Hamilton or Fun Home? Which is more important? — Page 2

Baloney!

Everyone knows CATS is more important than any other musical before or since!

CATS: Now and Forever!

"
In all seriousness, can we just say that they're both important? There's no need to compare two radically different shows..."

This is what I believe as well. They are both significant pieces inboard of expanding the form. They do so in their own way however.
Comparing these two specific shows to each other seems limited to me. I think there is a larger discussion to be had as to their influence on musical theater in general though.

StageStar, thanks for getting my humor and taking it in the spirit which it was meant.
You're a sweetheart. "

Completely agree! I was just suggesting those two since they are the two currenrently running that people seems to be talking about.

And of course! No need to get all up and arms over a BWW message board post :)

Instead of making everything a competition, I think we should celebrate the fact that we have two wonderful, smart, inventive and intelligent shows in back-to-back seasons. I think these two shows give creatives a new benchmark and give audiences a heightened level of expectation for what the art form can do. How will these shows be viewed years from now? Who knows? We have no way of predicting how the subject matter significance will be viewed in the future and, like so many other "important" shows of the past, we don't know which will be relegated to historical artifacts and which will resonate universally.

Let's put aside PREFERENCES for a second-because the question here was about importance relative to musical theater history. We all have preferences and different shows strike a chord. That doesn't mean shows that don't aren't important. I am in the same camp as Kad-they are BOTH important for different reasons. It's like comparing apples and oranges, really-they are nothing alike except they are both musicals and both began their lives at the Public. The similarities end there.

"Fun Home is more important."

I love it - a simple and to-the-point declaration. Unfortunately for you, it's also an opinion entirely without weight or merit because you - by your own admission - haven't seen "Hammyton."

Note: I haven't seen Hamilton either. That's why I'm withholding judgment.

But since in another thread you've already declared two other unseen shows superior to another show you haven't seen, I guess it should be pretty clear that you're not all that interested in appearing informed or impartial. You've just got to weigh in on every issue and let people know that you have an opinion, no matter how ignorant.

I know, I know - it's, like, "just your opinion," right? Unfortunately, regardless of what all your elite friends may have told you, opinions based on ignorance aren't all that interesting or worthy of respect.

ok Liza

and yea I didn't see the shows, but i just know what I'm gonna like more based off of the music and synopsis :)

I will probably like Hammyton too idk

"When Suzanne came out with an ACTUAL SUITCASE and carried it around with her it was clear this would be a level of brilliance rarely achieved in the theater.
Her mash up of Take Back Your Mink with a terrifying monologue about how her abusive father shredded her prom dress (which she stitched back together in time for the dance!) was another moment seldom rivaled. "

Whizzer, I really hope somewhere somehow this got taped!

In what way do you think it is more of a departure. That strikes me as mind-boggling. Have you seen both?

I am not a fan of ranking shows. I would rather just celebrate that we have both.

I think if you focus on the bare bones story, you could say Fun Home is more of a departure. But if you consider (as I think you must) what the show DOES with that story, and HOW it does it, I don't see how you can. I'd also note that I don't think Fun Home is "about" what you say-that's just the chassis for a much more sophisticated play. But the way Hamilton unfolds with its 21st Century mosaic of a cast, and its contemporary, hip hop reliant score, and how that is used to convey its intention, is a far greater departure from what preceded it. Plot lines aside, Fun Home (which I love, don't get me wrong) acquits itself quite conventionally whereas Hamilton subverts (extensively and brilliantly).