"Fans" of Musicals Who Don't Like Golden Age Musicals

Well I don't love every Golden Age musical but I don't think theres anyone who likes musicals who can't pick ONE Golden age musical that they enjoy.

Updated On: 5/12/06 at 10:34 PM

It's all about the green girl.

No, seriously. I think I can see not liking them, in terms of saying "it's not my taste," though the people who are absolutely blind to how influential they are do irk me.

---

Well, the humor and style was a lot more subtle. Subtlety appears to be a dying artform.

Further proof that people let spectacle rule their aesthetic.

It kils me. Kills me.

I can go on and on about this. But I wont.

Of every show I've seen on Broadway...there is something about the class of the Golden Age musicals that remains to be far superior in my mind.

---

Bobby, what are your favorite shows of yesteryear?

Mine happen to be Guys and Dolls and Pajama Game. Both, however, would never cut it in today's society without star casting.

Shut your face Caroline!

I've seen WICKED like 876 times. I go like every day!

Eyedina Menzeeel is my best friend. One time she painted me green and let me go on as Elphie for the matinee while she and Taye stayed backstage and smoked up.

---

lyke last tyyyme i wHent ToosEE Wykiid Eeyyedini filed a SUPper coOl reTRaInnG oprddER!! she EVEN SIGNEddd IT!

---

I love Wicked, and really like Guys and Dolls, thank you very much.

I don't even think it's taste as much as it is...the pattern of musicals. Most people in this age have grown up in a completely different time--where spectacles come first, and actors are secondary. the belting like-music seems like Broadway and soprano-singing sounds boring.

I'll honestly say I prefer hearing belting to soprano. Then again, the first showtunes I ever heard was Liza Minelli singing Cabaret songs...

I agree, to ignore the influence and dismiss classic musicals is wrong. But I don't blame those who don't *like* them. I mean, I really dislike the Music Man. Sure, the way the melodies intersect is incredibly intelligent, but it's all...too happy for me.

But...I don't think the blame can be entirely on the individuals. Broadway itself and others don't make enough effort to educate new theatregoers on the past shows. When new musicals are so different than they once were, people just don't have a taste for it.

I mean, every so often it drives me crazy too--people calling Brooklyn the best show ever. But I won't get mad if Brooklyn is someone's favorite show. Or if someone says the score for West Side Story is boring...I mean, what??

I just think we'd be a lot better off if people made this distinctions about their favorites/taste, not in terms of good/bad.

---

I don't think it's a dislike so much as an ignorance.

You know, the mentality that it's different than what's on Broadway now, and there's no Idina Menzel, and the title doesn't sound all that interesting, so I'm going to decide that I don't like it.

Living nowhere near New York, I was never exposed to newer theatre, and grew up with the classics, whether by film, regional, or community. I don't know how I would feel about some of the older musicals if they hadn't been with me since I can remember.

It's all about perspective. :)

---

I'm going to assume that these "fans" are predominately teens, and say that being a teen today is all about being "hardcore." It's fading a little bit into "artsy/hardcore," but still "hardcore" nonetheless. RENT has that rocker appeal, and saying that you like Wicked (in a mainstream world) makes you look cultured and "artsy."

Older musicals make you "gay" and "cheesey."

---