Are Special Effects Detracting from the Musical?- Page 2

[JustChillin8908]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 2:29pm

"Even the bubble for me is sometimes a bit much."

Sorry kinda late to post. I understand the time dragon but the bubble? How else do you expect them to represent it?

[Claire2141]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 3:37pm

I agree that some musicals do not rely on the 'special effect' element to make the show amazing and 'well done to them'. Who though is to say that the ones that do make use of them shouldn't be enjoyed, liked and have a place on Broadway?

For example for Wicked, if the witches didn't have their broom and bubble people would be moaning that it's not like the film! Same if there was no Pride Rock in TLK or Flying Car in Chitty. Cannot win it would seem

There is always a time and a place for special effects. In some musicals they are over used I admit, but those that do use them effectively should not be looked down on for doing so.

[jasonf]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 3:49pm

I see nothing wrong with the use of special effects as long as they don't detract from what really matters in a show: the writing. Whether any particular show lives up to that is a matter of discussion for each show, but as a blanket statement I don't see anything wrong with them if the writing supports their use. Unfortunately, more often than not that doesn't seem to happen. One time I think the effects are useful is Beauty and the Beast. The show could not be done without the effect of the Beast changing - and I think the show itself is as good as it could be coming from the movie...

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 4:23pm

Wicked is Mediocore.... you know Why? When Elphaba doesn't fly people bitch and complain because that is all people wanna see...

not everything on braodway is middle class.... esspecially when you are paying 100 a ticket

[Marguerite Chauvelin]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 5:02pm

Unless their vital (like in Assassins), I HATE gunshots in shows. Their loud, shocking, and I spend the rest of the show distracted because I worry that they're going to shoot the gun again. Along those lines, other than "Oklahoma?" do any gunshots go off during Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Sweeney Todd, or Spamalot? I'm going to see them soon and I don't want to spend the show covering my ears. Thank you, I know I sound stupid but they really annoy me.

[Buddy Kiss]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 5:23pm

"Special effects" almost always detract from, what I feel, is the purpose of theatre. If theatre is to continue to thrive as an artform, it needs to highlight its stengths. Special effects is NOT one of those strengths. Film beat theatre YEARS ago in the special effects category. It is impossible for theatre compete with film and its silly to even try.

One of theatre's biggest strengths is in the fact that it is live. There are real, breathing people creating amazing characters and stories right in front of your eyes, rather than looking at pictures of a performance that was done months or even years prior to the premiere.

Theatre then needs to highlight that aspect of the artform and stop trying to become film. The purpose of going to the theatre, after all, should not be to see flying tires chandeliers, cars, monkeys, or helicoptors. It should be to enjoy a performance and a story being told in a manner that you can't get anywhere else.

[WithoutATrace]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 5:33pm

I don't know if these are "special effects" but the projections in The History Boys were extremely annoying.

[Piazzaslight]

Posted: 4/16/06 at 6:03pm

I think that sometimes, special effects can be used to tell a story efficiently (As Woman in White proved, or disproved, depending on your point of view.) Other times, people just use them as a gimmick to bring the crowds in (The chandelir in Phantom, the helicopter in Miss Saigon, etc.) It's all about bringing the crowds in, especially if a show doesn't have a star name involved. Wicked didn't use special effects to bring in the crowds: They used the concept of a familiar story and a little star power. The special effects were just there, other than Defying Gravity, which was needed to bring out the emotion that Elphaba was feeling. So it could go either way. Special effects can either detract if just there, and being used as a gimmick, or could be enhanching to the story and characters.

Updated On: 4/16/06 at 06:03 PM

[Sant]

Posted: 4/17/06 at 6:26am

When the special effects are done well and they actually add something into the scene or production and make sense, they are not detracting. I may be the only person in the world who thinks that the effects in THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA are not overdone or there's too much of them. Sure the opening sequence of the show could have been done without the chandelier being lifted from the stage, but then why, in the auction, would they sell a chandelier which is hanging on the ceiling of the opera house...?

THE LION KING and TITANIC are good examples of shows that concentrate more on the effects than on the characters and the story. Especially TLK which just happens to be full of unnecessary tricks and effects.

But of course it is wonderful to watch a brilliant show like CHICAGO, a show with no special effects, totally relying on its great book, wonderful music & lyrics, and great performances.

[Claire2141]

Posted: 4/17/06 at 7:05am

Today stage musicals have to compete with the cinema industry...unless you are REALLY into something are you going to travel a long way to spend $100 on a ticket and see something that doesn't make you think 'wow'? Chicago, while having a great score, didn't do this for me. The story line bored me to death and the visuals were dull as dishwater.

Where as I saw TLK, yes I knew the story and the book was dull but the score and the amazingness of what was going on around me reduced me to tears.

Before Disney et al bought it the special effects both B/Way and the W/End were experiencing a slump in people visiting. The familiarity and promise of the 'wow factor' bought people in to see these musicals. Isn't that a good thing?

In the West End we had the influx of Juke Box musicals. While they were annoying and bought little to the art, they helped get people back into West End and introduced them to the atmosphere of the theater.

[kasim]

Posted: 4/17/06 at 9:09am

I like the prop based special effects like in wicked.

I mean come on the bubble you need just for the one liner where Elphaba rips on it.


What i DONT like .. is like the special effects with Spamalot where you were using the back drop and basically computer generated stuff. I didnt like that.