things in musicals you like that irk you to no end

[winston89]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 11:03pm

what are things in muscials you like that still irk you to no end?

For me, I would have to say the Phantom in phantom of the opera. I feel that becaue it has been the same direction ect since it opened in every production worldwide. It feels that the actor does things because he is told to because they are in the script. FOr example when he covers his ears in the repireise of all i ask of you it is as iff he is doing it because he wsa told to od it at that particualr point. I feel that they are starting to phone in thier preformances and i's hardto find any originalaty in that role.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 11:07pm

Not one musical in particular, but one thing about musicals (typically older ones) that annoys me to high hell is when a choral number starts, the stage is empty, and then 30 chorus members enter the stage to sing.

It's the stupidest thing. "The Wells Fargo Wagon" scene of THE MUSIC MAN comes to mind, though the revival had Gracie Shinn start the song with people filtering on - as opposed to the typical way to do it.

Not a favorite of mine by any means, but it's like in MARY POPPINS (during either "Let's Go Fly a Kite" or "Jolly Holiday" - I can't remember they all just meshed into one mess of a song -) when the entire ensemble just dashes out of no where to begin singing.

AWFUL.

[D2]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 11:14pm

I thought you hated PHANTOM anyway, Winston? You didn't even stay for the second act.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 11:19pm

I feel the same way about it, Munk. It particularly bothers me in Jerry Herman musicals--though I think it's done in a different way though it still irks me to no end.
MACK & MABEL is one of my favorite shows but I can't stand it when Herman uses his formulaic 30-people-ensemble numbers like "When Mabel Comes in the Room." Same thing with "Mame," I like the score but hate that one number--and yes, I know it's a classic and whatnot.
This also happens in SHOW BOAT during "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man of Mine" after Julie does her beautiful rendition and Queenie and Joe do theirs, the whole ensemble starts singing and it just irritates me.

[Rentaholic2]

Posted: 5/10/07 at 11:37pm

***Spoiler about Miss Saigon****

It always drove me crazy that, after Kim commits suicide, the lights fade and you can see her get up and walk off stage...and there's no more music. (atleast in the tour I saw) It's so anti-climactic. Wouldn't it be much more appropriate for there to be one last "This Is The Hour" Reprise following her suicide? It would be like if Jean Valjean died and the show just ended without the "Do You Hear the People Sing?" Reprise.

[beyondblessed]

Posted: 5/11/07 at 12:05am

I don't think I've ever seen this on broadway, but ever other amateur theatre production I've seen has some big musical number that ends really big with high energy and then whomever is singing reaches the song's end/climax and falls on the floor from supposed exhaustion. It's so annoying to watch.

[mattonstage]

Posted: 5/11/07 at 12:34am

The 'Masculinity' number in "La Cage Aux Folles" has always bugged the hell out of me.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 5/11/07 at 12:41am

The critics.

[mattonstage]

Posted: 5/11/07 at 12:45am

Something else that bugs me is whenever anyone sings the word 'you' in a song, must they always point to that person, or the audience if they're alone on stage. Most people get who 'you' is they don't always need the physical reference.

Posted: 5/11/07 at 12:58am

I only saw the Hal Prince Show Boat in the 90s but I thought the blacks coming in to sing Lovin' Dat Man actually made a lot of dramatic sense. but I (annoyingly) never bought the cast album from that version and can't remember how it worked.

For me on that comes to mind--I honestly really love Miss Saigon. but I *detest* nearly everything about Bui Doi--except it's intention of course

[winston89]

Posted: 5/11/07 at 1:06am

D2, Yes it is true that I said I hated Phantom. However, my cousin who is my age (17) is from LA and wanted to see a broadway show. Her parents and my mom thought it would be a good idea for me to go with her because I love theatre. I was nice enough to let her pick out the show that she wanted to see. She picked Phantom. I was nice enough to keep my mouth shut aobut how I feel about the show.

Actually, when I walked out of the theatre after the second time( first full time) I kinda liked it and now do.

[misschung]

Posted: 5/11/07 at 1:29am

Not one musical in particular, but one thing about musicals (typically older ones) that annoys me to high hell is when a choral number starts, the stage is empty, and then 30 chorus members enter the stage to sing.
yes.

I have to think of more, but there's nothing worse than hearing a musical number approaching and getting that "oh no, its another song" feeling. I'm not going to lie, this happened a lot to me during 1776

[Link Larkin Wanabe]

Posted: 5/11/07 at 2:15am

Bad choreography...more specifically, when choreographers think that choreography means having an entire cast (usually way too big for the show and the stage) doing all the same choreography at all the same time, always facing front and smiling. Its never as impressive as you think it is! Too many high school and community theatre shows (and sadly a few proffesional ones as well) have been ruined by this.

Akiva

[gypsiedtokill]

Posted: 5/11/07 at 2:56am

I don't like the show, but the something that pisses me off to no end is on the Fame on 42nd Street recording during "Hard Work," when, in the middle of a very long dance break, the entire cast yells, "EVERYBODY DANCE!"
That always makes me want to punch something.

[clarkstallings]

Posted: 5/11/07 at 3:02am

Don't get me started on directors who, rather than hurt a few feelings, decide that every member of the fifty person ensenble, which is already thirty people too large to begin with, must perform in every single musical number.

[shesamarshmallow]

Posted: 5/11/07 at 2:27pm

That "Oh What a Night" isn't Tommy DeVito's song, and that "C'mon Marianne" wasn't written by Bob Gaudio. Tricksy!

[RadiGal2]

Posted: 5/11/07 at 3:22pm

I just hate they way they burst into song..it's so unrealistic.


he he
kidding...
but, one of my bigger complaints about movie musicals that lately they seem almost apologetic about being one...just one example that comes to mind was in Chicago during Mama Morten's solo they spent more time in the drab prison wear and the sudden jerking back and forth between the nightclub and prison was off-putting.