and economic reasons, sung in the poignant song GOD'S OWN COUNTRY ) were signs of the times that provoked such an emotional reaction.  The score is not my favorite ALWebber but it is the book itself which was haunting.

 

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 10:35pm

Of the ALW shows I've seen, Aspects of Love is the worst. I saw it at the Walnut Street Theatre in Philly. Beautiful music, but it's a pity he didn't write more than 5 melodies.

[BroadwayConcierge]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 10:36pm

Marianne2 said: "I'll also admit to almost laughing at an inappropriate moment."

I'm a massive Phantom fan, but I kind of want to know what moment, Marianne...

[gypsy101]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 10:50pm

Worst is definitely Cats. I was just looking at his recordings on my iTunes and the only one I truly thoroughly enjoy and respect is Evita. Each of the rest have their flaws, but Cats has only one non-flaw (Memory).

[broadwayguy91]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 10:57pm

BroadwayConcierge said: "Marianne2 said: "I'll also admit to almost laughing at an inappropriate moment."

I'm a massive Phantom fan, but I kind of want to know what moment, Marianne...

 

"

i wonder if it's the part where Christine rips the Phantom's mask off..

[10086sunset]

Posted: 8/4/16 at 11:11pm

The Woman in White.