Memphis the most underrated musical ever! — Page 2

I'll add to my above statement: I really liked Glover....but simply could not bear Chad Kimball. I simply wanted him to go away. (I remember even being quite wary of seeing Come From Away because of his involvement - but liked him very much in that.)

Fosse76 said: "It's like they fed the books and scores to Hairspray, Dreamgirls, and Ragtime into a computer to write a new musical and this is what it came up with."

No. It would have been a lot better if that were the case.

I loved Memphis and saw it a couple of times with Adam Pascal who could sing the role much better than Chad. I found it moving and liked the music a lot.

I know this is a chat board for people's opinions but I don't understand why there are so many negative responses to a post that is saying something postive about a show. Considering we are all supposed to be theatre lovers, it is still suprising to me that so many on this board are snarky and negative. Is it jealosy? Are many on this board performers who have not been successful and therefore feel better trashing successful actors, writers and composers?

I enjoy reading other opinions but just don't get the hate.

theatrefan18 said: "I enjoy reading other opinions but just don't get the hate."

If you have license to love something (as I assume you think we do as to shows) then you have a corresponding license to hate them. If you want to convince us to only like shows, then dislike would be the strongest word at the other end of the continuum.

I really enjoyed Memphis when it was on Broadway! I do not understand why so many people on here are implying that Memphis is not camp. It is absolutely camp. Everybody Wants to be Black on a Saturday Night is camp.

I haven't revisited the show in a while but I think the concerns about it being a white savior story written by a white creative team are super valid. People were definitely making this critique when the show premiered. Memphis was only a few years before the larger "cultural awakening" of how systemic racism continues in different forms. I remember at the time Memphis opened on Broadway lots of people were just super excited about there being a show with a mostly Black cast. of course in retrospect this is quite "why don't you say thank you for the crumbs we've tossed on the floor for you." At the performances I attended I remember noticing that the audience had way more Black people that most other shows and I think there is something to be said for a show that gave Black performers jobs on Broadway. But in general it would be better to have shows on Broadway that are stories about Black people, by Black people, for Black audiences.

I also just have to add that even though I loved Memphis and it was one of my favorite shows that season I have always said that there was no way Memphis would have won any Tonys in ANY other season than 09-10. A season earlier and they'd have been up against Billy Elliot and Next To Normal, a season later and they're against The Book Of Mormon, Catch Me and The Scottsboro Boys. I don't think the show would have been nominated for anything in any other season. And I have to say if we are going to remember a show about Black people from that era I'd love it if we would dwell on The Scottsboro boys more! That show was phenomenal and completely underrated and deserves much more attention. I only saw it once and haven't listened to the cast recording since it came out but there are so many moments from that show seared into my memory. A very powerful show that deserved better!

Updated On: 1/28/23 at 10:52 PM

theatrefan18 said: "I loved Memphis and saw it a couple of times with Adam Pascal who could sing the role much better than Chad. I found it moving and liked the music a lot.

I know this is a chat board for people's opinions but I don't understand why there are so many negative responses to a post that is saying something postive about a show. Considering we are all supposed to be theatre lovers, it is still suprising to me that so many on this board are snarky and negative. Is it jealosy? Are many on this board performers who have not been successful and therefore feel better trashing successful actors, writers and composers?

I enjoy reading other opinions but just don't get the hate."

I always laugh when having a negative opinion about a show is equated to not being a true theater lover.

I’m the furthest thing from a performer. And art is subjective! I love some absolute hot garbage and loathe some critically acclaimed works. Theatre fans are not a monolith.

I hated it. It felt like a cheap Hairspray knock off. Kimball gave one of strangest performances I’ve seen in a musical.

Has there been another show on this board where the word of mouth was so at odds with what actually happened to the show? If I recall correctly during previews people here were predicting the show might close on opening night. I think it's fair to say the Tony wins, filming, later west end run etc. probably took the board by surprise haha.

BwayLB said: "Who agrees with me Memphis is the most underrated musical ever? I’ve seen the Fathom Events proshot, then the 2012 national tour and a regional production in Long Beach. The music is epic, the themes are emotionally timely and the dancing is high energy."

Nobody. Chad, is that you?

^ I too would have like to see Adam

CATSNYrevival said: "The only song I like is Memphis Lives in Me and after a few weeks Chad couldn’t sing it anymore."

^This. I've only seen the proshot but Chad's acting was downright bizarre.

I am late coming into this discussion, but I HIGHLY disagree here! Chess is probably the most underrated musical ever. It just needs a proper book to go with the AMAZING score!

Ew...