It Was Just Meant to Be Fun...

[BobbyBubby]

It Was Just Meant to Be Fun...#0

Posted: 4/1/06 at 12:59pm

Anyone getting tired of this statement used as an excuse for mediocre to bad shows? I mean, yeah, not everything has to be dark and theme heavy, but shouldn't everything be finely crafted and smart? It seems that people get so defensive when you don't like absolute trash, and seem to blame some kind of bitter or snobby view? I mean, Hairspray. Love it. Funny in a smart way, great score and lyrics, and a fine book with some themes that aren't too heavy. Mamma Mia. Not art but fun, and smart enough to be bearable. But shows around here that get praised over and over and are just supposed to "be fun" but aren't smart. Why should I have to like that?

[slimandslam]

re: It Was Just Meant to Be Fun...#1

Posted: 4/1/06 at 1:30pm

Well, the appropriate response to that excuse would be, "It wasn't fun." Simple, no?

[BobbyBubby]

re: It Was Just Meant to Be Fun...#2

Posted: 4/1/06 at 1:41pm

Not on here. Here you get called a snob and bitter if you didn't think Good Vibrations was even close to enjoyable.

[slimandslam]

re: It Was Just Meant to Be Fun...#3

Posted: 4/1/06 at 2:34pm

And what's wrong with being a bitter snob?

Wouldn't you be bitter, have wasted good time and good money on something you didn't enjoy?

Wouldn't you be a snob, if you thought your intelligence was being insulted? (Even fun, as you noted, can be smart.)

Remember: you weren't always a bitter snob. Bad theater made you that way.

[MyDreamsRecurring]

re: It Was Just Meant to Be Fun...#4

Posted: 4/1/06 at 3:42pm

"Hi!" "Dreadful!" "Fabulous!"

I completely feel your pain.
And agree that we have a right to be bitter with Broadway being more Mickey Mouse-i-fied every day

"No two shows are alike in the making. Each show is a living piece of your life in a small unreal world with its own character and integrity; its own new set of memorable experiences and incredible happenings. You begin to love and adapt to its strangeness. Dreams harden into substance. Values come into focus. You wish it would never end. The dream world vanishes like mist before a rising sun; part of you vanishes with it. And back you land in the real world with a thud- fogged, uneasy, jittery, difficult to get along with. There is only one cure. A new show. A new, small unreal world; new visions, experiences, incredible happenings. Again you love it, adapt to it, wish it would never end. But end it does. Another part of you vanishes. That's show business."-Anonymous

[blaxx]

re: It Was Just Meant to Be Fun...#5

Posted: 4/1/06 at 4:12pm

"Fun" has to be one of the worst words of our times... seems like an excuse for everything, and the perfect way to show poor vocabulary.

Listen, I don't take my clothes off for anyone, even if it is "artistic". - JANICE

[BobbyBubby]

re: It Was Just Meant to Be Fun...#6

Posted: 4/1/06 at 4:15pm

Yeah I agree. Fun is my second least favorite descriptive word. The first is...

Cute.

[sidneybruhl]

re: It Was Just Meant to Be Fun...#7

Posted: 4/1/06 at 4:15pm

"Urinetown" is a great example of both fun and smart, and shows like that are rare. I feel that "fun" is often offered up as an excuse for something to be excusably bad.

[MaureenJ]

re: It Was Just Meant to Be Fun...#8

Posted: 4/1/06 at 6:19pm

Um, you could always walk out at intermission and just dont say anything about it just "it was bad. don't waste your money"

[Playbill9117]

re: It Was Just Meant to Be Fun...#9

Posted: 4/1/06 at 10:23pm

well, this message board is practically designed for the "artistically minded" to pull it out and see whose is bigger. Some people genuinely want to express opinions, and possibly exchange a thought or two with other intelligent folks who also enjoy good entertainment. OTHERS, however, want to prove that they know the most about everything, and are relentless to those who disagree with them. I have a job. If I worried about this board half as much as some people seem to, I would go completely insane!

[Jazzysuite82]

re: It Was Just Meant to Be Fun...#10

Posted: 4/2/06 at 12:58am

I don't see how the last 2 posts had anything to do with the topic at hand. i'm a bit confused by them.

[JustChillin8908]

re: It Was Just Meant to Be Fun...#11

Posted: 4/2/06 at 1:01am

Well the last one kinda applies but I have no clue what MaureenJ is even trying to say.

[BobbyBubby]

re: It Was Just Meant to Be Fun...#12

Posted: 4/2/06 at 2:14pm

I'd take an "artistic opinion" over a shill anyday.

[Roninjoey]

re: It Was Just Meant to Be Fun...#13

Posted: 4/2/06 at 2:21pm

Well fun and cute are words that kind of turn me off as well, but these are words that turn most people on. They want to see something fun and cute. And it's not like we're completely inundated by fun and cute shows.

yr ronin,
joey