Broadway: Misfit Central
Broadway: Misfit Central
#1Broadway: Misfit Central
Posted: 9/11/09 at 2:10amMaybe this is really obscure, but does anyone notice how the central characters of musicals in the past decades or so, have been in some way a misfit? Tracy Turnblad in Hairspray, Elphaba in Wicked, the title character of Phantom, the young characters of Spelling Bee, in her own way, Elle Woods of Legally Blonde, Billy Elliot, Shrek, Caroline in Caroline, Or Change, Peter Allen in The Boy From Oz, and many others since at least the late 80's. Maybe a reason many people like musical theatre or Broadway is because they can relate to the characters who are out of place in some way.
If I were a woman, I'd marry Stephen Joshua Sondheim. But then again, he's gay, so....
"They say the unexamined life is not worth living. But what if the examining becomes your life? Is that living or just procastinating?" - Carrie Bradshaw
"All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts...." - William Shakespeare
#2re: Broadway: Misfit Central
Posted: 9/11/09 at 2:28am
I think your digging a little too deep but I do agree partially.
Musicals such as Billy Elliot, Next to Normal, Hell even Shrek, all deal with real life problems (For Shrek I would say him being a Ogre can be like Ugliness in a materialistic superficial world). Its cool to see real life situations in musicals because in some cases we feel like we arent completly alone (For example my mother suffers from depression and bi-polar disorder so next to normal really hit close to home; Diana Goodman was a mirror image of my mother).
I dont think however people like musicals just because the characters are misfits who in a way remind them of themselves.
I do believe there is a minority of people who like it for that reason, but not the majority. From a creative stand point Writers/Directors make the characters "Misfits" to appear likeable. People dont want to see the antagonist win in the end, let alone get a musical dedicated to them. It has more to do with people like seeing the good guy (the average joe if you will) win in the end. I dont think everyone (maybe some) who saw Shrek the Musical can really say they relate to the big green ogre. Likeable characters, A good book, good songs, these are what make people like theatre so much.
"Everything in life, is only for now"
-Avenue Q
Updated On: 9/11/09 at 02:28 AM
#2re: Broadway: Misfit Central
Posted: 9/11/09 at 2:36amWell I guess I should I have articulated more, but I was just pointing out the similarites between the characters and I was actually implying that there is a minority of theatregoers and fans who can relate, like you mentioned.
If I were a woman, I'd marry Stephen Joshua Sondheim. But then again, he's gay, so....
"They say the unexamined life is not worth living. But what if the examining becomes your life? Is that living or just procastinating?" - Carrie Bradshaw
"All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts...." - William Shakespeare
#3re: Broadway: Misfit Central
Posted: 9/11/09 at 2:42am
guilty you can deffinetly say that. With any form of entertainment (books, movies, stage) there will be a minority of people who are intersted because it can relate to them.
And even if that isnt what draws people into the theatre, when watching characters and story unfold I sometimes have compared so and so to myself and my problems.
"Everything in life, is only for now"
-Avenue Q
vodkastinger
Stand-by Joined: 8/3/09
#4re: Broadway: Misfit Central
Posted: 9/11/09 at 5:36pm
I would say that extends more than musical since the 80's to most interesting art that's created.
People integrating perfectly into society doesn't really make a very interesting story.
Stand-by Joined: 12/31/69
#5re: Broadway: Misfit Central
Posted: 9/11/09 at 5:50pm
Projecting much?
Go to your class reunion. Ask each person if they were popular. No one thinks they were. Everyone is a misfit.
#6re: Broadway: Misfit Central
Posted: 9/11/09 at 6:00pmThe "misfit" or "outcast" protagonist is as old as stories themselves. Check out Cinderella or 1001 Arabian Nights. Such a character is needed to create the classic underdog. Millions of people like to be reassured that being different can make you special and lead to success. The rest get botox and cheek implants.
"What can you expect from a bunch of seitan worshippers?" - Reginald Tresilian
#7re: Broadway: Misfit Central
Posted: 9/11/09 at 8:37pmLet's be honest, normal people just aren't interesting.
In my pants, she has burst like the music of angels, the light of the sun! --Marius Pantsmercy
#8re: Broadway: Misfit Central
Posted: 9/12/09 at 11:57am
Unless it's This American Life. 
"This thread reads like a series of White House memos." — Mister Matt
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