Characters You Feel Sorry for in Shows

[After Eight]

Posted: 11/7/13 at 9:47am

In the recent thread on Company, I chanced to think of the kind of life Bobby's wife would have if he actually got married. Talk about a poor baby! Bobby, do her a favor and stay single!

Many times, after enduring some grueling opus, I find myself leaving the theatre feeling sorry for one--- or several -- of the characters most sorely served by their creators. Like the poor mother in Fun Home. Talk about having the cards stacked against you; she has the whole deck plus two jokers! No wonder she never gets to crack a smile. And poor Judy Kuhn having to play this part! She, the mother, the audience, the world---- we all deserve better.

Here are some other characters in musicals I most feel sorry for. I'd love to read other people's lists as well.

The ex-girlfriend in Once. She was lucky to have dumped that wailing whiner in the first place. Now she's duped by the con concocted by him and that pill that he missed her all along. Isn't a relationship supposed to be built upon honesty and trust? Apparently not according to "guy" and "girl."

Margie. Giving up the best years of her life for a two-timing loser.

Georgio. No explanation needed.

Sweeney Todd's victims.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 11/7/13 at 9:54am

Mary in Merrily We Roll Along.

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/7/13 at 10:00am

Nancy in Oliver!
Harry Beaton
The Beggar Woman
Tobias
Elphaba
Kim in Miss Saigon
Grizabella
Tup Tim
The Edies in Grey Gardens
Coalhouse Walker
Sarah

[tazber]

Posted: 11/7/13 at 10:12am

As I was making my list I realized it was almost identical to besty's.

So all of those, plus

Everyone in Les Miz

[artscallion]

Posted: 11/7/13 at 10:13am

I've always felt bad for Jud in Oklahoma!

[tazber]

Posted: 11/7/13 at 10:17am

The cast of Spiderman

[best12bars]

Posted: 11/7/13 at 10:24am

I feel bad for Jud in Oklahoma! until he tries to burn Laurey and Curly alive in their house.

Then not so much.

Same thing with the Phantom ... I feel sorry for him until he starts killing people.

Same thing with Sweeney actually.

[GlindatheGood22]

Posted: 11/7/13 at 10:46am

Miss Honey
Sarah
Evelyn Nesbit
Mary Phagan
Mrs. Phagan

[VeraCharles3]

Posted: 11/7/13 at 10:48am

Like tazber, my list is similar to Bestie's - I will add Julie from Show Boat

[Wynbish]

Posted: 11/7/13 at 10:56am

I feel sorry for both Kim and Ellen in Miss Saigon

[LMcC95]

Posted: 11/7/13 at 11:01am

I feel bad for all the characters in Gypsy including Mama Rose. All the characters has hopes and dreams that do not come true. It is a sad story but a lot of their problems are caused by their own faults. But Mama is a person who does care about her daughters but does not know how to show it.

[Mr Roxy]

Posted: 11/7/13 at 11:20am

Dr Henry Jekyll

[SNAFU]

Posted: 11/7/13 at 11:24am

"The cast of Spiderman" made me LOL Taz! Thank-you!

[IAMWHATIAM]

Posted: 11/7/13 at 11:26am

Paul in A Chorus Line just breaks my heart.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 11/7/13 at 11:32am

Eponine

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 11/7/13 at 11:45am

Rose Stopnick
Sarah and Coalhouse
Queen and Sonja
Queenie
Daisy and Violet Hilton
Julie Jordan
Fosca

[ljay889]

Posted: 11/7/13 at 11:47am

Sally Durant Plummer

[hanschens]

Posted: 11/7/13 at 11:56am

I've always felt bad for Charley in Merrily

[N2N Nate.]

Posted: 11/7/13 at 11:56am

The MC in Cabaret.
Sally in Cabaret
Fräulein Schneider in Cabaret
Lucy the Slut in AQ
Michael in Billy Elliot.
Elder McKinley in Book of Mormon.
Bonnie in Bonnie and Clyde
All the Dancers who didn't get the part in A chorus Line
All the Villagers in Fiddler on the Roof
Mama Rose in Gypsy
Everyone in Next to Normal
The Witch in Into the woods.
Fantine in Les Mis
Eponine in Les Mis
Javert in Les Mis
Audrey in LSH.
Norma Desmond in Sunset
Everyone in WSS.
Elphaba and Glinda in Wicked.

[Brian07663NJ]

Posted: 11/7/13 at 12:39pm

Elphaba
Phantom

[MCfan2]

Posted: 11/7/13 at 3:07pm

Arthur in Camelot.

[E.Davis]

Posted: 11/7/13 at 3:56pm

How can you feel bad for all those characters in Cabaret but not Herr Schultz? Also I feel no sympathy for Sally what so ever.

[Mark-o]

Posted: 11/7/13 at 4:02pm

Sandy the dog for being in that TERRIBLE Annie musical.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 11/7/13 at 4:03pm

The mermaid in Big Fish....

[EVIE]

Posted: 11/7/13 at 5:01pm

Amos in Chicago