I'M GLAD MATILDA LOST LAST NIGHT!

The Brits can put songs into dramas, but they can't do MUSICALS.

Whenever they try to do musicals, the only thing they can do is make them DARK.

Americans can do dark musicals too, but we can also do MUSICAL COMEDY, "the two most glorious words the English language," as Julian Marsh says in 42nd Street.

Let's hear it for musical comedy!

EVERYBODY SAY YEAH!

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Roald Dahl is the definition of dark. Should they have taken the source material and made Annie out of it? I'm genuinely asking. I'm also trying to figure out why "dark" is a bad thing. If someone saw Matilda (actually saw the show) and didn't like it, that's totally cool. All a matter of opinion. But it's really weird to me for someone to say, "this show isn't any good because it's dark."

I will add that I was more moved by Matilda than I have been at the theatre in a long time, and Kinky left me pretty cold. Matilda has been on my mind ever since... I keep listening to the score and being blown away by both the wordplay and the depth of the messages. And I can't bring myself to listen to Kinky again. Hey, to each his own! I'm just glad that people are being moved by theatre.

I actually DID see it. And I know Roald Dahl is dark, I grew up with his books. I read Matilda endlessly. However, there was a sensitivity in his books that I got none of from the antiseptic treatment the musical gave it (with the stupid storyline about the escapologist and the acrobat).

Just my opinion, of course, and I think the votes were probably VERY close (a tie would not have surprised me in the least).

Saw it in London in Dec. Didn't see what all the hype was about. Like Dreamin said, IT HAS NO HEART!!!!

Because musical theatre is OURS! Like apple pie, democracy, and obesity! WE INVENTED ALL OF THEM THEY ARE OURS.

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It is an awards show. One wins and several lose. Each year there are disappointed feelings. Above all there should be sportsmanship. We should all know by now that the awards don't always mean anything and we can give plenty of examples: Avenue Q won but Wicked is still playing to full capacity. I think the awards are more political than who was the 'best'.

"Dark" is not a bad thing but, but making a musical "dark" has itself become facile, a dull cliche: "Let's take this old musical/movie/children's book and make it DARK."

Yes, I know Roald Dahl is dark. Does that mean that Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a bad movie because it's entertaining?

The challenge when handling light material is to keep it light but find the depth. Likewise, the challenge when handling dark material is to be true to the original but keep it entertaining.

But just making something dark does not make it good.

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I'm from Texas, so I never see a show except if it tours. But from listening to both cast recordings several times, watching both numbers on the Tony Awards, and reading many reviews of each - I can't help but think the wrong show won and for the wrong reasons. I don't care what country of origin a show comes from, or whether it is dark or light-hearted, I just think the better piece of theater should win.

And it's NO HARDER to make a "Dark" show than it is to make a "Uplifting" show. I hate how they trot out that a show frustrates and depresses an audience as if that in itself is some sort of triumph.


PS why do you think Kinky Boot won? (Hint: MORE PEOPLE VOTED FOR IT!)

Updated On: 6/10/13 at 12:14 PM

I do agree with that, Joey... I guess I found Matilda to be incredibly entertaining - it didn't leave me cold the way it seems to have left others. Quite the opposite, actually. I left the theatre choked up and continue to be moved by many parts of the recording. I just keep finding more and more depth in Minchin's lyrics. I think "Miracle" alone is brilliant on so many levels.

Alternately, I wasn't terribly moved by Kinky Boots because, frankly, I didn't feel that personally connected to the message. I don't think I've ever had a problem accepting people, so it felt weird to be hit over the head with that. But I can see how other theatregoers' experiences would differ based on personal history. My biggest beef with it was how in your face the message was, rather than layered into subtext. I also didn't care for Billy Porter's performance which I think really affected my opinion of the show as a whole since he obviously has a huge part in carrying it.

To each his own! But these are worthwhile discussions based on content and merit. It's annoying to me that people are making judgement calls based on the nationality of the creative team.

I'm glad it lost too because I hate children. That's the big reason it lost.

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I guess MATILDA is glad that it lost last night too because there is no mention of the Tonys anywhere on their site. Anyone else think that seems weird?

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